AVPN and a new venture called OutcomesX has today launched an initiative called the Social Outcomes Platform across Asia. Initial financing comes from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, google.org and the Sorenson Impact Foundation.  Inspired in part by initiatives such as social impact bonds and the carbon off-setting market, the social outputs marketplace is designed to make it easier for funders to clearly see project outputs, and for impact organisations to verify social outcomes …

A gender finance gap for women entrepreneurs remains systemic in the Philippines, according to a report published by Japan-based Sasakawa Peace Foundation.  Women own the majority of micro, small and medium companies in the Philippines. Microfinance has become increasingly common for women borrowers, but they face barriers towards accessing finance beyond that.  Women entrepreneurs rely heavily on personal savings and borrowing from friends and family, or sales to finance their business in the early years …

India’s mental health crisis is severely underfunded, despite attempts by philanthropic and private sector resources to bridge the gap.  A study published by the Centre for Asian Philanthropy India (CAPI), named ‘Mindful Investments: Philanthropy for Mental Health in India’ reports that donors increasingly focus on initiatives that prevent and mitigate the stigma of mental health.   A combination of stigma, limited understanding about mental health and the high cost of treatment has resulted in a ‘treatment …

A raft of funding commitments from government and philanthropic bodies has accompanied the start of a major gathering of philanthropy and impact investors in Abu Dhabi. The announcements at AVPN Global – a network that brings together philanthropic and impact investors from across Asia and beyond – included commitments from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, global health programmes driven by the philanthropy of the UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and a …