Financial Stewardship, Sustainability & Accountability

Focus on building robust systems and practices that drive the ethical and effective management of financial resources, ensure transparency, accountability, and the financial resilience of social purpose organisations.

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Case Study

Development Impact Bonds support quality education in India

This case study from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation highlights how Development Impact Bonds (DIBs) are being utilized to support quality education initiatives in India. It showcases how these innovative financing tools incentivize outcome-driven results, aligning private investment with sustainable development goals in the education sector. The study illustrates the DIB mechanism’s potential to improve learning outcomes and increase access to quality education for underserved populations by focusing on measurable impact.
Case Study
  • 3 September 2025

FinMin may favour CSR monies to flow into Social Impact Bonds

This article from Hindu Business Line reports on the potential inclination of India’s Finance Ministry to allow Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to be directed towards Social Impact Bonds (SIBs). The move could significantly boost funding for social development projects by leveraging private sector contributions. It discusses the implications of such a policy for governance and the broader landscape of development impact bonds in India, highlighting how this synergy could enhance social outcomes and financial innovation.
Case Study

Better Finance Better World

This flagship report from the Blended Finance Taskforce presents a strategic roadmap for mobilizing private capital at scale to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It argues for a fundamental shift in the financial system, advocating for the strategic use of concessional development finance to de-risk and attract commercial investment into impactful projects. The report outlines actionable recommendations for creating enabling policy environments, developing pipelines of bankable projects, and establishing robust governance frameworks. It emphasizes the necessity of collaboration between public, private, and philanthropic actors to bridge the global financing gap.
Case Study

Blended Finance in the Private Sector Context

This primer provides a foundational overview of blended finance within the context of private sector development, framing it as a redefinition of public-private cooperation. It outlines the roles of different stakeholders, key financial instruments, and the ecosystem drivers necessary for success. The paper emphasizes the enabling conditions required to scale blended approaches, including effective policy coordination, innovative risk absorption mechanisms, and standardized measurement frameworks. It serves as a guide for public and private actors on collaborating effectively to channel capital towards inclusive and sustainable growth.
Case Study
  • 3 September 2025

Blended finance in the SDG Era

This document summarizes key discussions from a UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) workshop focused on blended finance in the era of the SDGs. It captures shared challenges and opportunities identified by participants from governments, the UN system, civil society, and the private sector. The report outlines common issues, including the critical need for better impact measurement tools, effective risk management strategies, and enhanced institutional capacity. It concludes with recommended actions to better integrate and mainstream blended finance approaches into national SDG strategies.
Blog
  • 1 January 1970

How to use talent data for better decision making in Venture Capital and Private Equity

This article outlines how leveraging talent data can significantly improve decision-making processes in Venture Capital (VC) and Private Equity (PE) firms. It explains how analyzing qualitative and quantitative data on leadership teams, organizational culture, and employee performance provides a deeper understanding of a company’s potential. Data-driven insights help identify strong leadership, assess team cohesion, and mitigate risks associated with human capital. This approach enables VC and PE investors to make more informed investment decisions, optimize portfolio company performance, and drive long-term value creation by strategically managing talent.
Case Study
  • 2 January 2022

Sdgs, Esg and Impact Investing: the Investments India Needs to Make for a Sustainable Future

This article discusses the critical role of SDGs, ESG, and impact investing in shaping India’s sustainable future. It highlights how integrating environmental, social, and governance factors into investment decisions can drive positive change and achieve sustainable development goals. The piece emphasizes the growing trend among investors to align financial returns with social and environmental impact, and the need for significant investments to support India’s transition towards a more sustainable economy.
Case Study
  • 3 January 2019

Opportunities and Challenges in Utilizing Social Finance Impact Investments to Support Social Innovations

This article examines the opportunities and challenges associated with utilizing social finance and impact investments to support social innovations. It delves into various instruments such as social impact bonds, pay-for-success models, community currency, and time banking. The authors explore how these financial mechanisms can provide crucial capital for innovative solutions to social problems, while also addressing the complexities and hurdles in their implementation, measurement of impact, and scalability.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2016

Social Impact Bonds: Exploring and Understanding an Emerging Funding Approach

This Routledge chapter offers an exploration and understanding of Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) as an emerging funding approach. It delves into their relationship with impact investment and examines the concept of social value creation within this framework. The authors provide a critical approach to SIBs, analysing their potential and limitations as a tool for financing social interventions and achieving measurable impact.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2018

Social Impact Investing Beyond the Sib -evidence From the Market

This book from Palgrave Macmillan explores social impact investing beyond the confines of Social Impact Bonds (SIBs), presenting evidence from the market. It delves into the broader landscape of impact finance and social finance, highlighting diverse investment strategies and their outcomes. The authors provide a comprehensive analysis of the evolving impact investing market, showcasing various instruments and approaches that aim to generate both financial returns and positive social impact.
Case Study
  • 3 January 2013

Social Impact Bonds Go to Prison

This article from Corporate Knights examines the application of Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) within the prison system, highlighting their “cash on delivery” funding model. It discusses how SIBs link private investment to specific social outcomes, such as reduced reoffending rates, and explores the policy implications of this performance-based financing approach in correctional services. The piece offers a critical perspective on this emerging model.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2016

Social Impact Investing in Germany: Current Impediments From Investors’ and Social Entrepreneurs’ Perspectives

This paper provides empirical evidence on the impediments to social impact investing in Germany from the perspectives of both investors and social entrepreneurs. Based on in-depth interviews, it identifies nine critical problem areas across financial returns, social returns, and relationships/infrastructure. The study highlights the challenges in Germany’s nascent social impact investment field, influenced by institutional settings and undeveloped market conditions.
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