As the coronavirus crisis takes its toll on societies and economies around the world, the need for the global social investment market to come together to tackle the challenges ahead and help the recovery has never been greater.
This page collates and shares a range of the latest news, tools and learning from social investors across the world as they respond to COVID-19, but is by no means exhaustive. We will aim to evolve this page as responses develop. If you have any additional items not listed here, please get in touch with the team.
Latest news
- How global tech is helping in the COVID-19 fight
- UN launches COVID-19 plan that could ‘defeat the virus and build a better world'
- Development Finance Institutions Join Forces to Respond to COVID-19 in Developing Countries[TG3]
- African Development Bank launches record breaking $3 billion “Fight COVID-19” Social Bond
- Three Ways AVPN Members Have Responded to COVID-19 in Greater China
- UK aid and Unilever to target a billion people in global handwashing campaign
- £744 million of UK aid committed to the global fight against coronavirus
- The upside of sustainable investing in a down market (Impact Alpha subscription required)
- 2X Challenge and Gender Finance Collaborative response to COVID-19
Webinars
April – May: Global Responses to a Global Pandemic webinar series: Sharing Philanthropy's Response to COVID-19
As the global community for investors for impact, AVPA, AVPN, EVPA & IVPC (LatImpacto) have launched a 4-part series to share lessons and philanthropic responses from across the world.
Social investors taking action
Ashoka fellows in 90+ countries are responding to the crisis addressing issues such as the frontline health response, combating isolation, mental health and new ways of working (statement)
British Patient Capital has committed to the continued delivery of their investment programme, including considering new investments as before (statement)
EIB Group has proposed a plan to mobilise up to EUR40 billion of financing for bridging loans, credit holidays, and other measures designed to alleviate liquidity for SMEs and mid-cap companies (statement)
Ford Foundation leading a coalition of 15+ foundations in the US providing no-interest, unsecured loans of up to $3 million to non-profits in NYC (“NYC COVID-19 Impact Fund”)
CDC is “open for business” but with a focus on funding for existing partners (statement)
Soros Economic Development Fund, the impact investment arm of the Open Society Foundations, is supporting existing investments and continuing to provide catalytic capital (statement)
World Bank and IFC approved an increased $14 billion package of fast-track financing to assist companies and countries in their efforts to prevent, detect and respond to the rapid spread of COVID-19 (statement)
Useful tools
- Duke's business school has put together a searchable database of grants, loans and cash equivalents that can help entrepreneurs and non-profits access COVID-19 support anywhere in the world. It includes a few UK initiatives, such as the Good Finance website
- An interactive tool from Devex explores who is funding the COVID-19 response and the funding priorities
- The European Foundation Centre has created a regularly updated list of how its members are mitigating the impact of COVID-19
- The Aspen Network for Development Entrepreneurs has put together a list of resources to support organisations during the COVID-19 crisis, it includes planning and resourcing tools (such as EY resources on resilient enterprises and crisis management resources via Endeavour Entrepreneur); tools for working and collaborating remotely; events, discussions and webinars and innovations and funding initiatives
- StartupBlink has created a global map of innovative solutions created in response to COVID-19
- CDC group (the UK’s development finance institution) COVID-19 resource hub
