As others here have mentioned, the contentious political climate and backlash to impact-focused business/investing is also a challenge for media sites like ours. We’re trying to keep tabs on these evolving issues and news stories, bringing them to our readers when they seem relevant, because they can have a real impact on the work of our readers, social entrepreneurs/investors in particular. But it’s also important to avoid amplifying overly inflammatory voices or perspectives that don’t really add to the conversation in a constructive way. This is becoming more difficult as the social impact sector becomes more of a political football, unfortunately.
1 Like
I fully agree with you. The economic losses resulting from COVID pandemic disproportionately affected countries in the SSA compared to other regions in the world. Unfortunately, climate change is compounding the challenge and the situation is worsened by the fact that, this region has the least adaptive capacities
1 Like
Agree that it is vital to address gender differences in climate change’s effects. One small thing that Root Capital is doing is resourcing women-led efforts to react to climate change’s impacts through one-time grants. We had the opportunity to share what these grants can unlock on Business Fights Poverty a couple of years ago.
Thanks, Justin! Yes we are collaborating with him and his team through the initiative, Beyond Bretton Woods. There will be a conference the first week of May at Middlebury College in Vermont, USA.
Hi my Name is Vivine Ruhindana, I am currently based in Kigali Rwanda. I work as communication officer for Practical Action Rwanda
A1: Continued. Challenges for us and our local partners is linked to accessing climate adaptation funding for the most vulnerable, whom face many barriers such as the long processes for accreditation and unrealistic standards that local civil society organizations need the support to urgently adapt and mitigate. UNEP Adaptation Gap Report 2023 states: The adaptation finance needs of developing countries are 10-18 times as great as international public finance flows – over 50 percent higher than the previous estimated range. Adaptation Gap Report 2023 | UNEP - UN Environment Programme
2 Likes
Hi everyone,
Rucha Naware from the UN’s Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF) here. Since we became operational a little over two years ago, a key challenge for us has been on how we can change the view and interest in sanitation, hygiene and menstrual health from public expenditure burdens to potential investment opportunities generating social and economic returns. Access to sanitation, hygiene and menstrual health is fundamental for health, socioeconomic opportunities and wellbeing. Yet, 3.4 billion people worldwide continue to lack access to safe, sustainable toilets and 1 in 4 women and girls struggle to manage their menstruation safely, and with dignity. This is a missed opportunity for growth, for sustainable development, for gender equality. It is also a missed opportunity for investment.
With a ready market that will always have demand, innovative market-based approaches can change the game for SDG target 6.2 entirely and our key challenge in 2024 is going to be to mainstream our vision for national sanitation economies and menstrual hygiene marketplaces and bring in public and private finance to deliver sustainable, in every sense of the term, access for all. You can find out more about our approach and model on www.shfund.org
1 Like
A1:
Children are facing multiple crises in 2024 which require concerted action and impact from business, civil society, multi-lateral organizations and government.
Political Instability and Conflict (Humanitarian Action for Children 2022 Overview): In conflict and disaster, children suffer first and suffer most. During emergencies and humanitarian contexts, children are especially vulnerable to disease, malnutrition and violence. Children living in conflict areas are worst off – they are more likely to be living in extreme poverty, for instance, or not enrolled in primary school. The chaos and insecurity of war threatens or destroys access to food, shelter, social support and health care, and results in increased vulnerability in communities, especially for children. The escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip is having a catastrophic impact on children and families. Children are dying at an alarming rate – thousands have been killed and thousands more injured. More than 1.9 million people in the Gaza Strip are estimated to have been internally displaced – half of them children. They do not have enough access to water, food, fuel and medicine. Their homes have been destroyed; their families torn apart.
Climate Change (The climate-changed child) : The climate crisis is not just changing the planet – it is changing children. From the moment of conception until they grow into adulthood, the health and development of children’s brains, lungs, immune systems and other critical functions are affected by the environment they grow up in. Geography does not protect against climate change; it is affecting children everywhere – even in in high-income countries – and the world is not doing nearly enough to protect them. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Children are not like little adults. Their bodies and minds are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change such as pollution, deadly diseases and extreme weather.
Global Health Inequities (Health) : Tremendous progress in child and maternal health has been achieved over the past decades. More children today live to celebrate their fifth birthday, while fewer women lose their lives during pregnancy and childbirth. But millions are still dying from causes that can be prevented with quality health care and strong health systems – like communicable and non-communicable diseases, mental health conditions, injuries, malnutrition and environmental hazards. Within and among countries, stark inequities persist when it comes to accessing live-saving care. Women and children living in poverty or with a disability are especially likely to be cut off from the services they need to survive and thrive. And for those suffering through violent conflicts, natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies, the risk of disease and malnutrition soars. Through it all, demographic changes threaten to strain global health systems. As fertility rates drop and life expectancies rise, income growth is also shifting young people into wealthier – but not necessarily healthier – environments. The next generation of children will live in an older, more urban world, with more people dependent on those in the workforce as public health emergencies and climate crises accelerate.
3 Likes
Peg, you probably know that I was working with STC in Madagascar on our vanilla projects for a number of years.
One of the challenges relates to Lifting and Shifting Proven Practices
There still tends to be a certain belief that new projects designed to address socio-economic and environmental challenges on the ground that they need their own unique “Theory of Change” and due to differences in hands-on experience combined with the frequency of personnel shift within implementing organisations can give rise to situations in which “wheels get reinvented” and sadly, the same mistakes get re-made. We need collectively to find better ways of sharing lessons.
2 Likes
Hello, thank you. Our biggest challenge is related to communications: how do we share with the world how the Poverty Stoplight works with our efforts to eliminarte poverty within companies…We are now reaching more than 350.000 families in 58 countries
1 Like
Hi Katie. One of the major challenges we face is growing inequalities between those who can participate in the global economy and those who can’t. Taking an African perspective: Young people represent 40% of the population, and unemployment rates are through the roof. African youth are not well prepared to face the challenges of the 21st century due to education systems having not kept up with the speed of change in society, the environment and the economy. Too many young people lack optimism, capabilities, and confidence. At Ashoka a key priority in 2024 is to ensure that young people can grow up building core changemaker skills and therefore can thrive, contribute meaningfully to society and navigate the job market.
4 Likes
A1. A concern as technology evolves is technology facilitated abuse. NO MORE Foundation is hosting a global technology DV panel on March 5th with experts from Australia, India, etc. For more information www.nomore.org.
2 Likes
A1: One of my challenges is finding funding partners with whom to create and test innovative last mile distribution and installation models to increase affordability and adoption of household WASH solutions in rural Africa and Asia. Any ideas/leads!? 
A1
Youth Mental Health (https://www.unicef.org/on-my-mind): In every part of the world, poor mental health causes suffering for children and young people. It is a top cause of death, disease and disability, especially for older adolescents.
Water Security (Reimagining WASH): Children around the world are increasingly facing challenges due to water scarcity, a situation exacerbated by a combination of climate change, mismanagement of water resources, and rapid population growth. UNICEF estimates over 1.42 billion people, including 450 million children, live in areas of high or extremely high water vulnerability. This means that one in five children globally does not have enough water to meet their everyday needs. The consequences of water scarcity are multifaceted and particularly severe for children. In areas with high water vulnerability, children often miss school to fetch water, suffer from malnutrition and stunting due to diminished food supplies, and face increased risks of waterborne illnesses during floods. Additionally, children in more than 80 countries, especially in Eastern and Southern Africa, West and Central Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East, live in areas with high or extremely high water vulnerability. Water scarcity not only limits access to safe drinking water but also impacts basic hygiene practices at home, in schools, and in healthcare facilities. The scarcity of water can lead to the failure of sewage systems and a surge in diseases like cholera. Furthermore, water scarcity disproportionately affects women and children, who are often responsible for collecting water. This responsibility can lead to physical burdens, safety risks, and reduced time for education, particularly impacting girls’ school attendance and performance.
Education and Skills Gap (Education): A major issue is that a large number of young people are not acquiring the skills necessary for today’s job market. This contributes to a global skills gap and exacerbates youth unemployment. Young people often struggle to identify which skills are needed for future employment and face difficulties in accessing relevant skills training. There is a disconnect between education and training systems and the requirements of the employment market, particularly in terms of digital access and the verification of acquired skills.There’s a growing gap between what education systems are providing and the actual needs of children, communities, and economies. The learning crisis is a significant global challenge to preparing children and adolescents for life, work, and active citizenship. Conventional education systems are not sufficiently improving learning outcomes, necessitating a radical approach focused on enhancing these outcomes and equipping young people with a broad range of skills to navigate various life challenges.
Technological Disruption (Artificial Intelligence): Technological disruptions through AI and correctly being able to harness it is a potential challenge the world faces in 2024 yet it is also an opportunity.
1 Like
Yes and no - my mother grew up on a family farm but was still able to go to school, have time to play and read, and go on to become a teacher. Child labor as defined legally and in practice is different - interferes significantly with children’s physical well-being, access to education, etc. Poverty is the main driver. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
1 Like
Hi @kduffey - Agreed. Echoes one of my responses - we need the finance flows (not just the big announcements of commitments!) - but we also need local ownership in the places where the change is needed.
4 Likes
Thanks for this Ali ! I agree with you around the point of the potential vacuum in moral leadership, and would also add that the issues ahead also (already) offer an opportunity for the Global Majority (Global South) to also step up into leadership positions - we’re seeing today the West’s ‘claim to moral superiority’ is also being challenged. So how do we use this as an opportunity to also pave a new way forward in which the global majority can take leadership not only in implementing solutions, but designing those alongside the Global North/Global Minority.
3 Likes
A1 Challenge 4: Children’s mental health and wellbeing due to the climate uncertain future**
Given the increased dialogues and media attention to climate change over the recent years, emerging research has been conducted on the links between climate change and mental health. Highlighting the importance to not only viewing climate change as a threat to our physical health but also our psychological health. Gender differences are also noted, where women/girls are at higher risks to climate change impacts to their livelihoods, and access to resources and information all of which can lead to increased mental health risks. This is especially important for children and youth growing up in an uncertain climate and environment. Studies have shown that children and youth are most vulnerable to experiencing climate anxiety as they see their future as likely to be more challenging with climate change threats than older generations. These feelings vary between countries around the world, with those most exposed to climate change threats having more negative emotions concerning climate change and their future. Youth’s social media exposure to a vast amount of climate information and doom and gloom stories can also be seen as a large culprit. But there is hope and positivity with this exposure as well, youth due to their overload of climate awareness and access to the internet have led to movements and calls of action to protect the world… which was never seen in previous generations. : Mental Health and Our Changing Climate Children and Youth Report 2023 - ecoAmerica
4 Likes
Strongly agree with this point.
1 Like
CottonConnect recently conducted a ‘Materiality Review’ with over 100 stakeholders in the cotton supply chain. 4 key areas were highlighted:
Soil health has become the most important environmental factor
Health, hygiene, and safety remains the most important social factor, with children’s rights/labour rising to second place
A lack of resources and rights for women farmers
Cotton market price most important economic factor, with farmer debt rising to second place
3 Likes