G8 Taskforce on Social Impact Investment relases its final report today

The Taskforce on Social Impact Investment, established by UK Prime Minister David Cameron under the UK’s presidency of the G8, and chaired by Sir Ronald Cohen, is today launching its Taskforce Report in Downing Street, London.

The Report, entitled Impact Investment: The Invisible Heart of Markets – Harnessing the power of entrepreneurship, innovation and capital for public good, calls on governments and the financial sector to take action to unleash $1 trillion of private sector impact investment to tackle social problems.

The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer the Rt Hon George Osborne, has described the Report as, “compelling and comprehensive”, and that he “looks forward to implementing many of its proposals.”

The report highlights the potential that impact investment has to help solve some of society’s most pressing issues, such as caring for children and the elderly, community regeneration, financial inclusion, housing and prisoner reoffending. Social Impact Investments are investments made into businesses and social sector organisations, directly or through funds, with the intention of generating a measurable, beneficial social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.

A special stress has been put up on the development potential of such a relevant segment, highlighting all the strides already covered so far in different countries and how promising and essential a partnership between them shall be. This part of the report (A New Force In International Development - p. 33) lists the various working groups which have produced national-based studies, including the French sub-group Jean-Michel Severino was part of. Investisseurs & Partenaires' impact assessment method was given as an example.

Download the report here

Learn more about the Taskforce on Social Impact Investment

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