Red Hat Impact

At Red Hat Impact, we are working collaboratively with local communities to reimagine how capital flows to serve the #Pacific. The region's future depends not on the volume of aid it receives, but on how effectively that support reaches and empowers local communities. As part of our Summer series, the article below from the Lowy Institute 's The Interpreter resonated deeply with us - that there is an urgent need to change the way most capital flows into the Pacific to ensure more money reaches those being targeted. With billions flowing into Pacific Island economies, including USAID's recent commitment to climate action, we're seeing how complex access requirements and administrative layers often prevent capital from reaching those who need it most. Systems change is possible. Demand led and collaborative approaches such as those  undertaken during the co-design of the award-winning Pacific Trade Finance Vehicle (TFV) together with WaterAid Australia, The Case for Her, Criterion Institute and local women led menstrual health social enterprises prove that when local voices are heard during the design process, then new and sustainable finance approaches can be implemented with targeted impact where it counts. Success stories like PHAMA Plus in Fiji also show what's possible when we simplify processes and trust communities to lead their own development journey. Jinita Prasad's article ‘Biases within the capital flows to the Pacific’ below provides considerable food for thought in regards to changing the way development projects are funded. Post your thoughts and suggestions for the Summer Series in the comments section below, where you will also find links to the TFV. #demandled #PacificDevelopment #ImpactInvesting #ClimateFinance #DevelopmentAid

As we move closer to the end of year, the team at Red Hat Impact would like to help prep for your holiday reading and listening over the break, as we share thought pieces on systems change approaches that harness demand led impact capital to create change. To start things off, we're sharing Australian International Development Network's e-booklet so you can enjoy twenty-four thought leadership pieces that explore the complexities, trends, and future of the Australian international development sector that were over the last year. Within this e-book you'll find guest authors Shane Nichols writing on Good Return's approach to responsible financial inclusion is key to protecting vulnerable clients in the Asia-Pacific region, and how Red Hat Impact and LendForGood founder Cameron Neil calls on those committed to international development and achieving the SDGs to look at investment opportunities in emerging markets - with a particular focus on the catalytic potential of MSMEs. If you have a suggestion for insights and thought pieces you would like covered, send them through to Sally Hodges and Ian Jones. #demandled #adaptive #impactcapital #systemschange

The Blue Economy - the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth and improved livelihoods - holds immense potential for the #pacific region, and innovative finance mechanisms can play a vital role in bridging the gap between large-scale investors and small Pacific enterprises. Many thanks, and congratulations to our partners at International Centre for Democratic Partnerships for including Red Hat Impact's experience with the #TradeFinanceVehicle in their Dialogue Report. Our innovative financing model, supported by Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade could scale up the Blue Economy for many women led micro enterprises while maintaining community ties, echoing cooperative models that transformed Western economies - now reimagined for the Pacific. #impactinvesting #cooperatives #blueeconomy #womenled

Sarvaguna Foods and Kitchen are revolutionising food security and farmer livelihoods in the heart of #Nepal, and they are currently raising AUD$94,000 via LendForGood to take their impact to the next level. The loan cut off date is 7th November, 2024. For impact-minded investors, this loan offers 10% simple interest per annum over 36 months, though this isn't just about money—it's about creating a triple impact. Founder Tulsi Giri and the team are raising capital to invest in: Expanding Nutritious Food Access via a new temperature-controlled vehicle that will allow Sarvaguna to serve more schools, bringing good nutrition to more children. Empowering Farmers through the purchase of two grain silos to enable Sarvaguna to purchase larger quantities during harvest season, providing farmers with guaranteed sales and income stability. Improving Food Quality and Affordability by buying and storing grain strategically, so that Sarvaguna can produce higher quality products at better prices, making nutritious food more accessible. If you're interested in being part of this opportunity, register your EOI with  LendForGood at hello@lendforgood.com.au. A link to the loan page with the link to register is provided below, along with the Live Q&A hosted by Cameron Neil from LendForGood and Sally Hodges from Red Hat Impact, #ImpactInvesting #SustainableDevelopment #FoodSecurity

If you're passionate about education and social impact in Cambodia, SALATECH PTE LTD is currently raising impact debt on the LendForGood platform. The loan has a 12 month term and offers 10% simple interest per annum, with a minimum USD$500 buy in. At the end of the article, there is a link to the LendForGood loan page to sign up as a lender, including a Live Q&A with Ian Jones of Red Hat Impact and Tom Dawkins, the founder of LendForGood. #impactinvesting #EdTech #Cambodia #Education #SocialImpact

The team at Red Hat Impact would like to congratulate Dr. Gary Allen on his transition to Emeritus Advisor at Enabled.vip, after stepping down from his role as CEO in September 2024 due to total permanent disability (TPD). A true #pioneer in disability advocacy and entrepreneurship, his work with the award winning platform Enabled.vip is revolutionizing disability employment, offering resources, mentoring, and a supportive community for Australians with disabilities in their entrepreneurial journeys. A fierce advocate and remarkable leader, we had the pleasure of mentoring and supporting Gary for 6 months after winning the Red Hat Impact Award AND taking out second prize at the 2022 Early Ethical Entrepreneur Pitch Competition created by Moral Fairground. We wish Gary all the best in his new role, and look forward to continuing our support for the Enabled.vip team, led by their new interim CEO Brodie Ellis. We encourage you to check out the great work of Gary and the team via their website, posted in the comments below. #DisabilityEntrepreneurship #DisabilityInclusion #Empowerment #Leadership

Another excellent article from Tom Dawkins, founder of StartSomeGood and LendForGood on how entrenched financial structures and mental models limit impact investment and the broader ecosystem, particularly the gaps in the impact investment ecosystem focusing on the "missing middle" of capital for early-stage ventures. Well worth sharing, particularly for advocates of a more direct, purpose-driven and demand led approaches to impact capital deployment. #demandled #adaptivecapital #impactinvesting

Sarvaguna Foods and Kitchen are changing the face of healthy eating and providing mass catering of *good food to schools, hospitals and events across Pokhara, Nepal. Red Hat Impact are delighted to support their second impact loan campaign with LendForGood that opens Thursday 26th September, and closes 17th October 2024. Led by Tulsi Giri, Sarvaguna Foods & Kitchen is a Nepali social business that makes and delivers good food, bringing  awareness to consumers regarding good, healthy, sustainable food that is locally produced, and provides a farm to fork solution. The United Nations defines Good Food as nutritious food that is healthy, tasty, and produced in a nature-friendly way by farmers, fisher folks or food producers who received a decent price for their product. Good Food means nutritious meals prepared with empathy and respect, and delivered like a plate of hope to people in a moment of need.  Sarvaguna also offers vocational education and training to young people and provides jobs to underprivileged and marginalised people in the community. Join us on Thursday 26/09, 2pm - 2:45pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC +10) as we host a Live Q&A with Tulsi Giri and Sally Hodges from Red Hat Impact as they discuss the opportunity for you to lend your support to Sarvaguna Foods & Kitchen as they grow their positive impact through farmer livelihoods, nutritious food and catering jobs in Nepal. Having met all their repayment milestones to date, and achieved profitability, the Sarvaguna team have now identified new purchases for their business that will enable them to keep up with growing demand, make their business more resilient, and deliver more positive impact for their farmer network and their customers. One use of the second impact loan will be to purchase a new climate controlled delivery vehicle. The funds will also be used to build two grain silos, allowing Sarvaguna to purchase more grain from its local farmer network immediately after the harvest season at better and more predictable prices. If you'd like to join in this impact loan, it offers 10% simple interest per annum over 36 months, with a target of AUD$94,000 Subscriptions will open after the Q&A on 26th September. Click on the link below to learn more about the opportunity and register for as a lender,  or to receive a recording, email hello@lendforgood.com.au #nepal #impactinvesting #healthyfoods #goodfoods #socialbusiness

Cambodian parents invest heavily in their children's education, viewing it as a crucial pathway to future success. Yet many young Cambodians struggle to identify the learning pathways that match their own preferences for education. Leap Sok created SALATECH PTE LTD (Sala) - an EdTech startup based in Cambodia - with a simple vision to overcome this problem and enrich students' journeys. On Tuesday 24th September at 1:30pm - 2:15pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC +10), you can join Sala founder Leap and Red Hat Impact's Ian Jones for the  Live Q&A that launches their LendForGood loan raise. As a two-sided marketplace, Sala helps high school students to make better college majors & career choices and for institutions to connect and engage with their student community and enable them to manage their academic operations through Sala's school management suite. The impact loan will support Sala in continuing to enhance career opportunities for youth by addressing skill gaps, providing tailored learning tools, and facilitating job placements. The investment will enable sustained impact on education and employment, benefiting both the community and Sala's growth trajectory. If you'd like to join in this impact loan, it offers 10% simple interest per annum over 12 months, with a target of $75,000 and a stretch goal of $100,000. To learn more about the opportunity and register for as a lender,  or to receive a recording, send an email to hello@lendforgood.com.au Subscriptions will open after the Q&A on 24th September. Full loan details will be provided to the signed up lenders and interested lenders ahead of the Q&A. #cambodia #education #demandled #impactinvestment

The incredible Mary Elizabeth Ramosaea and the team at Kaleko Steifree continually demonstrate the tenacity and resilience required to deliver joint initiatives for menstrual health education in the Solomon Islands. Her post below is testament to how multi-sectoral partnerships are fundamental to effective solutions and that their importance cannot be overstated. #menstrualhealth #pacificled #womenled #impactinvesting