Thanks to everyone who has supported the pilot of a Global Learning Exchange in 2014. This bold experiment has exceeded the expectations for what a multi-stakeholder exchange could contribute to the growth of the impact investing market when it was launched at the Social Impact Investment Forum in 2013.
Unless core funding is secured for another stage of this initiative, we have “pressed pause”. Through the pilot we have had the opportunity to engage with some of the most inspiring leaders from a whole range of markets and sectors, learning about your efforts to drive more capital for public good.
Thanks for your partnership and support. If you’re looking for our Impact Investing 101 series, you can find that here. If you’re looking for additional impact investing resources, all of the reports and articles that were housed on the GLE can be found here on PCV.
[custom_headline type=”left” level=”h3″ looks_like=”h4″]The GLE Story[/custom_headline]
In July 2013, the UK hosted the Social Impact Investment Summit as an act of its presidency of the G8. At the Summit, alongside the launch of the Social Impact Investment Taskforce, the Global Learning Exchange for Social Impact Investing was announced.
This multi-stakeholder platform for the exchange of ideas and experience among field leaders and practitioners across the globe was established in response to a market need for an increase in the sharing of data and learning.
The GLE Co-conveners: Impact Investing Policy Collaborative (anchored by InSight at Pacific Community Ventures and the Initiative for Responsible Investment at Harvard University) launched the pilot in January 2014 with the support of the Rockefeller Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the UK Cabinet Office, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum.
In its year-long pilot, over 23,000 visitors from 148 countries visited the GLE site and over 1000 registrants from 65 countries participated in the webinar series. The GLE project pilot also achieved significant milestones in engagement, network building and sharing what works:
- Over 10 countries supported to develop policy proposals and establish national Taskforces or Advisory Boards.
- Hosted 6 webinars as part of the unique Global Webinar Series on Impact Investing, covering topics as diverse as social enterprise in Latin America, dialogues on the meetings of the Social Impact Investment Taskforce established by the G8, role of the public sector in social innovation, and other issues of interest to regional and global markets
- Leveraged the IIPC’s expertise in policy, producing a body of work on impact investing, including case studies, blog posts, and resource trackers on key issues in the field and forging numerous partnerships between governments and private institutions.
- GLE network partners spanned leading organizations and corporates across continents, from Canada to Brazil, Hong Kong to South Africa focusing on incubating and accelerating social enterprises, training impact investors, growing in-country markets, to name a few.
[custom_headline type=”left” level=”h3″ looks_like=”h4″]Keep Up With Impact Investing[/custom_headline]
Even though the GLE project is paused, you can still stay up to date on the latest impact investing news and convenings at Pacific Community Ventures, the Initiative for Responsible Investment at Harvard University, or Impact Investing Australia. And follow us on Twitter at @PCVtweets, @IRInvest and @ImpactInvestAus.