Issue number 5 of Inside|Out focuses on new ways of financing social impact. These new ways – including impact bonds, impact investing, venture philanthropy and others – bring together various stakeholders who invest their money, thought, mediation or time into proven projects that deliver financial and social returns. We call this innovative finance. It’s a […]
A handful of thoughts on innovative finance…
By Justine Joseph and François Bonnici
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Inside | Justine Joseph and François Bonnici
She’s a scientist by training, but editor of Inside|Out by profession. She has a Bachelor of Science (Medical) Honours from the University of Cape Town and 10 years experience as a health and science journalist. She was a Mondi Magazine Award finalist and the international winner of the 2006 Novo Nordisk Media Prize for Excellence in Diabetes Writing. In 2011 she co-authored The Story of the Fly and How it Could Save the World with enviro-entrepreneur Jason Drew. She’s contributed to various publications including Shape, Men’s Health, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, The Oprah Magazine, Discovery and Hip2B2.
Francois Bonnici is the editorial director of Inside | Out and the co-founder and director of Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town. He originally trained as a medical doctor, graduating top of his class. He then read for a Masters in Public Health (London) and an MBA on a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford’s Said Business School, where he received the prize for the best overall MBA student. He has a Masters in Global Leadership conferred by the World Economic Forum and is the Head of Africa for the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.
We asked the industry: How do you see innovative finance changing investment or philanthropy in South Africa?
By Justine Joseph and François Bonnici
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The Academic – Dr Stephanie Giampocaro, Research Director and senior lecturer, UCT Graduate School of Business “Innovative finance – which in Africa today mainly takes the form of impact investing and Impact Bonds – is changing traditional ways of conceiving and practicing investment. Through the Bertha Centre’s recently published African Investing for Impact Barometer, we’ve […]
Inside | Justine Joseph and François Bonnici
She’s a scientist by training, but editor of Inside|Out by profession. She has a Bachelor of Science (Medical) Honours from the University of Cape Town and 10 years experience as a health and science journalist. She was a Mondi Magazine Award finalist and the international winner of the 2006 Novo Nordisk Media Prize for Excellence in Diabetes Writing. In 2011 she co-authored The Story of the Fly and How it Could Save the World with enviro-entrepreneur Jason Drew. She’s contributed to various publications including Shape, Men’s Health, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, The Oprah Magazine, Discovery and Hip2B2.
Francois Bonnici is the editorial director of Inside | Out and the co-founder and director of Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town. He originally trained as a medical doctor, graduating top of his class. He then read for a Masters in Public Health (London) and an MBA on a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford’s Said Business School, where he received the prize for the best overall MBA student. He has a Masters in Global Leadership conferred by the World Economic Forum and is the Head of Africa for the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.
The New (not-so-Oxford) Dictionary of Innovative Finance
By Aunnie Patton and Justine Joseph
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Innovative finance is a new and growing field. It’s also the source of many questions, like how is it defined? How is it practiced, internationally and in South Africa? What are the challenges and points of debate? Who’s doing it? And how can other players get involved? Let’s look it up. Innovative finance is like […]
Inside | Aunnie Patton and Justine Joseph
First she was an investment banker. Then she was a social investment banker. Now she’s a Dean’s Fellow at the Saïd Business School, Oxford. She’s consulted with the UK government, Big Society Capital, the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and social enterprises the world over. In June 2013, she moved to Cape Town to be a Fellow at the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Aunnie’s social investment in Africa. Read more about her work at: www.apsocialfinance.com
She’s a scientist by training, but editor of Inside|Out by profession. She has a Bachelor of Science (Medical) Honours from the University of Cape Town and 10 years experience as a health and science journalist. She was a Mondi Magazine Award finalist and the international winner of the 2006 Novo Nordisk Media Prize for Excellence in Diabetes Writing. In 2011 she co-authored The Story of the Fly and How it Could Save the World with enviro-entrepreneur Jason Drew. She’s contributed to various publications including Shape, Men’s Health, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, The Oprah Magazine, Discovery and Hip2B2.
Impact investing: A closer look
By Aunnie Patton and Justine Joseph
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What is it? It’s a growing field of financial and social innovation. In short, it is, “investment where specific social objectives are set and measured,” says Sir Ronald Cohen, chairman of the International Social Impact Investment Taskforce, formed at the G8 Social Impact Investment Forum in June 2013. This is an important point: in order […]
Inside | Aunnie Patton and Justine Joseph
First she was an investment banker. Then she was a social investment banker. Now she’s a Dean’s Fellow at the Saïd Business School, Oxford. She’s consulted with the UK government, Big Society Capital, the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and social enterprises the world over. In June 2013, she moved to Cape Town to be a Fellow at the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Aunnie’s social investment in Africa. Read more about her work at: www.apsocialfinance.com
She’s a scientist by training, but editor of Inside|Out by profession. She has a Bachelor of Science (Medical) Honours from the University of Cape Town and 10 years experience as a health and science journalist. She was a Mondi Magazine Award finalist and the international winner of the 2006 Novo Nordisk Media Prize for Excellence in Diabetes Writing. In 2011 she co-authored The Story of the Fly and How it Could Save the World with enviro-entrepreneur Jason Drew. She’s contributed to various publications including Shape, Men’s Health, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, The Oprah Magazine, Discovery and Hip2B2.
Innovative Finance in South Africa
By Aunnie Patton and Justine Joseph
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There is great potential for innovative financing in South Africa. As the country has moved towards middle-income status, donor capital has decreased and the government has become responsible for greater shares of service-delivery spending. Also, citizens are increasingly holding government to account for these services, so provincial and national departments will need to seek out […]
Inside | Aunnie Patton and Justine Joseph
First she was an investment banker. Then she was a social investment banker. Now she’s a Dean’s Fellow at the Saïd Business School, Oxford. She’s consulted with the UK government, Big Society Capital, the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and social enterprises the world over. In June 2013, she moved to Cape Town to be a Fellow at the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Aunnie’s social investment in Africa. Read more about her work at: www.apsocialfinance.com
She’s a scientist by training, but editor of Inside|Out by profession. She has a Bachelor of Science (Medical) Honours from the University of Cape Town and 10 years experience as a health and science journalist. She was a Mondi Magazine Award finalist and the international winner of the 2006 Novo Nordisk Media Prize for Excellence in Diabetes Writing. In 2011 she co-authored The Story of the Fly and How it Could Save the World with enviro-entrepreneur Jason Drew. She’s contributed to various publications including Shape, Men’s Health, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, The Oprah Magazine, Discovery and Hip2B2.
Many sectors, many branches
By Aunnie Patton and Justine Joseph
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Innovative finance is not limited to a specific society, sector or need. Players from various sectors tell us how they use it in their work. Housing / The Kuyasa Fund A social development organisation that aims to improve the quality of housing in South Africa by providing micro-finance to low-income homeowners who are excluded from […]
Inside | Aunnie Patton and Justine Joseph
First she was an investment banker. Then she was a social investment banker. Now she’s a Dean’s Fellow at the Saïd Business School, Oxford. She’s consulted with the UK government, Big Society Capital, the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and social enterprises the world over. In June 2013, she moved to Cape Town to be a Fellow at the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Aunnie’s social investment in Africa. Read more about her work at: www.apsocialfinance.com
She’s a scientist by training, but editor of Inside|Out by profession. She has a Bachelor of Science (Medical) Honours from the University of Cape Town and 10 years experience as a health and science journalist. She was a Mondi Magazine Award finalist and the international winner of the 2006 Novo Nordisk Media Prize for Excellence in Diabetes Writing. In 2011 she co-authored The Story of the Fly and How it Could Save the World with enviro-entrepreneur Jason Drew. She’s contributed to various publications including Shape, Men’s Health, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, The Oprah Magazine, Discovery and Hip2B2.
How to give your impact measurement a makeover (#1)
By Elena Mancebo Masa
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The numbers are telling. While 86.9% of organisations in South Africa’s development sector consider impact measurement a crucial process, a whole 61.7% of them recognise that they don’t do enough of it. Let’s think about why this may be. And while we’re at it, let’s look at some impact-measurement case studies and practical tips on […]
Inside | Elena Mancebo Masa
She is senior researcher at Creative Consulting & Development Works (www.developmentworks.co.za), a research, evaluation and communications consultancy servicing the development sector in South Africa and the region. Elena is a seasoned development practitioner with expertise in socio-economic research, monitoring and evaluation. She’s been trained in Social Return on Investment by the SROI Network. She has also consulted with many organisations on how to improve business operations while contributing to a community’s social and economic change. Elena loves to hike in Cape Town’s beautiful mountains. Her latest pastime, however, is motocross bikes, which her two-year-old son chose for her.
How to give your impact measurement a makeover (#2)
By Elena Mancebo Masa
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If you’re paralysed by the belief that your work is “unmeasurable” or by the fear of not being sufficiently accurate, you will never start the process of understanding your impact. Choosing what to measure Also, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to evaluation. Different development projects require different tactics – which is also true for their […]
Inside | Elena Mancebo Masa
She is senior researcher at Creative Consulting & Development Works (www.developmentworks.co.za), a research, evaluation and communications consultancy servicing the development sector in South Africa and the region. Elena is a seasoned development practitioner with expertise in socio-economic research, monitoring and evaluation. She’s been trained in Social Return on Investment by the SROI Network. She has also consulted with many organisations on how to improve business operations while contributing to a community’s social and economic change. Elena loves to hike in Cape Town’s beautiful mountains. Her latest pastime, however, is motocross bikes, which her two-year-old son chose for her.
Impact measurement: How to do it properly
By Elena Mancebo Masa
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1. Include M&E as part of the project plan Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) doesn’t have to be long and intensive. It can be streamlined and built into your programme for more efficiency. 2. Advocate for M&E You have many more chances of achieving your intended impact if you start evaluating on day one. Include it […]
Inside | Elena Mancebo Masa
She is senior researcher at Creative Consulting & Development Works (www.developmentworks.co.za), a research, evaluation and communications consultancy servicing the development sector in South Africa and the region. Elena is a seasoned development practitioner with expertise in socio-economic research, monitoring and evaluation. She’s been trained in Social Return on Investment by the SROI Network. She has also consulted with many organisations on how to improve business operations while contributing to a community’s social and economic change. Elena loves to hike in Cape Town’s beautiful mountains. Her latest pastime, however, is motocross bikes, which her two-year-old son chose for her.
Risky Business Sense
By Loren Treisman
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Commercial investors are reluctant to invest in early-stage innovations and entrepreneurships in Africa. Why? Because they’re considered too risky. But this particular grant-maker is stepping in to fill the gap. Why? Because it’s worth it. Here’s how venture philanthropy really pays off. Risk is an important part of my job. I’m the executive of Indigo […]
Inside | Loren Treisman
She has a PhD from Cambridge and expertise in international development, governance, health and the use of technology to spur social change. She’s the Executive of Indigo Trust, a grant-making foundation that supports tech-driven projects in Africa, particularly those involving innovation, transparency and citizen empowerment. Loren regularly presents at conferences and writes for the international press, including The Guardian, CNN and the BBC. She was named one of the 20 Powerful Women to Watch in 2014 in The Huffington Post. She also likes to go camping just about every weekend.
Success story: How iCow scaled and scaled
By Loren Treisman
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Three years ago the Indigo Trust came in as sole funder of Kenyan farming SMS service, iCow. The trust ended up awarding £87 782 in total, but the company now has 150 000 users and a signed deal with the country’s largest mobile operator Safaricom. Founder of iCow, Su Kahumbu, tells us more… “We provide […]
Inside | Loren Treisman
She has a PhD from Cambridge and expertise in international development, governance, health and the use of technology to spur social change. She’s the Executive of Indigo Trust, a grant-making foundation that supports tech-driven projects in Africa, particularly those involving innovation, transparency and citizen empowerment. Loren regularly presents at conferences and writes for the international press, including The Guardian, CNN and the BBC. She was named one of the 20 Powerful Women to Watch in 2014 in The Huffington Post. She also likes to go camping just about every weekend.
Solving local problems with local solutions (#1)
By Moses Wasamu
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Drones. Grain silos. Biogas. These Kenyan innovations are having great impact both on the ground and in the air. They work because they find answers to local challenges from inside the sectors and communities they serve. Community slaughterhouse turns waste into portable biogas Michael Njau laments the fact that Kenya’s economic growth strategy does not […]
Inside | Moses Wasamu
Moses is a Kenyan communication specialist who writes on media, health, education, youth affairs, religion and new technology. He’s based in Nairobi, but writes for various international publications including The Star in Kenya, the New Internationalist (UK), World Magazine (US), Christianity Today (US), and Christian Times (Juba). He was a Joel Belz Media Fellow in 2012 and a Citizen News Service Health Fellow in 2013. When he’s not writing for work, Moses reads, writes and blogs for leisure… or watches soccer.
Solving local problems with local solutions (#2)
By Moses Wasamu
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Community silos benefit farmers and food security The East African Grain Council recently announced that post-harvest losses in the region are estimated at Ksh 134.4 billion (or US $1.6 million) a year. That’s almost equivalent to the total food aid received in East Africa annually! Poor transportation, drying and storage, pest infestation, disease and market […]
Inside | Moses Wasamu
Moses is a Kenyan communication specialist who writes on media, health, education, youth affairs, religion and new technology. He’s based in Nairobi, but writes for various international publications including The Star in Kenya, the New Internationalist (UK), World Magazine (US), Christianity Today (US), and Christian Times (Juba). He was a Joel Belz Media Fellow in 2012 and a Citizen News Service Health Fellow in 2013. When he’s not writing for work, Moses reads, writes and blogs for leisure… or watches soccer.
Solving local problems with local solutions (#3)
By Moses Wasamu
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Local journalists use drones to elevate African news Some call them Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), others prefer Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), but we’ll just call them drones. The technology is a touch controversial because of its military origin. But drones are also useful for civilian purposes – one of which is improving journalism and reporting, […]
Inside | Moses Wasamu
Moses is a Kenyan communication specialist who writes on media, health, education, youth affairs, religion and new technology. He’s based in Nairobi, but writes for various international publications including The Star in Kenya, the New Internationalist (UK), World Magazine (US), Christianity Today (US), and Christian Times (Juba). He was a Joel Belz Media Fellow in 2012 and a Citizen News Service Health Fellow in 2013. When he’s not writing for work, Moses reads, writes and blogs for leisure… or watches soccer.
What do civil society activist do – and not do?
By Kayum Ahmed
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Civil society activists in Johannesburg are usually associated with protest marches, T-shirts with cool slogans, and Braamfontein. As CEO of the South African Human Rights Commission, I attend meetings instead of marches and wear, not T-shirts, but pinstripe suits. Do we have anything in common? The one thing I have in common with my civil […]
Inside | Kayum Ahmed
He is CEO of the South African Human Rights Commission and a recipient of the Leiden University Nelson Mandela Scholarship, and the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans Award. Kayum is a board member of the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics and a member of the Millennium Development Goals National Coordinating Committee for South Africa.
Is it true that South African employees don’t care about investing responsibly?
By Dr Stephanie Giamporcaro
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Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder if there’s a disconnect between our values and our money. I’m a senior lecturer at the UCT Graduate School of Business. Every year when the time comes to review my retirement fund, I wonder why, despite the fact that I’m currently working for one of the most dynamic and […]
Inside | Dr Stephanie Giamporcaro
She has a PhD from la Sorbonne on the Sustainable and Responsible Investment market in France. She’s published a range of peer- reviewed articles, a book on political consumption and the African Investing for Impact Barometer. A self-confessed “true Parisian”, Stephanie is now based in Cape Town where she’s a senior lecturer and research director at the UCT Graduate School of Business. She still likes to spend time cooking decadent French and Italian meals for friends. But these days, (like a true Capetonian), she sometimes likes to hike.
African innovation: The leapfrogs and left-behinds
By Dr Jolyon Ford
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For all the excitement about innovation in Africa, one cannot simply use it to “leapfrog” over all problems. And where does that leave the role of society and state? First, some questions: 1 Is the term “innovation” being abused in the contemporary African growth story? 2 How do tech-based innovations and other “leapfrogs” relate to […]
Inside | Dr Jolyon Ford
Originally from Zimbabwe, Jo is an associate of the Global Economic Governance programme at Oxford University. His PhD was on “Peacebuilding and the Private Sector: regulating business after conflict,” and he’s worked extensively in government, intergovernmental projects, civil society, academia and consulting. Mainly, Jo’s focus is on sub-Saharan Africa, and in navigating society’s changing expectations of business, from “resource nationalism” to an innovative blend of “people, planet and profit”. This article is partly drawn from a May 2014 post on Jolyon’s insightful blog, www.privatesector-publicworld.blogspot.co.uk.
Reformed gangsters transform a community
By Khethiwe Cele
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The CeaseFire concept was imported from the US to clean up crime in Cape Town’s notorious suburb, Hanover Park. But local context and community involvement is making the project especially successful in this locale. And so is an approach that treats it like a brand… and like a gang. The problem of gangsterism is a […]
Inside | Khethiwe Cele
After dabbling in chemistry and teaching English in South Korea, Khethiwe has found her place and purpose in the social sector. She has an MBA from the UCT Graduate School of Business – her research focussed on Social Impact Bonds and prisoner reinsertion. She now manages the Social Franchising Accelerator at the Bertha Centre, a project that helps organisations to scale their work. In addition to spreading social impact, Khethiwe is passionate about community safety and helping formerly incarcerated people reintegrate into society. “I believe incredible potential can be found in some of the most overlooked places and people – especially prisoners,” she says. “One day, I’ll start a venture that will show this to the world.”
How do we pay for crime prevention?
By Khethiwe Cele
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Clearly, violence seriously undermines the development of many low- and middle-income communities and countries. But violence prevention requires significant resources to be holistically and appropriately applied. Interventions for prisoner rehabilitation and gangster reform are complex creatures that require effort from various levels of government, society and the business community. In the South African prisoner reintegration […]
Inside | Khethiwe Cele
After dabbling in chemistry and teaching English in South Korea, Khethiwe has found her place and purpose in the social sector. She has an MBA from the UCT Graduate School of Business – her research focussed on Social Impact Bonds and prisoner reinsertion. She now manages the Social Franchising Accelerator at the Bertha Centre, a project that helps organisations to scale their work. In addition to spreading social impact, Khethiwe is passionate about community safety and helping formerly incarcerated people reintegrate into society. “I believe incredible potential can be found in some of the most overlooked places and people – especially prisoners,” she says. “One day, I’ll start a venture that will show this to the world.”
Inside | Out is published by The Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship, hosted at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
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