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Surveying the Landscape for Social Investments in Africa: A Major New Study Assesses the Current State of Play on the Continent
The social investment sector in Africa is dynamic and growing – but it’s struggling to close the enormous Sustainable Development Goals financing gap. The African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA) explored the opportunities and obstacles facing social investors on the continent in an ambitious new study, “The Landscape for Social Investments in Africa.” NextBillion interviewed AVPA’s CEO, Frank Aswani, to discuss the study’s findings, and what they say about the current state of social investment in Africa.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing, Social Enterprise
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Paper Giant App Failing Its Own Sustainability Goals: Report
From destruction of tropical peat ecosystems to the prevalence of burning to persistent community conflicts, a new study found that one of the world’s biggest paper producers has failed to uphold its own sustainability commitments.
- Categories
- Environment
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- business development, SDGs
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100MW Wind Farm to Power More Than 400,000 Ethiopian Households
Siemens Gamesa has sealed the deal on its first wind farm project in Ethiopia.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- renewable energy, SDGs
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Analysis: Grid or Solar: Looking for the Best Energy Solution for the Rural Poor
Grid electricity is often said to be critical for long-term human development because it provides sufficient power for appliances and small industries. But are the substantially higher investment costs justified by the economic impact?
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Action Platform Succeeds in Accelerating Business Reporting on the SDGs
A ground-breaking initiative to drive corporate action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has significantly advanced reporting practices and identified areas for further improvement.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
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What’s the Matter with WASH?: Why Struggling Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Businesses Need More than Just Investment
Despite limitless demand, most water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) businesses – particularly those serving the poorest customers – are struggling to find a market and attract investors. Annie Hall at Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor shares insights from a new report that explores where WASH businesses are going wrong – and how investors and development sector players can help.
- Categories
- Investing, Social Enterprise, WASH
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Press Release: The EU Should Make 2021 the “Super Year” for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Europe and Globally, Shows New Report by SDSN and IEEP
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) publish today the Europe Sustainable Development Report 2020, the second independent quantitative report on the progress of the European Union, its member states, and other European countries towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), agreed by all UN member states in 2015.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing
- Tags
- global development, SDGs
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Where’s the Capital for Home-Grown Companies? Why Energy Access Investments in Kenya Need to Go Local
So far this year, 75% of global investment commitments in off-grid solar technology have gone to just three companies — a troubling trend since 2012. And as Kevin Johnstone at the International Institute for Environment and Development points out, many of the founders of the biggest solar companies are North American or European. Focusing on Kenya, he explores why the energy access sector needs more businesses founded, managed and run by local entrepreneurs, and what needs to be done to align investors and capital markets with Kenyan investment opportunities.
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