October Social Impact News Roundup: Towards a Regenerative Future

UNGA & Climate Week

Climate Week NYC took place the last week of September, in conjunction with the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. The theme for 2024 is “It’s Time,” as climate scientists report that last year broke the 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature rise which was once set as a critical threshold. International leaders from politics, business, and science came together to advocate for climate change reforms, shape the future of climate change policy, and provide insights for business leaders. Among its key takeaways? Sustainability is something that is done on a daily basis – both internally, and with partners. Check out these great insights about building future-fit partnerships to achieve the SDGs from a session hosted by our friends at Business Fights Poverty!

Moving Beyond Sustainability

What could it look like to move beyond sustainability to embrace a more holistic approach? Enter regenerative economics: a framework that focuses on restoring ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity, and revitalizing communities. (Here are 10 great examples of social enterprises applying regenerative economics to drive impact.) So, how do we scale the adoption of these principles system-wide? Governments will need to take a more active role in nurturing sustainable business models, financial system reforms are needed, and technology needs to be leveraged for the public good. Learn more here about how a bold reimagining of value, innovation, and public-private collaboration can spearhead a transformative, regenerative future.

The AI for Impact Ecosystem

Last month, the Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship (in collaboration with EY and Microsoft) published its third AI report, “AI for Impact: Strengthening AI Ecosystems for Social Innovation.” In it, you’ll find insights into the health of the ecosystem supporting AI for social innovation, and guidance for companies and technology organizations in partnering with social innovators to promote the ethical adoption of AI. It also includes mechanisms for providing support, insights into the role of intermediaries, and best practices for public sector actors to support ecosystem development.

Social Impact Job Openings

• Dalberg is hiring for an Analyst (based in Goa, Mumbai, or New Delhi, India)
• Evidence Action is hiring for a Strategic Growth Manager (based in Washington, D.C.)
• Fast Forward is hiring for a Partnerships Coordinator (based in San Francisco, CA)
• Global Partnerships is hiring for a Portfolio Director, East Africa (based in Nairobi, Kenya)
• Groundswell is hiring for a Social Enterprise Finance Manager (based in Washington, D.C.)
• Intercambio is hiring for a Data Manager (based in Boulder, CO)
• Larta Institute is hiring for a Program Analyst (based in Los Angeles, CA)
• Medic is hiring for a Partnerships Officer (remote)
• Morrison Foerster is hiring for a Business Development Manager – ESG, Sustainability, & Social Enterprise (based in San Francisco, CA)
• Nasdaq is hiring for a Global Social Impact & Purpose Specialist (based in New York, NY)
• Open Supply Hub is hiring for a Data Community Lead (remote)
• Pact is hiring for a Senior Officer, Private Sector Engagement (based in Washington, D.C.)
• rePurpose Global is hiring for a Business Development Representative (based in Boston, MA)
• SecondMuse is hiring for a Senior Program Manager, Consulting Group (remote)
• Sesame Workshop is hiring for a Director, Program Management – International Social Impact (based in Manhattan, NY)
• Supply Trace is hiring for a Product Manager (remote – contract)
• Triple Jump is hiring for an Investment Analyst/Associate (based in Nairobi, Kenya)
• UNEP is hiring for a Sustainable Blue Economy Consultant (remote) 
• U.S. International Development Finance Corporation is hiring for a Project Finance Specialist (based in Bogota, Colombia)
• VisionSpring is hiring for a Global Vice President, Marketing & Communications (remote)

Upcoming Events & New Programs

• October 3: Join the TRANSFORM Support Hub for “Connecting With Funders,” a workshop featuring Connective Impact’s Chief Strategy Officer, Shelly Helgeson. Learn more and register here.
• October 8-9: The Africa Waste is Wealth Conference will be taking place in Nairobi, Kenya. Learn more and register here.
• October 10: Join the TRANSFORM Support Hub for Part II of our Corporate Changemaker series! We’re hosting renowned author, teacher, and sustainability consultant, Kevin Wilhelm, for a workshop on ‘Making the Business Case for Sustainability.’ Learn more and register here.
• October 10: Join Impact Entrepreneur for an online workshop, “Activating Shareholder Power for Philanthropic Impact.” Learn more and register here. (note: there is a fee to participate)
• October 16-18: The Inner Development Goals Summit will take place in Stockholm, Sweden and online. Learn more and register here.
• October 23: Join Unity Effect for a free online workshop, “The Impact Garden – A Regenerative Theory of Change.” Learn more and register here.
• November 14: Join the TRANSFORM Support Hub for Part III of our Corporate Changemaker series! We’re hosting renowned author, teacher, and sustainability consultant, Kevin Wilhelm, for a workshop on ‘Making Sustainability Stick.’ Learn more and register here.

Wins from our TRANSFORM Support Hub Community

• Agsol was featured on the renowned show, Shamba Shape Up!
• ANDE and IKEA Foundation partnered to launch grants to enhance the circular economy in Kenya!
• AppCyclers was selected as one of the winners of the Standard Chartered Women in Tech Incubator Program, and was awarded a $10,000 USD grant to scale its operations!
• Beyond Water won the prestigious “Empowering Vulnerable Communities Challenge” hosted by the World Economic Forum and UpLink for its work advancing rural water access in Malawi! 
• Biosorra was selected as one of the winners of the Kiloton Fund by AirMiners, and was awarded a $100k Purchase Agreement from Spotify!
• BURN participated in the Clean Cooking Dialogue in Zanzibar!
• Carla Escobedo Jalife, Biosorra’s Co-Founder, was invited to speak at the Latin America Climate Innovation Summit!
• Comple-X’s Founder, Wen Xie, delivered a presentation on Multi-Level Governance & Partnerships at the Innovate4Cities conference!
• Elli Cares won the Future of Ageing Award in the consumer-product category, recognizing its leadership, innovation, and excellence in aged care services in Australia and New Zealand!
• Essymart Africa’s Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Viola Nakadama, participated in the Women Agriprenuer of the Year Awards (WAYA) and Africa Food Systems Forum, where she was awarded $15,000 USD as a regional winner in the East Africa Rising Star category!
• Global Distributors Collective released new publications as part of its Innovation Spotlight Series, focusing on e-commerce and last-mile repair!
• Green Miles Zero Waste Services is set to launch a zero waste to landfill residential and community green awareness and recycling initiative, collaborating with residential associations to target 10,000 households in real time waste management!
• Konkakt Kollektiv’s Founder, Natalia Bialobrzewska, delivered a powerful speech at the Ashoka Summit on the importance of supporting young people in bringing their ideas to life! 
• Leiho was awarded as the Environmental, Social & Governance category winners for the Innovation Challenge thanks to MSDUK & ESDP!
• Pete Ceglinski, Founder & CEO of Seabin, was invited to attend the Polestar event last week at Sydney Contemporary!
• Proof has launched its new GHG 360 tool, a simplified and more cost-effective solution for businesses to calculate their Scope 1-3 carbon footprint! 
• Ronald Mugaiga, Founder of Ecomak Recyclers, was invited to speak at The Global Youth Entrepreneurship Summit! 
• Supplya partnered with CashAfrica to deliver free POS machines to 1,000 small businesses in Africa!

A Final Bit of Inspiration

“The inability to imagine a world in which things are different is evidence only of a poor imagination, not of the impossibility of change.” -Rutget Bregman, Utopia for Realists