Exploring the Barriers to Impact Investing in the Sustainable Energy Area in West Africa

This chapter delves into decentralised solutions for developing economies, focusing on energy access in off-grid communities. It presents the concept of “swarm electrification,” where surplus energy from individual solar home systems is networked to optimize distribution. Through case studies and modeling, the chapter examines influencing factors such as generation variability, storage, and local coordination mechanisms. It concludes that properly designed peer-to-peer sharing frameworks can significantly improve energy reliability and efficiency in underserved rural settings.

Examples of Social Finance

This comprehensive case study documents SCALE’s approach to scaling development initiatives. It outlines how SCALE applies a structured scaling framework: starting with pilot testing, iterating on design, and progressively embedding solutions within policy systems. It emphasizes adaptive learning, stakeholder engagement, capacity-building, and iterative monitoring. Through real-world examples, the study demonstrates how these principles facilitated effective scale‑up of interventions across communities and governance levels. The case highlights success factors (contextual adaptation, multi-actor coordination, and flexibility) alongside common challenges such as resource constraints and maintaining fidelity during scale‑up.

Evaluating Financial and Development Additionality in Blended Finance Operations

This paper explores the crucial concepts of financial and development additionality within blended finance operations. It clarifies various definitions of additionality and their relationship with evaluation terms such as impact and causality. The authors argue that additionality should be assessed both ex ante and ex post, with its presence influenced by institutional structures and the interplay of public and private interests. The paper analyses different approaches to assessing additionality, providing valuable insights for evaluators and blended finance actors, and contributing to a deeper understanding of how these operations contribute to development outcomes.

Evaluating Blended Finance Instruments and Mechanisms: Approaches and Methods

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of approaches and methods for evaluating various blended finance instruments and mechanisms. It delves into the complexities of assessing financial and development additionality, impact, and results across different structures like equity, debt, guarantees, and impact bonds. The document aims to enhance a shared understanding among practitioners regarding methodological choices, opportunities, and challenges in evaluating blended finance interventions. It offers practical guidance to strengthen evaluation practices, ultimately supporting more effective deployment of blended finance to mobilise additional investment for achieving ambitious development goals like the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement.

The Global Epicenter of Impact Investing: an Analysis of Social Venture Investments in India

This article analyses social venture investments in India, which has emerged as a significant hub for impact investing. Based on an analysis of 523 deals across 212 companies, it highlights distinctive characteristics of venture funding for social enterprises in India, including smaller investment sizes, early-stage focus, and longer investment durations. Financial inclusion, particularly through microfinance, is identified as a primary investment thesis. The study reveals that most investments facilitate consumption at the base of the pyramid rather than creating direct income and employment opportunities.

European Answers to the Financial Crisis: Social Banking and Social Finance

This report examines the rise of social banking and social finance in Europe in response to the 2007-2010 financial crisis. It highlights how social banks experienced significant growth, doubling their assets and attracting customers seeking more responsible and ethical ways of handling money. The document explores the core principles of social banking, contrasting them with traditional banking practices, and reviews important social banks in Europe. It suggests that the success of social banking offers valuable lessons for the broader financial sector to prevent future crises by fostering a more community-oriented and less speculative approach to finance.

Social Finance What is is and Why It Matters

This Deloitte article defines social finance as an approach to managing investments that generate financial returns while achieving measurable positive social and environmental impact. It highlights various financing mechanisms, including Social Impact Bonds, and discusses their importance in market building and fostering impact. The piece emphasizes how social finance leverages private capital to address societal challenges, moving beyond traditional philanthropy.

The Federal Role in a Social Finance Fund

This report by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology examines the potential role of the Canadian federal government in establishing and supporting a social finance fund. It explores the rationale for such a fund, its potential structure, and the policy implications for public policy and governance in Canada. The document provides insights into how government involvement can foster the growth of social finance, facilitating investments that generate both financial returns and positive social outcomes.

Ethical Sensemaking in Impact Investing: Reasons and Motives in the Chinese Renewable Energy Sector

This study investigates how impact investors in China’s renewable energy sector engage in ethical sensemaking when navigating complex investment decisions. Using a multi‑stakeholder approach, the authors identify four key motives—prosocial, personal, reputational, and economic—with the first two rooted in values and the latter two grounded in evidence. They uncover three distinct sensemaking modes (pragmatic, retrospective, forecasting) that shape how context‑specific reasons drive these motives. The findings advance theory by integrating value‑based and evidence‑based motives into a cohesive framework and offer insights for ethical impact investment practice

Social Finance Primer: Locating New Sources of Capital for an Equitable Community the Institute of Southern Georgian Bay

This primer explores new sources of capital for fostering equitable communities through social finance. It outlines various investment approaches and their potential impact, aiming to guide stakeholders in identifying and leveraging capital for social good. The document serves as a foundational resource for understanding how different financing models can contribute to community development and social equity, emphasizing strategic investment.
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