Why Impact Capital Fails in Cities—and How to Fix it

Impact capital often fails not due to lack of funding, but because it is deployed without understanding how cities actually function. Projects that appear viable in isolation are constrained by deeper system realities such as governance gaps, economic exclusion, and infrastructure limitations.

This session introduces a practical, tested diagnostic framework to assess whether capital can succeed before deployment. Using a real-world example such as Cape Town, participants will work in groups to identify where capital fails and redesign allocation strategies based on system conditions. Attendees will leave with tools they can immediately apply to improve impact outcomes.