This report is the result of a detailed study on ‘Regulatory Barriers and Levers for Deploying Foreign Catalytic Capital in Impact-Focused Enterprises, Funds & Facilities in India’ conducted by Desai & Associates (D&A) in partnership with Prime Coalition and with the support of the Lemelson Foundation. Overall, the study has the following key objectives:
1. Map the different financial pathways for aggregating US and European catalytic capital in India to support Indian social enterprises, defined as both for-profit and nonprofit enterprises with a social and/or environmental mission.
2. Assess the legal, structural, financial, and operational challenges of channeling capital via these pathways and identify potential solutions, including recommendations for possible intermediation to bring catalytic capital into India.
3. Develop a shared taxonomy for funders and recipients of catalytic capital, and create a public report useful to all stakeholders interested in bringing such capital into India.
This paper highlights the importance of creating good-quality economic opportunities in middle income countries. It makes the case that harnessing the opportunities of frontier and emerging technologies is a pivotal investment opportunity. It also argues that digital transformation strategies should not be separate from job creation strategies, calling for a whole-of-government approach in collaboration with social partners. The paper concludes by providing examples of where innovative use of technology has led to good job creation in middle-income countries.
This paper marks the concluding milestone of the Global Future Council on Job Creation, building on its previous briefing paper, Key Issues Shaping and Driving Global Job Creation.
South Africa’s bold initiative amplifies township entrepreneurs' contributions, driving inclusive growth and showcasing peri-urban innovation on the world stage.
Explore climate insights and unpack climate challenges with Global Business Inroads (GBI).
The ESEA team’s Scale through SCALE Workshop in Vietnam showcased valuable insights from a panel discussion centered on five key pillars: selecting the right enterprises, implementing cost-sharing to enhance performance, addressing critical challenges, leveraging evaluation for growth, and leading by example. These discussions underscore the significance of fostering a dynamic, inclusive ecosystem to empower scalable and impactful entrepreneurship across Southeast Asia.
A new research report by Mercy Corps explores the specific conditions and trends that shape the application of data for climate resilience in emerging markets.
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are at the heart of our economies and societies and play a crucial role in achieving global climate goals. They represent over 90% of businesses and 50% of greenhouse gas emissions globally.
Our research shows a growing paradox: while more SMEs recognize the importance of climate action, the barriers to taking effective action are also increasing. This widening gap demands urgent attention.
The challenge: the need to take climate action is intensifying, with more SMEs reporting that they have been directly impacted by climate change. 70% report experiencing direct effects on their business in the past year. These impacts include supply chain disruptions (39%), damage to assets or property (25%), and loss of productivity (24%).