Asha Impact

Asha Impact operates on multiple fronts, engaging in policy advocacy, fostering the startup ecosystem, and addressing critical issues like skilling, waste management, energy, and affordable housing. Through partnerships with Government and civil society, it aims to enhance service delivery, tackling bottlenecks in housing, waste management, and education. Asha Impact drives policy changes and seeks new capital sources to bolster social enterprises, undertaking research on building approvals and presenting recommendations to streamline the process. Additionally, it delves into the complexities of urbanization, emphasizing the need for sustainable cities and exploring private-sector solutions to enhance urban services and quality of life. Moreover, Asha Impact offers advisory support, studying the economics of Public-Private Partnership models in affordable housing and presenting solutions to address challenges hindering its growth.

Asha Impact leads in building India's impact investing sector. Kartik Desai, the Executive Director, plays a pivotal role in the Impact Investors Council, driving policy changes and thought leadership. Collaborating with entities like Niti Aayog and RBI, it advocates for increased capital flow to social enterprises and promotes blended finance, notably social impact bonds. Its efforts span from advocating innovative financial instruments for Small and Growing Businesses to crafting resources like the Social Success Notes playbook with ANDE. Participating in global forums like the Global Impact Investing Network showcases its commitment to international dialogue in impact investment.

Asha Impact pioneers Blended Finance, employing Outcome-based Financing (OBF) models to link funding with programme impact, directing resources to effective social programmes. OBF, valued at over $25 billion in 2019, bridges investment gaps for Sustainable Development Goals. It enhances accountability, spurs innovation, and boosts efficiency by connecting financing to real-time data. Focused on healthcare, education, and employment, Asha Impact utilizes blended finance to address critical gaps, offering affordable loans for high-quality training in healthcare, and filling the shortage of skilled professionals. Initiatives like the India Education Outcomes Fund (IEOF) showcase their expertise in scaling impact bonds in education through collaborations with entities like Social Finance India. Furthermore, it tackles the digital education divide, providing accessible financing for first-generation graduates, and enabling their access to training and employment.