This book provides an in-depth analysis of social and economic development, offering insights into various approaches and challenges. It explores the role of international organizations, particularly the United Nations, in fostering development. The authors discuss key concepts such as Official Development Assistance (ODA), blended finance, and other innovative financing mechanisms, emphasizing their significance in achieving sustainable global progress and addressing pressing societal issues.

This paper explores the promise of impact investing, an emerging field where investments are made with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. It discusses the growth of this market and the importance of effective measurement practices to assess the true impact of these investments. The authors highlight the potential for impact investing to address pressing social and environmental challenges by harnessing market forces.

This report estimates the SDG financing gap for low-income developing countries and proposes a portfolio of financing actions. It emphasizes mobilizing private investments through blended financing, particularly for infrastructure needs, and increasing budget revenues. The paper argues that the world can afford to enable LIDCs to meet their fiscal requirements for the SDGs, stressing the need for a comprehensive deployment of viable financing tools to close the approximately $400 billion annual gap and end extreme poverty.

This academic paper develops a theoretical framework for social finance, characterizing the optimal strategies for social financial institutions (SFIs). It suggests that quasi-foundations can be efficient vehicles for social finance, especially when social screening costs are relatively low. The paper explores the underlying economic principles and mechanisms that govern the allocation of financial resources towards social and environmental objectives, contributing to the broader understanding of social preferences and motivations in finance.

This paper explores the regional variations in impact investment, proposing a theory of impact investing ecosystems. It delves into the factors that contribute to the unique development and characteristics of impact investment across different regions. The study examines how local contexts, including entrepreneurship, innovation, and resource acquisition dynamics, shape the evolution of these ecosystems. Understanding these differences is crucial for fostering more effective and tailored impact investment strategies globally. The theory highlights the interconnectedness of various elements within an ecosystem that influence its capacity for social and financial returns.