The World Economic Forum (WEF) has launched the Global Learning Exchange on Social Impact Investing (GLE), in collaboration with the Impact Investing Policy Collaborative (IIPC) and the support of the UK Cabinet Office.
The GLE is a multi-stakeholder initiative that facilitates an inclusive and action-oriented dialogue on social impact investing. It will complement the ongoing efforts of the Social Impact Investment Task Force to drive impact investing as an important innovation for public good.
“Social impact investing – an investment approach intentionally seeking to create both financial return and positive social impact that is actively measured – is a topic that investors, social entrepreneurs and governments have engaged with through the World Economic Forum in recent years. There was a clear need to introduce impact investing to new audiences, not only among G8 countries but more broadly across the world and among diverse stakeholders,” said David Aikman, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum.”
“The spirit of cross-sector collaboration among stakeholders and of sharing information is not only central to the GLE but also core to the founding and operating mission of the World Economic Forum.”
The open learning and partnership approach of the GLE was applauded by UK Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd MP, at its announcement at the G8 Social Impact Investment Forum in June, as a way to broaden the conversation on social impact investing to include more countries and practitioners.
Rosemary Addis, GLE Director and Founding Director of Impact Investing Australia, said, “The Exchange is intended to provide a high-value platform which is action-oriented, open, collaborative and inclusive – connecting leaders and practitioners from across sectors. The timing is right to do this in tandem with work of the International Task Force, related country-based work and the momentum being developed by existing networks, building on the leadership of the World Economic Forum and IIPC.”
The GLE will broaden the social impact investing dialogue by providing a critical, accessible resource, along with structured opportunities for influencers and practitioners across the globe to develop social impact investing.
In addition, the GLE will complement existing market knowledge and infrastructure by providing a go-to place to navigate, access and highlight the expertise of leading practitioners and networks with a focus on high-value engagement and resources related to existing initiatives.
The GLE will emphasize action and “what works” by facilitating conversations on issues cutting across sectors and geographies and providing opportunities to share experiences at both regional and local levels. It will cover a range of topics, including financial innovation, impact enterprise, social entrepreneurship, public leadership, market and intermediary infrastructure, social inclusion, and investor participation.
Over the coming year, as part of the GLE, the WEF will organize a series of online and face-to-face meetings, bringing together government, industry, and civil society leaders to look at how to catalyse social impact investing.
Source and photo: WEF