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Tag: Africa social impact summit

  • Impact investors hold summit

    Impact investors hold summit

    The Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2024,with the  theme: “Reimagining Progress: A New Blueprint for Sustainable Growth in Africa,” set for July 25 and 26 at the Eko Convention Centre, is the definitive event for impact investors aiming to contribute meaningfully to Africa’s sustainable development.

    Scheduled for July 24, the ASIS investor roundtable offers a unique opportunity for investors to engage with top entrepreneurs, innovative startups, and leading development organisations. This pre-event is designed to encourage dialogue and collaboration, paving the way for impactful investments.

    Africa’s social impact space is burgeoning with opportunities. From healthcare and education to climate action and financial inclusion, the continent presents fertile ground for investments that yield both financial returns and social benefits. ESG principles and impact investing are not mere trends but essential components of sustainable development in Africa.

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    Investors are increasingly recognizing the value of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria in driving sustainable business practices. Green bonds, in particular, offer a promising avenue for funding environmentally friendly projects, aligning financial goals with social responsibility.

    “Impact investing is crucial for addressing Africa’s development challenges. ASIS 2024 offers a platform for investors to connect with transformative projects and initiatives that align with ESG principles. It’s an opportunity to drive significant social change while achieving sustainable financial returns,” stated Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation.

    ASIS 2024 promises to be a landmark event, attracting over 5,000 registrants from 70+ nationalities. With 50+ speakers and 20 deal room finalists, the summit is set to highlight the most innovative and impactful ventures in Africa.

  • Over 5,000 expected as Lagos hosts Africa Social Impact Summit

    Over 5,000 expected as Lagos hosts Africa Social Impact Summit

    Lagos State will host the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2024, an event that will bring together over 3,000 development and sustainability leaders from across the continent to accelerate progress towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    The summit, in partnership with Sterling One Foundation and the United Nations Nigeria, is scheduled to hold from July 25 to 26 at the Eko Hotels and Suites. It is themed ‘Reimagining Progress: A New Blueprint for Sustainable Growth in Africa’.

    Commissioner for Commerce, Trade, and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, at a news conference on the ASIS, said the summit ‘will serve as a global platform for effective collaboration and alignment by critical players in Africa’s social development sector, including state and non-state actors – social entrepreneurs, local and international impact investors, international development organisations, private sector and the government, to facilitate the all-inclusive achievement of the United Nations SDGs s2030, and the African Union Agenda 2063, with priority focus on Education, Circular Economy, Health, Climate Solutions, Food Security and WASH, which form the key thematic areas for discussion’.

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    She added: “According to the United Nations (UN) Progress Report on Sustainable Development Goals, Special Edition 2023, more than half of the world is left behind.

    Progress on more than 50 per cent of the targets of the SDGs is weak and insufficient. We therefore need to reverse this narrative by mobilising people and organisations as critical partners towards achieving the transformation and multifaceted solutions required to address the challenge. “Transformational partnerships need multiple actors to bring together essential complementary resources, especially knowledge and data sharing which, when combined, can create the levers required to transform systems from an unsustainable, undesirable state, to a more sustainable, progressive state that continues to provide benefits without continuous external inputs.

    “Thus, ASIS would serve as a global platform for effective collaboration and alignment by critical players in Africa’s social development sector, as the theme ‘Reimagining Progress’ implies.

    The summit would review transformative recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the decade of action for accelerating the implementation of the SDGs, and progress at the midpoint to the deadline for the 2030 agenda.

    “There would be a Social Enterprise Forum where business leaders, whose businesses are focused on social impact in thematic sectors, could pitch innovative solutions to potential investors and access funding to drive scale and accelerate impact. There will also be a tour of Lagos State’s notable investment destinations and tourist attractions hosted by the government and an event round-off networking dinner at the Eko Atlantic City.

    “At the end of the Summit, some of the expected outcomes include building result-oriented and innovative global and regional partnerships to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs.”

    The Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation and Convener of ASIS, Olapeju Ibekwe, said the summit has attracted interest from over 8,000 development and sustainability leaders from across 66 countries since its launch in 2022.

    She added that ASIS seeks to host impact investors and investees with a focus on Education and Youth Development, Food Security, Climate Solutions, Healthcare, Renewable Energy, WASH, and the transition to a Circular Economy.

  • Over 5000 expected as Lagos hosts Africa social impact summit

    Over 5000 expected as Lagos hosts Africa social impact summit

    Lagos State will host the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2024, an event that will bring together over 3,000 development and sustainability leaders from across the continent to accelerate progress towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    The summit, in partnership with Sterling One Foundation and the United Nations Nigeria, is scheduled to be held from July 25 to 26 at the Eko Hotels and Suites. It is themed ‘Reimagining Progress: A New Blueprint for Sustainable Growth in Africa’.

    Commissioner for Commerce, Trade, and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, at a news conference on the ASIS, said the summit ‘will serve as a global platform for effective collaboration and alignment by critical players in Africa’s social development sector, including state and non-state actors – social entrepreneurs, local and international impact investors, international development organizations, private sector, and the government, to facilitate the all-inclusive achievement of the United Nations SDGs 2030, and the African Union Agenda 2063, with priority focus on Education, Circular Economy, Health, Climate Solutions, Food Security and WASH, which form the key thematic areas for discussion’.

    She added: “According to the United Nations (UN) Progress Report on Sustainable Development Goals, Special Edition 2023, more than half of the world is left behind. Progress on more than 50 percent of the targets of the SDGs is weak and insufficient. We, therefore, need to reverse this narrative by mobilising people and organisations as critical partners towards achieving the transformation and multifaceted solutions required to address the challenge.

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    “Transformational partnerships need multiple actors to bring together essential complementary resources, especially knowledge and data sharing which, when combined, can create the levers required to transform systems from an unsustainable, undesirable state, to a more sustainable, progressive state that continues to provide benefits without continuous external inputs.

    “Thus, ASIS would serve as a global platform for effective collaboration and alignment by critical players in Africa’s social development sector, as the theme ‘Reimagining Progress’ implies. The summit would review transformative recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the decade of action for accelerating the implementation of the SDGs, and progress at the midpoint to the deadline for the 2030 agenda.

    “There would be a Social Enterprise Forum where business leaders, whose businesses are focused on social impact in thematic sectors, could pitch innovative solutions to potential investors and access funding to drive scale and accelerate impact. There will also be a tour of Lagos State’s notable investment destinations and tourist attractions hosted by the government and an event round-off networking dinner at the Eko Atlantic City.

    “At the end of the Summit, some of the expected outcomes include building result-oriented and innovative global and regional partnerships to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs.”

    The chief executive officer of Sterling One Foundation and convener of ASIS, Olapeju Ibekwe, said the summit has attracted interest from over 8,000 development and sustainability leaders from across 66 countries since its launch in 2022.

    She added that ASIS seeks to host impact investors and investees with a focus on Education and Youth Development, Food Security, Climate Solutions, Healthcare, Renewable Energy, WASH, and the transition to a Circular Economy.