November Social Impact News Roundup: Collaborating for Climate Resilience

What to Expect from COP29

Climate change experts and leaders will gather in Azerbaijan for COP29 next week, at the end of what is likely to have been the hottest year on record. COP29 has become known as the “Finance COP” – for the first time in 15 years, representatives from all countries in the world will come together to set a new global climate finance target. As developing nations demand $1 trillion in annual support, tensions rise over who should contribute and how funds are allocated. Progress across four key issues will be critical for COP29 to be considered a success: 1. A new global finance goal that responds to developing countries’ needs, 2. Momentum for stronger national climate commitments, 3. Progress towards existing commitments on cities, energy, food and forests, and 4. A clear process for funding and responding to loss and damage.

Innovating at the Intersection of Climate+Health

Social innovators play a crucial role in addressing the intricate relationship between inclusive health, sustainable agriculture and climate change. Their efforts are essential in fostering partnerships and collaboration to develop ecologically sustainable, economically efficient and socially just environments. A new insight report from the World Economic Forum explores the social innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems in Latin America and Asia–Pacific, highlighting opportunities for private-sector investment. It also outlines strategies and solutions being driven by social innovation, how social innovators can lead the shift towards climate-resilient practices in food and healthcare systems, and describes how governments can support these efforts through policies and regulations that protect displaced and vulnerable populations.

Measuring Climate Resilience

As the climate resilience space attracts greater awareness and investment, the need emerges for clear definitions and measurement frameworks. Our partners at Mercy Corps Ventures developed a first-of-its-kind Climate Adaptation & Resilience Framework with tangible steps for analyzing, measuring, understanding, and enhancing the potential climate resilience and adaptation impact of early-stage startups. This article explains how investors can apply the framework to evaluate potential investment opportunities, and this article explains how entrepreneurs can apply the framework to assess their own climate risk.

Social Impact Job Openings

• Aclima is hiring for a Director of Environmental Justice and Community Partnerships (based in San Francisco, CA)
• Acumen is hiring for multiple positions, including:
  • Associate Director, Acumen Impact (based in London, UK)
  • Investment Associate, Acumen America (based in San Francisco, CA)
  • Communications Associate, Social Media Management (based in New York, NY)
  • Associate Director for Institutional Partnerships (based in New York, NY)
  • ESG Manager (based in Lagos, Nigeria)
• Ashaya is hiring for a Growth Manager (based in Pune, India)
• Cause Consulting is hiring for a Consultant, Social Impact + Communications (based in Boston, MA)
• Euclid Network is hiring for multiple positions, including:
  • Communications & Events Officer (hybrid out of The Hague, Netherlands)
  • Project Manager – EU Focus (hybrid out of The Hague, Netherlands)
  • Project Manager – Impact Measurement Focus (hybrid out of The Hague, Netherlands)
• Impact Hub is hiring for an Impact Measurement Lead – contractor (based in any location with an Impact Hub within 4 hours of GMT timezone)
• Kijani Forestry is hiring for a Tech Lead/Senior Technical Developer (based in Gulu, Uganda)
• Pyxera Global is hiring for multiple positions, including:
  • Private Sector Partnerships Specialist (based in Washington, D.C.)
  • Vice President of Programs (based in Washington, D.C.)
• SecondMuse is hiring for a Program Manager, Climate (hybrid out of New York, NY)
• Stand Together is hiring for a Community Leader, Stand Together Ventures (based in Arlington, VA)
• The Global Fund for a New Economy is hiring for a Global Head of Narrative & Messaging (remote within US)
• Upaya Social Ventures is hiring for multiple positions, including:
  • Development Associate (hybrid out of Seattle, WA)
  • Senior Associate, Dignified Jobs Accelerator (based in Bangalore, India)
• Value for Women is hiring for a Business Development Lead (remote)
• Young Africa International is hiring a consultant to update its Safeguarding Policy (remote)

Upcoming Events & New Programs

• November 11-22: COP29 is taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan.
• November 14: Join the TRANSFORM Support Hub for Part III of our Corporate Changemaker Series! We’ll be welcoming back Kevin Wilhelm for a workshop on ‘Making Sustainability Stick.’ Learn more and register here. 
• November 15: Deadline to apply to the Dignified Jobs Accelerator, open to to early-stage entrepreneurs in the plastics, and textiles & fashion waste management sector. 
• November 21: Join the TRANSFORM Support Hub for the workshop “Accessing Grants as a Social Enterprise,” featuring the Founder of Angels for Angels. Learn more and register here. 
• January 6: Deadline to apply to the 100X Impact Accelerator, open to impact-first ventures registered anywhere in the world with at least 10,000 end-users. 

Wins from our TRANSFORM Support Hub Community

• Arro won the Gartner Eye on Innovation Financial Services award!
• Biosorra was recognized by CleanTech Group on its 50 Cleantech Startups to Watch List 2024, and presented at the Latin America Climate Innovation Summit!!
• FUND2740 recently launched the AI for Impact Entrepreneurship tool, designed to assist ventures in product and service development, as well as enhancing their business models!
• Innovest Afrika partnered with TheStage to contribute to a more dynamic and resilient entrepreneurial landscape in Lagos!
• Khadyam Speciality Foods was honored as the ‘Best Agri Startup in Millets’ by FICCI and the Rajasthan Government!
• Leiho partnered with Home-Start Camden and Islington to launch its 2024 Christmas Employment Project!
• Luum will lead an e-commerce workshop for impact brands at FLII (Latin American Impact Investing Forum) in Costa Rica this November! 
• Pride by Side released the findings from its national study “Pointing to Progress 2024” to better understand capacity strengths and challenges of the LGBTQIA+ sector!
• Socialbnb was nominated for the German Sustainability Award, and successfully completed its first funding round!
• Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia (in cooperation with Luminor bank) named the 10 finalists in its “Let the good ideas grow” social entrepreneurship pitch competition!
• Supplya’s Co-Founder Kehinde Opeyemi Funmilayo was accepted into the Fempreneur Accelerator Program!
• T-HAP published a new research report on wellbeing at work!
• WeCycler’s CEO, Olawale Adebiyi, was recognised by Meaningful Business on the 2024 MB100 List!
• Young Africa International is taking its youth economic empowerment models to West Africa, expanding to Nigeria thanks to the Mastercard Foundation!

A Final Bit of Inspiration…

“A resilient community comes from the recognition that we have each other’s backs and we will create systems of care and safety for ourselves. We are our own salvation.” -Dominique Thomas