Every December as the world gets ready to celebrate the holiday season, I find myself getting into an ever reflective mood. I reflect on my own performance and that of IIXand Shujog for the year. This year the reflection took on a multi-decade dimension as I, along with millions around the world, internalized President Mandela’s death.
It was President Mandela and South Africa’s fight to end Apartheid that prompted me to join hands with a group of brave women at Smith College in 1985 and take over College Hall in order to make Smith College divest from South Africa. That first public demonstration of fight for equality led me to create and run first oneNest and then IIX and Shujog, impacting the lives of millions. Sitting here today all I can say is ‘Thank you, President Mandela for freeing my spirit and that of millions to do the right thing’.
Friends, enjoy this IQ where we take you to the new horizon of scaling, incubation, land management and 'greening' of the impact investing space.
We wish you a peaceful and blessed Holiday Season.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Happy Impactful 2014!
Warm wishes
Durreen Shahnaz
Founder
IIX and Shujog
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Season's Greetings and Happy 2014
Redefining Growth
Achieving Green Economy through Investment in Productive Land
One of our most valuable assets is productive land. Land is needed to produce essential goods and services such as food, water, wood, fibre, fuel and minerals. When managed responsibly, land also regulates the good functioning of vital ecosystem services such as photosynthesis, pollination, nutrient cycling, water purification, soil formation, climate stabilisation and flood prevention. Read more.
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In the Spotlight
Latest deals: The IIX team has recently facilitated investment for two social enterprises: affordable energy distributor for rural Indians Frontier Markets based in Rajasthan, India and Bali's first large-scale cashew processing facility using eco-friendly practices and providing rural employment to over 200 people, East Bali Cashews. Read more.
At Shujog, we have been advocating the potential role of SEs in Climate Change Adaptation for the past two years through talks, articles and events. Now we have decided it is time to go beyond words and take concrete steps in making Adaptation an integral part of the social challenges SEs can address. With this in mind, we are in the process of designing a new program that will help tackle the Adaptation challenge by bringing in private sector resources through impact investing and social enterprises. Read more.
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Country Insights
Impact Investing in Australia
‘The fact that I paint an aspiration, doesn't mean I don’t see the 27 fire dragons and pits between us and it’. Having recently finished a series on Impact Investment in Australia for ABC Radio National, this comment from local change maker Rosemary Addis is a neat summary of where we’re at. Energy and enthusiasm abound with plenty of obstacles still to master. Read more. …………………………………………………………….
Reflections
Holistic Approach to Sustainable Development
Sustainable development has been the mantra for multilateral financial institutions such as Asian Development Bank (ADB) since its inception. The challenge always remains how to embrace sustainability in a holistic way — socially, environmentally and financially. We spoke to Mr. Woochong Um, Deputy Director General for Regional and Sustainable Development Department of the Asian Development Bank about his views on how ADB is tackling greening of the social sector and more holistic sustainable development. Read more.
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Investor's Corner
How to Run an Effective Incubator
As the impact investing space is moving towards mainstream, it is becoming essential for the industry to embrace the best practices of traditional business. One such practice is to understand how to become attractive to the venture capital firms. Read more. …………………………………………………………….
Our Impact
(From left to right)- New Accredited Impact Assessor graduates; ICCO Conference Manila; Social Enterprise Showcase; Green Economy Green Growth, Yangon Conference.
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Partner Feature
From Ideas to Practice, Pilots to Strategy
On December 17 2013, the World Economic Forum released From Ideas to Practice, Pilots to Strategy.The report provides investors, philanthropists and other professionals with actionable insights of how to incorporate impact investing into their work. Read more. ……………………………………………………….
Advocacy News
Impact Chat at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Investing in Nature
On 7 December 2013, Shujog and IIX held their last Impact Chat of the year, taking a break to reflect on Investing in Nature. The Chat was held at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, one of Singapore’s priority conservation areas, away from the busy city life. Read more. …………………………………………………………….
Voices from the Field
(From left to right)- T.A. for Prakti, Philippines; Impact Assessment for Bote Central; Impact Assessment for Glovax, Philippines; Impact Framework for Bakha Tea.
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Technical Assistance for Prakti
Prakti is an innovative company that designs, manufactures and sells quality cook stoves to low-income communities across India, as well as in conflict and disaster zones like Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Read more.
Our impact in
numbers
IIX
Facilitated
$8 million across
9impact investment deals impacting
7 Million People across Asia benefitting from improved access to water, education, renewable energy, inclusive finance, and environmental protection
$9.5 million Social value created over next 3 years
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Shujog
988,242
underserved people benefitting from increased efficiency and effectiveness of social value creation
1268 professionals introduced to the ecosystem through education and training
20,000 people exposed to social enterprises and impactinvesting
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What's on?
Impact Forum 2014 – The most awaited event of the year
Impact Forum 2014 “From Niche to Mass”is the premier gathering in Asia for global stakeholders in the social capital market. This maturing space has the potential to transform business as usual, and together – investors, investees and intermediaries – will brainstorm how to deepen and accelerate social finance, taking it from novel to mainstream. Impact Forum 2014 is a call to action, and we invite you to be one of the many leaders who is ready to galvanize transformational change. Read more. __________________________
Jane Bay, Director, Advocacy "I am excited to help shape the Impact Investment and Social Enterprise landscape with my fellow inspired colleagues with key initiatives and actions; translating what we do from niche to the mass." Read more.
Florence Seet, Advocacy "It is thrilling to have an opportunity to work with a team focusing on creating impact. I look forward to spreading our mission and sharing our expertise." Read more.
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Emmeline Lim, Research and Impact Assessment "I am excited to be able to contribute to the work of Shujog in fostering the growth and investment-readiness of social enterprises in Asia." Read more.
Thuy Tien Tran, Corporate Finance "I am excited to learn more about impact investment in Southeast Asia and help social enterprises to gain access to capital through my work with the IIX Impact Partners team." Read more.
Dhruv Angresh,
"I am excited to be a part of the Shujog team where I am exposed to social solutions — something I learned about UWC" Read more.
Maria Fernanda Palmieri, Advocacy "Using business solutions for social problems is something I strived for and it is great that I can make it happen at Shujog, especially through advocacy." Read more. __________________________
Case Studies
IIX recently facilitated investments into Frontier Markets (FM), a last-mile sales and distribution company that offers clean energy products and superior after-sales service to low-income, base of the pyramid (BOP) households in rural India. Read our latest case studies here.
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Shujog Research
Shujog Research is targeted at impact investors, Social Enterprises (SEs), policy makers and any practitioners interested in the SE space in Asia. The dissemination of Shujog’s research work ensures the lessons learned inform active engagement with SEs, NGOs, government and impact investors. Read more.
