Impact in the Neighbourhood

Impact in the Neighbourhood

Catalysing change through investments and policy
28-29 June 2023 | Tbilisi, Georgia

Let’s get neighbourly! 

Join the Collaborate for Impact community for two days of building social entrepreneurship through impact investing!

Learn, connect and scale impact with pioneers and leaders of impact entrepreneurship in the central and eastern Europe and Middle East and north Africa (MENA) regions.

Organised by Collaborate for Impact, the event dives deep on smarter ways to finance systems change and social entrepreneurs for long-term sustainability, building resilience for both enterprises and communities.

Connecting

Background Information

Meet the neighbours

We’re bringing together 150 of the world’s most determined impact people to share their journeys. While Europe’s east will get a large share of the spotlight, the event will convene diverse perspectives, with a programme to match: 

  • Impactful businesses – including corporate actors and capacity building companies. Build a business case for impact, figure out the ‘S’ in ESG, leverage the right corporate resources and more! 
  • Public authorities – learn the value of public-private partnerships, and how to set them up for maximum impact!
  • Impact Together! partners – part of a new project building the impact ecosystem from Morocco to Lebanon. First chance to connect and build synergies!
  • Seasoned European players in impact ecosystems – hear their cases and learn what didn’t work! 

These impact neighbours will freely discuss successes and failures in building ecosystems, including how this happens in challenging socio-political contexts. They’ll also present best practices and learnings from 25+ countries, including Ukraine, Palestine, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt, Serbia, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Moldova and many more. 

Expect inspiring stories, controversial discussion and bold ideas. Expect impact for breakfast, khachapuri for lunch and new connections for dinner!

Talk of the block

Impact in the Neighbourhood is all about community wisdom and first-hand accounts. The event will cover topics like: 

  • How to build an impact ecosystem from the ground up
  • How to set up impact funds and create access to finance for impact businesses – even with seemingly few resources available
  • How to build lasting public-private partnerships with corporates, banks, municipalities or state authorities 
  • Policy frameworks for more impact entrepreneurship 
  • Differentiating factors for traditional vs. impact investment  
  • Impact finance for social entrepreneurs: what it is, why it matters and what it takes to get it done in new or challenging markets

In the interconnected world, common ideas and approaches can travel easier and faster. But it takes a neighbourhood get-together to make it happen!

Practical Information

Venue

Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace

20 Telavi St, Tbilisi 
 

Sheraton Tbilisi

How to get there

The conference venue is easily accessible by Tbilisi Metro Line 1 to “Samasi (300) Aragveli” metro station.

Agenda Overview

Conference agenda overview

Day 1 Sessions

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Registration

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Welcome to the Neighbourhood

Speakers:

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Do it or leave it? Impact investment in volatile context

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Demystifying impact investing

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Lunch

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Betting on banks and financial institutions

Value creation is rarely associated with financial institutions – especially in the impact space, where they’re perceived as capital providers out of reach for most impact entrepreneurs. This workshop will show the contrary: financial institutions can be instrumental in shaping impact ecosystems, often intervening in areas where others are less willing to enter, such as challenging topics or geographies. Join us to see what makes a bank a smart bet for impact.

 

Public authorities as ecosystem builders

 Strategic alliance with state authorities to make the country or municipality focused on building an ecosystem for impact investment: it’s a dream of many. However, the road is bumpy, full of traps and political power games. Those who have been on this mission for many years (and still working on it!) will share their experiences

 

Spectrum of capital: from grants to equity

Different level of development of impact businesses and social entrepreneurs requires flexibility with regards to financial instruments. Impact investors come up with creative approaches, blended instruments to fit the development needs of the company, and to address investors' expectations. We will explore some creative models, that work especially well for emerging markets, where those concepts are very new.

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Coffee break

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Legislation for impact – option or necessity?

Impact investing or social entrepreneurship are often regulated differently than typical businesses. Lack of definitions or an overly rigid approach can impede the development of impact ecosystems. Luckily, there are various approaches to creating policy frameworks, which this workshop will investigate – join to hear speakers and participants share their perspectives on impact legislation.

  •  Aina Idrisova, EcoVisio

 

From venture capital to impact investing

Pioneer impact funds in central, eastern and southern Europe have been established by experienced venture capital or private equity investors. What has happened now that they’ve moved from traditional investing to impact? The same funds became strong ecosystem builders and encouraged other investors to join the space. Why? How did they do it? And why should others take on the ecosystem building effort, too?

 

Sizing impact - what really matters for impact investors

Exploring impact management and measurement practices in venture philanthropy and impact funds.

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Dinner & networking

Day 2 Sessions

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Welcome to the Neighbourhood

Ewa Konczal | Market Building Lead, EVPA

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Public-private partnerships - buzzword or reality?

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Mobilising business for change - green washing or true intentions

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Coffee break

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Paying for results and making everyone happy

Discover the world of outcome-based payments and social impact bonds – and see why they’re more than just buzzwords in the impact space. Do they really work? What can we learn from successes and failures? What are the roles of state institutions and private stakeholders? We’ll discuss all these questions and more in a workshop setting.

 

Impact lessons from North Africa and Levant countries

Crowdfunding in conflict areas, inclusive impact investment approaches, matching grants with business angel investment, quasi-equity without money in business development, seed and growth venture philanthropy – there are many impact approaches active in the MENA region. Join EVPA partner organisations as they discuss these topics and more, with a focus on lessons learnt.

 

Companies as force for good - additionality in business world

Building a meaningful and long-term partnership with a corporate is a dream of many impact entrepreneurs. How can impact funds help their portfolio companies become links in the supply chains of big corporations? How they can prepare investees to be competitive? Is there a role for social procurement legislation to play? Join the workshop to find out!

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Lunch

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From grant-making to impact investing

Setting up an impact fund in a country where hardly anyone knows about impact investing is... complicated! Raising funds is even more challenging. Pioneers of impact investment in their countries will share their lessons learnt in building and mobilising business capital for their funds, along with projections for the financial sustainability of the funds.

 

What’s the story?

How can impact investors harness the power of storytelling and smart messaging to amplify their work? Join us for real strategies on building awareness for the right audience – because, in our space, a good story has an impact!

 

Left, centre or right – does it matter where you play?

 Positioning of social entrepreneurship and impact investing in the national agenda or with a specific ministry has consequences on the perception of the topic, legislative frameworks and even access to financing. In this workshop, experiences from various countries will give inspiration and insights for policymakers and advocates for impact.

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Coffee Break

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Alliance for impact with public authorities – challenge or opportunity?

 National advisory boards around the world have become powerful advocacy structures for impact. Not only have they educated business and the general public about impact investment, they can also empower national governments to become impact investors, act as capacity building engines and support the impact ecosystem. Those who have built national advisory boards in their countries will share actionable insights from their successes and failures, including how to ensure financial sustainability, and valuable recommendations for those who want to move their countries to next level in the conversation.

 

Where is the pipeline of investible impact businesses?

 Some investors run acceleration programs themselves; some build good relations with university incubators or expand their team of market analysts. Different approaches produce different lessons and recommendations. If you’re unsure about the pipeline for your new fund, join the workshop to hear practitioner perspectives and insights.

 

Green impact investments

Mitigation of climate change. Reduction of pollution and waste. Sustainable use of resources. Job creation in clean energy, circular economy and regenerative agriculture. As with all these examples, impact investment is often intertwined with green investing. Investment examples from MENA will inspire participants to broaden their perspectives – let's take the conversation beyond solar panels and recycling and talk green impact!

  •   Noha El Sabaie | Program Manager, Hivos
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Wrap-up

Line-up

Luciano Balbo
Luciano Balbo
Founder
Oltre Venture Impact Fund
Agnieszka Borek
Agnieszka Borek
Board President
Valores Venture Philanthropy
Bjorn Vennema
Björn Vennema
Co-Founder
Social Finance NL
Atieno Otonglo
Atieno Otonglo
Market Development Manager
GSG
Neven Marinovic
Neven Marinovic
Co-founder & Director
Smart Kolektiv
Pirkko Valge
Pirkko Valge
CEO
Good Deed Foundation
Florian Ott
Florian Ott
Social Banking Development
Erste Group
Vera Egreja Barracho
Vera Egreja Barracho
Strategic Advisor
Portugal Inovação Social
Renata Brkic
Renata Brkic
Managing Partner
Feelsgood Capital
Eric Buckens
Eric Buckens
Director
ABN AMRO
Justine Palermo
Justine Palermo
Head Of Investment
Inpulse
Ioana Samoil
Ioana Samoil
Romania Country Rep & Program Lead
NESsT
Elemér Eszter
Elemér Eszter
Managing Partner
Impact Ventures
Anna Patton
Anna Patton
Managing Editor
Pioneers Post
Roberta Bosurgi
Roberta Bosurgi
CEO
EVPA
Ewa Konczal
Ewa Konczal
Market Development Lead
EVPA
Alessia Gianoncelli
Alessia Gianoncelli
Director of Knowledge and Programs
EVPA
Gianluca Gaggiotti
Gianluca Gaggiotti
Knowledge Manager
EVPA

Register now

Register now to book your free spot!

Travel and accommodation are at your expense, but if you're in need of financial assistance, please get in touch.

 

Register here
register

Collaborate for Impact is led by EVPA, Europe’s impact finance network, alongside pioneering partner organisations in the region. Impact in the Neighbourhood is hosted by the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG).