Driven by the global pandemic and social and racial justice movements, 2020 saw a surge in impact investing and interest in the impact economy. We saw an acceleration and amplification of many of the challenges facing our society which led to a push for more purposeful investments, primarily driven by younger generations and women. The past year also forced many of us to slow down in our personal lives, providing a moment to reflect, reimagine and redesign what a just and inclusive future looks like. How is the SOCAP community and impact industry radically collaborating to rise to the massive challenges facing societies? And how are we holding ourselves and each other accountable to contributing to the future we all aspire to? 

This year’s themes are intentionally broad. The challenges facing our society are complex; they are intersectional and none of them exist in a vacuum. None of the challenges can be solved without bringing everyone to the table-and we are intentionally designing SOCAP21 to include more voices and more perspectives in each and every conversation. Racial equity and representative voice will be woven into all of our themes and conversations. Artists and culture makers are critical to helping open up, surface and create durable solutions, we are adding their perspectives across our themes and discussions this year too.  Solutions will require cross-sectoral innovation from around the globe, whether revolutionary or more evolutionary. We want to hear from the SOCAP Community, and beyond, about how you are rethinking and reimagining a more inclusive future. 

Themes

Impact Investing 

Impact Investing is the umbrella that encompasses much of the work being done in the themes below. For that reason, with this category we are looking at fundamental industry questions.  What are the innovative investment mechanisms that are being developed to encourage investment into underserved populations? How are the core impact investing conversations evolving and being codified among an increasingly disparate field? How are we democratizing impact products to make impact investing more accessible? How can we address the tension between deploying capital with speed and intentionality? 

Equity and Inclusivity 

To build an economy centered on equity, justice, inclusion and impact, we need to continue to peel back what’s behind racism and decolonize economic structures. We need to look for the intersections and build bridges toward new possibilities, reimagining how capital flows. To ensure a just transition to a new society and economy, we must focus efforts on opportunities for women and girls, people of color, indigenous people, LGBTIQ people, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, older or very young people. How are we including the lived experiences of underrepresented populations into building back better?  How are we supporting these leaders forging solutions?

Social Entrepreneurship 

At the core of a just and equitable economy are the founders providing impactful goods and services, creating high quality jobs, and driving innovation for underserved populations. Many of these small and midsize enterprises are in the midst of an unprecedented year full of challenges. How are we providing the tools, resources, and connections to help these social entrepreneurs at a time when they are needed the most? What new innovations and solutions have been developed over the past year that need to be scaled and amplified?

Climate Action and Climate Justice 

“Climate change is happening now and to all of us. No country or community is immune,” according to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “And, as is always the case, the poor and vulnerable are the first to suffer and the worst hit.”

Preparing the economy, communities, people and planet for climate change is critical. The intersection of climate with racial and social justice is crucial for durable solutions. There are many areas to focus on from carbon reduction to infrastructure to supply chains to waste. How are investors and companies taking a portfolio-wide view? Recognizing that not all climate impacts are distributed equally, how are we growing strategies that center the most vulnerable populations in restorative and regenerative social and environmental solution design? 

Sustainable Development 

ESG and sustainable development become focus points for the global community and impact investors as we approach 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) milestone. Highlighting issue areas such as health, affordable housing, education and work of the future. 

How are SDGs being centered in innovative ways within strategy, portfolios and products to ensure we meet the 2030 deadline? How are we taking a global approach to learning best practices and gleaning insights to apply to a regional geography? What is needed to help foster regional impact ecosystems that bring the best of the best ideas forward to scale and model? How might we continue the connectivity and collaboration the virtual world provides us to accelerate ideas, cross-pollinate and localize actions? 

Stakeholder Economics

Rethinking and reimagining an economy where everyone thrives is the responsibility of all impact leaders. Bold moves are required to shift toward stakeholder capitalism, net-zero, and regenerative market-based solutions, operations and practices. How are leaders and their enterprises measuring success in new ways? How are impact companies connecting to impact portfolios? What support do leaders need to make the transition and maintain centering impact? How might we create a community of accountability? 

Global Health 

The social and economic ramifications of the COVID-19 are still playing out across the globe. 

The pandemic is poised to set back decades of hard -won gains in global health from maternal and child health to infectious diseases.  Additionally, a devastating impact on mental health is occurring across the world. How are we strengthening preparedness for these and future emergencies?  What solutions and innovations are emerging in addressing health inequities, creating a global health workforce, child and maternal health, climate change and health and preventative care?  How do we radically reimagine building back better for the global health sector with innovators, investors, new partnerships and communities?

Digital Inclusivity 

The pandemic accelerated the shift to digital, highlighting and exacerbating the digital divide around the globe. Three billion people globally lack internet access, including 30 million in the U.S. alone. This means students can’t access online learning, the unemployed can’t submit job applications or attend training programs, and many can’t sign up for vaccination appointments – often the most vulnerable populations. There is also a profound negative impact on the global economy, representing trillions in lost productivity. What infrastructure and investments are necessary to bridge this digital divide? What innovations are happening to address this challenge in financial inclusion, education technology and other industries most impacted by lack of digital access?