Notes from a changing world...
November 2021
Let’s play truth or truth! I’ll go first… Why is entrepreneurship important for the economy during the pandemic?
Well, the short answer is, because entrepreneurship will be the saving grace for our economy. The pandemic has made us challenge the status quo and made us so uncomfortable in what was, that now -- more than ever -- despite the pandemic, there has been a record increase in the number of new innovations worldwide. 


Entrepreneurship is important because it has the ability to improve standards of living and create wealth, not only for the entrepreneurs but also for related businesses. People are no longer comfortable with frivolous spending and there is so much support for local businesses that are contributing to communities or aligning with an ethical mandate as part of their operations. This concept of ‘conscious consumerism’ is encouraging businesses to showcase their corporate social responsibility efforts in a more prominent way. As purpose-driven entrepreneurship trends upward, this will positively impact the future of consumerism and how organizations operate in the long term.
Celebrations
Congratulations to Oorja, one of the Sankalp Global Awards 2021 finalists for securing $1 million in seed funding to scale up pay-per-use solar-powered farming services. Learn More...
Happening in the Ecosystem
Opportunities for Entrepreneurs
The S/SEA RIH is proud to announce the second Call for Innovations. Companies, nonprofits with a for-profit program, and other organizations working on water-food, energy-food, and water-energy-food innovations are invited to apply. The winning organizations will receive customized support in the form of grants, business model support, and investment facilitation. Apply Now
The Yunus Environment Hub (YEH) is the global social business network that creates solutions for the environmental crisis. Co-founded and led by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus, the YEH supports and develops social business solutions addressing environmental issues in a financially self-sustainable way. The GrowUp Incubator programme is looking at ways in which farmers can increase their yield while nature simultaneously flourishes, and how much food systems contribute to solving issues like inequality, poverty, and youth unemployment. Apply Now
This challenge aims to support and uplift communities that are most impacted by climate change by scaling bold environmental, socio-economic solutions. Register Now
Co-Impact is excited to announce its Open Call for Country-level Grants to advance gender equality. They envision a gender-equal world where all people can live fulfilling lives – where systems and societies are just and inclusive, and women and girls belong in all places where decisions are made. Apply Now
Events
Happening Today, November 9th, 2021
The 4th annual convening on Impact Investing. The 2021 Annual Convening will be laser focused on showcasing impact investment opportunities in Nigeria. The convening is well-curated to ease Investor’s difficulty in sourcing new deals and effectively contribute to the building of more impact-oriented social enterprises. Click Here
Wednesday, November 10th to Friday, November 12th 2021
Northeast Asia Social Investment Summit 2021. Northeast Asia is exhibiting strong social innovation across the public and private sectors, as it takes big strides towards sustainable development. Central to this conversation is a focus on ESG, impact investing, and collaboration. As an economic powerhouse in Asia, Northeast Asia has the potential to demonstrate its leadership in sustainable growth. Register Now
Tuesday, November 16th to Wednesday November 17th, 2021
Join educators, academics, researchers, students and practitioners from around the world at SEWF’s first-ever virtual Academic Forum! Practice-informed research and education provides one of the most significant opportunities to build the future of social enterprise. Designed in partnership with leading academics in the field of social enterprise, the SEWF Academic Forum 2021 aims to advance the impact of research through innovation in knowledge translation, action research and boosting opportunities for work-integrated learning.
Thursday, December 2nd, 2021
The SDG Finance Geneva Summit (SGS Geneva) promotes SDG-aligned finance and drives active collaboration between decision-makers from the financial sector and the development community. UNDP Geneva launched the SGS Geneva in 2016 to advance the aim of sourcing impact-driven and bankable ventures from developing countries and mobilizing private capital to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs. Register Now
Resources
Pandemic impact: Companies start looking at workers’ well-being more closely. Read more here
The $158-billion hole in financing women-owned SMEs. Read more here
New banking laws required for microfinance to take root, says Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus: Read more here
IKEA Foundation, Enviu, and CAIF to build a textile waste model, provide jobs to waste workers. Read more here
Social Entrepreneurship and Resilience. How Climate Change Impacts People and Poverty. Read more here
How Social Entrepreneurship Can Advance Women’s Economic Empowerment: Toward a More Inclusive and Equitable Economic System: Read more here
Digital Finance for Climate Resilience (DF4CR): A Framework for Action. Catalyzing an ecosystem for action to address the impacts of climate change among the world’s most vulnerable. Learn More
Welcome to the list of 100 Corporate-Ready Social Enterprises! You can find below 100 diverse examples of social enterprises doing business with corporations across industries and geographies. See here
Jobs
Deadline for applications 11/11/2021 
Green Climate Fund seeks a Procurement Officer to undertake and coordinate the evaluation of tenders, negotiate with vendors as well as monitor vendor performance. Apply Now
Application Deadline: 11/16/2021 
Alight seeks a Grants Analyst to ensure grants compliance activities contribute to ARC’s overall financial health by providing accurate and timely information to relevant colleagues and stakeholders. Apply Now
Deadline for applications: 11/20/2021 
Nexleaf Analytics seeks a Strategic Partnerships & Communications Director to lead their fundraising and communications team. Apply Now
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Sankalp Forum was initiated in India in 2009 by Intellecap, part of the Aavishkaar Group, to create a thriving ecosystem for business-led inclusive development. Over the past 12+ years, Sankalp has built one of the world's largest impact enterprise-focused platforms across 3 continents, that have showcased and discovered 1800+ entrepreneurs, through 25+ editions and has connected them to 600+ investors. Sankalp has enabled enterprises and entrepreneurs and has helped raise over USD 270+ million in funding and disbursed over USD 870,000+ in cash grants. Sankalp Forum engages with Governments, Corporations, influential platforms like the G8 and G20, media and civil society to drive a paradigm shift in inclusive development approaches. For more visit, www.sankalpforum.com