What we think

It is such a privilege to know how many of you incredible people are making change happen day in, day out. You let us in to your world and we experience your passion and commitment to impact. It gives us hope.

This year we have worked with remarkable people and organisations who are working to: support communities in West Africa; increase socio-economic impact of conservation; strengthen the UKs position on development, tackle corruption, support people living with HIV/AIDs, scale access to WASH, provide advice to vulnerable people, deliver climate justice, decarbonise banks, and engage people with our lovely planet.

We know that 2023 will see the same love and energy flowing towards people and planet. Thank you.

This year, your seasonal message is in support of: 

• Emmaus: Providing a home and meaningful work for people who have experienced homelessness.  
• DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal: Providing urgent relief to the millions in Pakistan whose lives have been devastated by the floods. 
• Client Earth: Providing environmental change through the power of the law. 

This year we have worked with remarkable people and organisations striving to positively impact people and planet. People going above and beyond to creatively explore regenerative business, sustainability in food retail, tax reform and anti-corruption, support for communities with HIV/AIDs, housing access, universal WASH, sustainable pulp and paper, global health and sustainable development. It is a pleasure and a privilege to collaborate on such missions.

We hope that 2022 renews the energy, support and commitment to make a positive impact – whatever you do.
Happy ReNew Year!

This year, your seasonal message is in support of:
EMMAUS – a homeless charity offering active support to formerly homeless people and those at risk of homelessness.
DEC Coronavirus Appeal – Supporting people who are vulnerable and where vaccination rates are low.
Independent Food Aid Network – working so that everyone can afford to buy adequate, healthy, nutritious food.

Rachael

As the damage of the pandemic continues globally, with 100 million more people pushed into extreme poverty¹, the disruption in development funding is in critical focus.  Devastating cuts to aid are already being felt.  Fundraisers are adapting to the shift in aid spending and seeking routes to close the immediate funding gap.  Once seen as an area for exploration, the ability to unlock development finance is now essential. Significant not just to access established funding from institutions, but to close the gap to the ambition of the SDGs. 

The environmental movement has demonstrated that leveraging finance can mobilise large scale climate investments. The Dutch Fund for Climate and Development leverages institutional funds from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with leadership of the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, and WWF².  Or the Blue Impact Fund from WWF and Finance Earth, focuses on the UK sustainable Blue economy.  NGOs are benefitting from private finance to pursue their missions. 

Development Impact Bonds (DIBs) show how finance can help tackle development challenges, with government funding to underwrite the outcomes.  The British Asian Trust is demonstrating results after two years of running the largest education DIB the Quality Education India DIB.  While still not mainstream, and technical to set up, the leading DIBs indicate this is a credible funding route, alongside other finance mechanisms. 

The challenge for INGOs is to speak the language of finance and build the capacity of institutional fundraisers or new teams to operate in this space.  Sharing capacity with global partners and moving beyond ideology will also be needed.  It is time to be bold to regain losses and boost progress on Agenda 2030. 

By Annabel Marks and Rachael Clay 

Footnotes

¹ODA in 2020: Key facts from OECD DAC preliminary aid data – Development Initiatives (devinit.org) 

² Dutch Fund for Climate and Development is supported by Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, FMO, working with WWF and SNV.