Corporate Social Responsibility

People sometimes see Acumen raising large amounts of commercial capital and assume we no longer need philanthropy. No sooner had we announced $250M for our Hardest-to-Reach fund — to bring off-grid light and electricity to 70 million people across 17 of Africa’s most challenging markets — than some concluded Acumen must be set. In fact, the opposite is true. First, let me acknowledge how tough this fundraising environment is. I couldn’t be prouder of the team and partners who made our Hardest-to-Reach announcement possible after 2.5 years of relentless effort. And yet it’s worth underscoring: none of this would have been possible without philanthropy. Philanthropy is the first mover. It allows us to place early bets in fragile markets like Malawi and Benin, cover the development costs needed to structure and raise investment across the capital spectrum and provide the technical assistance that builds capacity. To put a finer point on it: of the nearly $250M raised for Hardest-to-Reach, more than $80M is philanthropic. That risk-taking anchor made it possible to prove new models — and ultimately unlock institutional investment. During Climate Week last month, I met philanthropists who see this as the time to pivot from grantmaking toward impact investing. While I understand the instinct, I want to offer a reframing: it’s not either/or. If you want your capital to have lasting impact, there may be no better use than catalytic philanthropy — especially when deployed through blended finance models like Hardest-to-Reach. Philanthropy cannot see itself at the margins. It is catalytic capital — risk-taking, patient, and unabashedly impact-first — creating the conditions for commercial capital to follow. And it's more important now than ever as traditional aid shrinks and many governments shift from grants to investment approaches. At Acumen, philanthropy from donors at all levels remains our bedrock. It enables us to reach the hardest-to-reach, build inclusive markets where none exist, and keep social impact at the center of everything we do. And because solving problems of poverty is Acumen’s mission, raising philanthropic capital will remain essential to our work.

One image just disrupted a £22 billion fashion empire more effectively than a thousand sustainability reports. 🔥 This isn't an official SHEIN campaign gone wrong. It's artist Emanuele Morelli's AI creation—a haunting visualisation showing what fast fashion's "affordability" really costs us. The image speaks volumes: a SHEIN billboard where the model's flowing dress transforms into a cascade of textile waste. Art communicating what statistics alone cannot. 5 uncomfortable truths this image forces us to confront: 1. The scale of fashion waste is staggering → 92 million tonnes of textile waste produced annually  → The equivalent of one rubbish lorry of textiles dumped every second  → Most fast fashion items designed to be worn fewer than 10 times 2. The business model depends on our amnesia → Constantly changing trends keep us buying  → Ultra-low prices remove financial friction  → Digital marketing creates artificial scarcity and FOMO  → We're trained to forget yesterday's purchases 3. The true cost isn't on the price tag → Environmental damage from production chemicals  → Microplastics shedding into water systems  → Supply chain ethics compromised for speed and cost  → Communities near production sites bearing health consequences 4. Our definition of "affordable" is broken → When clothing is cheaper than a coffee, someone else is paying  → True cost spread across communities, environments, and future generations  → Psychological cost of constant consumption never factored in 5. Solutions exist but require systemic change → Circular fashion models gaining traction  → Rental and resale markets growing rapidly  → Consumer awareness rising but needs to translate to behaviour While SHEIN isn't the only culprit in the fast fashion ecosystem, Morelli's artwork throws a spotlight on an uncomfortable reality we've normalised. What we wear reflects our values more than our taste. What is your wardrobe saying about yours? Image: Emanuele Morelli ♻️ Found this helpful? Repost to share with your network.  ⚡ Want more content like this? Hit follow Maya Moufarek.

The new era for foreign aid is here - whether we like it or not - for governments, for humanitarians delivering aid, and for people in need. To maintain progress with fewer resources, the aid system must prioritise its work where it is most needed and can be most impactful.    This requires new thinking on where aid is spent, what it is spent on, how it is delivered, and how it is funded.   The IRC’s newest report, “A New Era for Aid,” lays out a roadmap for initial steps by: 1. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐭-𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: The IRC has identified 13 countries most at risk from the fallout of aid cuts, based on levels of humanitarian need, pre-existing reliance on US aid, exposure to debt distress, and vulnerability to conflict and climate shocks. 2. 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: With fewer resources, support to proven, cost-effective interventions across sectors will be key. 3. 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭—𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝: Prioritising the impact of aid means delivering not where it is easiest, but where it is hardest - reaching communities often overlooked but most in need. 4. 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬: Local aid responders play a critical and effective role in humanitarian response and recovery, more targeted and tailored to the needs of affected communities, and often cheaper. 5. 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠: With ODA projected to shrink by 20% in 2025, donors should ensure that aid is spent in ways that bring the greatest possible benefits to those impacted by crises. Read more in our report below and on Rescue.org: https://lnkd.in/ejB8n2wQ

📢 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗨 𝗢𝗺𝗻𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 – 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 The Omnibus proposal is officially out, with some major regulatory rollbacks for corporate sustainability in Europe. With changes spanning the CSRD, CSDDD, Taxonomy, and CBAM, the reporting landscape has just changed dramatically. 🔍 𝗪𝗲’𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀—𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁. 🚨 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴? 𝗔 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: 1️⃣ CSRD – Reporting Scope Slashed 🔹 Two-year delay for many companies that haven’t yet reported. 🔹 80% of companies removed from mandatory reporting 🔹 Sector-specific standards scrapped 🔹 ESRS under review for streamlining 2️⃣ CSDDD – Weakened Due Diligence Rules 🔹 Focus only on direct suppliers – removal of full value chain due diligence 🔹 Assessment frequency cut – Required every 5 years instead of annually 🔹 Penalties softened – No references to fines related to global turnover 🔹 Civil liability removed 3️⃣ EU Taxonomy – Reporting Becomes Optional for Most 🔹 Only “very large” companies must report (>1,000 employees) 🔹 80% of companies exempted from Taxonomy alignment 🔹 Partial alignment reporting introduced 4️⃣ CBAM – Simplification and exemptions 🔹 Exemption threshold introduced for importers 🔹 Implementation delayed to 2027 instead of 2026 🔹 Product coverage remains the same for now but may expand in 2026 🔹 Emissions tracking requirements simplified 👉 What is your take—necessary streamlining or a retreat from sustainability leadership? Can a balance be struck between sustainability and competitiveness? I think it can. In fact, I don't think they even should be contradictory. The big question is whether this omnibus strikes that balance. I'm not so sure. #CSRD #CSDDD #EUTaxonomy #CBAM #Sustainability #ESG #SustainabilityReporting #EURegulations #ClimateFinance #CorporateResponsibility

ESG Metrics and KPIs 🌎 Measuring and assessing ESG performance is fundamental for driving meaningful progress in sustainability. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) provide the foundation for organizations to evaluate their environmental, social, and governance impact in a structured and measurable way. Without a robust framework for monitoring these metrics, the path toward improvement remains unclear, and the ability to meet stakeholder expectations is significantly hindered. A well-defined ESG strategy requires precise and actionable KPIs tailored to each pillar. In the environmental dimension, metrics like energy efficiency improvements, waste recycling rates, and water usage per unit of production offer tangible insights into resource optimization efforts. On the social front, tracking gender representation, employee satisfaction trends, and community investment enables organizations to gauge their contribution to inclusivity, well-being, and societal engagement. In governance, metrics such as board diversity, anti-corruption cases, and transparency in ESG disclosures underscore the importance of strong ethical leadership and accountability. Transparency plays a central role in ensuring credibility and trust in ESG efforts. Clear and consistent reporting of KPIs not only satisfies regulatory requirements but also fosters trust among investors, customers, and employees. Reliable data and regular reporting enable stakeholders to understand progress, identify gaps, and contribute to shared goals. Transparency creates the foundation for informed decision-making and long-term value creation. Accountability is equally vital in advancing ESG performance. KPIs linked to executive compensation, stakeholder grievance resolution, and progress in third-party ESG ratings demonstrate an organization's commitment to embedding sustainability into its operational and strategic priorities. Accountability ensures that ESG goals are not just aspirational but actively pursued with measurable outcomes. Establishing a culture of measurement, transparency, and accountability equips organizations to meet the increasing demands of ESG integration. #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange

I interviewed 20 sustainability managers 🎙️ That's their #1 pain point 🤕 ➡️ "Reporting is 1st. Impact is 2nd". Challenges that I can see with sustainability in companies: ❌ Competing frameworks confuse. ❌ Data collection becomes more important than actual impact ❌ Disconnect between reporting teams and operational teams ❌ Excessive time spent on documentation. ❌ Risk of greenwashing through selective reporting (I am sure you have your observations to add🙄) 5 secrets to turn this into the biggest opportunity for change: ✅ Use reporting to clarify sustainability vision 100%. ✅ Identify in-company 'spoilers' - and engage them! ✅ Change sustainability reporting from 'a burden' for all, to an 'invitation to do good' for each individual. ✅ Turn deadlines into celebration moments for internal change. ✅ Use data requirements as opportunities to understand the entire value chain (and opportunities for change). You know the pain ?🧐 📲 Ping me to re-write the script on your sustainability reporting ♻️ #circulareconomy #zerowaste #sustainability

The other day, I was asked about the real-world impact of investigative reporting in the context of ocean issues. One of my favorite examples is a series of stories we published over a three-year period about Dalian Ocean Fishing (DOF), one of China's largest tuna companies. This reporting underscores the serendipity involved in chasing a story and the unexpected ways a story can contribute to meaningful impact. The initial focus of our investigation centered on abusive labor practices aboard DOF vessels. In summary, workers from Southeast Asia, who applied for jobs as deckhands, found themselves trapped at sea under extremely poor and often abusive conditions. Several Indonesian workers died, and many experienced long-term negative health impacts from their time at sea on these vessels. To do this investigation, Mongabay collaborated with Tansa & the Environmental Reporting Collective, conducting firsthand interviews with workers and thoroughly examining various records. The reporting team also utilized interviews conducted by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) Foundation with 11 workers from six of DOF's ships. The investigation made significant waves: The story was widely republished and translated into multiple languages. It went on to win an award from SOPA - The Society of Publishers in Asia. In 2021, the U.S. banned imports of tuna, swordfish, and other products from DOF at U.S. ports of entry. However, perhaps even more significant repercussions emerged from a follow-up investigation. Through interviews with deckhands, we discovered that DOF was covertly conducting a massive illegal shark-finning operation. DOF had used banned gear to deliberately catch an estimated 31,000 sharks, including critically endangered species, in the western Pacific Ocean in 2019 alone. This figure exceeds the reported catch for China’s entire longline fleet in the same period & region. Following the publication of this second story, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned DOF. The announcement cited exclusive data Mongabay gathered during our extensive investigative process. Consequently, DOF's parent company, Pingtan Marine Enterprise, was delisted from Nasdaq, significantly hindering its ability to raise capital for expanding operations. Subsequently, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) banned the simultaneous use of shark lines and wire leaders. The shark-finning report earned multiple awards. Phil Jacobson, Mongabay’s senior reporter on the project, was selected by the Pulitzer Center as a fellow to expand the investigation into shark trafficking on a global scale. This case exemplifies the power of investigative journalism in uncovering hidden truths & contributing to real-world change. It underscores how diligent reporting and the effective use of data can help foster significant environmental policy shifts & legal actions, demonstrating the vital role of journalism in promoting transparency and accountability.

How To Handle Sensitive Information in your next AI Project It's crucial to handle sensitive user information with care. Whether it's personal data, financial details, or health information, understanding how to protect and manage it is essential to maintain trust and comply with privacy regulations. Here are 5 best practices to follow: 1. Identify and Classify Sensitive Data Start by identifying the types of sensitive data your application handles, such as personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive personal information (SPI), and confidential data. Understand the specific legal requirements and privacy regulations that apply, such as GDPR or the California Consumer Privacy Act. 2. Minimize Data Exposure Only share the necessary information with AI endpoints. For PII, such as names, addresses, or social security numbers, consider redacting this information before making API calls, especially if the data could be linked to sensitive applications, like healthcare or financial services. 3. Avoid Sharing Highly Sensitive Information Never pass sensitive personal information, such as credit card numbers, passwords, or bank account details, through AI endpoints. Instead, use secure, dedicated channels for handling and processing such data to avoid unintended exposure or misuse. 4. Implement Data Anonymization When dealing with confidential information, like health conditions or legal matters, ensure that the data cannot be traced back to an individual. Anonymize the data before using it with AI services to maintain user privacy and comply with legal standards. 5. Regularly Review and Update Privacy Practices Data privacy is a dynamic field with evolving laws and best practices. To ensure continued compliance and protection of user data, regularly review your data handling processes, stay updated on relevant regulations, and adjust your practices as needed. Remember, safeguarding sensitive information is not just about compliance — it's about earning and keeping the trust of your users.

Greenwash like a pro, part 2: (after my first post went viral) Lesson # 2: "The airport on a path to CO2 free, net zero future." 5 reasons why this ad is misleading: 1. "Net zero by 2035" ↳ covers only buildings, cars, or electricity ↳ not 99% of their footprint: the flights ↳it's like a coal plant saying it's green, because the office runs on solar 2. "Munich airport will reduce ... " ↳ “will” = future promise, not action ↳ I could say: "I will become a # 1 heavy-lifter by 2035.” ↳ it sounds cool. it doesn't make it real 3. "... it's own CO2..." ↳ “own” = Scope 1 and 2 only ↳ excludes 99% of the CO2: Scope 3 ↳ no jet fuel, take offs, or landings are included 4. and finally: "net-zero." ↳ net zero ≠ zero ↳ CO2 is still produced, just a lot less ↳ this is usually achieved with offsets & cuts 5. "Our path to a carbon-free future" ↳ nothing is carbon-free ↳ even renewables need steel, cement, or rare earths ↳ this is a slogan, not a scientific claim Don't get me wrong - I support real actions to a cleaner future. But there is a fine line with misleading consumers. It took me 1 hour to unpack this, and I've worked in sustainability for 11 years. What will a regular passenger think? Anyway.. I have more like these... Should I just keep going? 😂 PS: Yes, I fly, sometimes. I’m not perfect. But at least I don’t run ads calling it sustainable. #sustainability #climatechange #circulareconomy

Equal Pay Day moved BACKWARD in 2025 to March 25th, revealing a harsh truth: transparency without enforcement doesn't create equality. 60% of job postings now include salary information—up from just 18% in 2020—yet women still earn just 85 cents to a man's dollar. Even more disturbing? The gap is widening. Of 98 countries with equal pay laws, only 35 have implemented any accountability mechanisms. We're seeing the illusion of progress without the substance. True salary transparency requires action at every level: For individuals: - Share your salary information with "trusted" colleagues - Explicitly ask for pay ranges before interviews - Document salary discussions and decisions - Normalize compensation conversations in your workplace - Research industry standards using sites like Glassdoor and Payscale For managers: - Conduct regular pay equity audits in your teams - Establish clear compensation criteria based on skills and responsibilities - Remove salary history questions from your hiring process - Advocate for transparent promotion pathways For organizations: - Implement formal pay bands with clear progression criteria - Regularly publish company-wide gender and racial pay gap data - Create accountability mechanisms for addressing inequities - Train managers on recognizing and addressing unconscious bias in compensation decisions The data is clear: companies with meaningful transparency see pay gaps narrow significantly in the first year alone. But posting a salary range isn't enough if there's no accountability behind it. Let's move beyond performative transparency toward meaningful equity. Please share this post if you think salary transparency should come with real action. Joshua Miller #SalaryTransparency #PayEquity #Workplace