Author Archive:
Farahnaz Karim
Rethinking governance in philanthropy: where is the forgotten stakeholder?
Much has been written about the debate between trust-based philanthropy and those who are seeking greater evidence to guide their giving. The irony of this debate is that it is taking place in a macro …
‘Climate’ is not a stand-alone issue: Unpacking climate through five disciplinary lenses
Is ESG a distraction from climate action? This was the question recently posed by the New York Times to a panel of experts in a brilliant debate as part of its Climate Forward conference held …
Village to global village: Making sense of impact, ESG, and other ‘good’ ideas
Impact at the village level In my first ‘field posting’ as a United Nations Volunteer, I remember (as if it were yesterday) going on a journey to Farah, a province in Afghanistan, to report on …
How to help Afghans? Suggestions for impactful and respectful giving
The security and political crisis in Afghanistan has touched many around the world who are ready to help, host and welcome Afghan refugees as the Taliban carefully calibrate and repackage their religious brand, using a …
The nature of capital and other threats to impact
Human nature and its constructs Capitalism is arguably our triumphant ideology, a foundational construct that orders our lives and societies. It fuels an entire system where private profit (and ego) stimulates creativity, innovation, complex systems, …
Riding the impact wave: The brave new world
In this uncertain era, many are re-imagining and preparing for a Brave New World. A world where profit is inextricably linked to people and the planet; a world where disciplines such as economics and accounting …
A call for ‘timely’ capital
The reality of fund-raising for those seeking ‘patient capital’ has proven more elusive than the current optimistic narrative about impact investing would suggest, and it begs the question: can capital really be patient? The unstated …
