Either as a market participant, regulator or market builder, the public sector has a unique, key role to play in enabling and driving impact economies that serve people and the planet, responding to the pressing challenges of our time.

Whilst the meaning of “impact” for the world of business and investment is increasingly clear (i.e. by incorporating impact as a key variable for decision making alongside the traditional dimensions of risk and return), the equivalent for governments remains somewhat diffuse.

Most government, political figures and public officials would typically claim that public sector activity is inherently about impact, in pursuit of public good and wellbeing. But, is it really? Are governments around the world doing enough to focus on the delivery of social and environmental outcomes, at the required scale and with integrity? What is the meaning of “impact” for a sector that does not optimise its decisions based on risk and return, like investors and businesses do?

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The role of government as a
Market Facilitator

Creating organisations, initiatives and systems that enable and educate on impact

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The role of government as a
Market Participant

Supporting the impact investment ecosystem through direct investment and the commissioning and procurement of impact products and services

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The role of government as a
Market Regulator

Passing laws and regulations in support of the impact ecosystem

We at GSG Impact work closely with our National Partners and partners to both reflect on the role of government in delivering impact economies, pushing the boundaries of current thinking and knowledge through innovative approaches, and to work together to drive real policy change across jurisdictions, globally.

This action guide, building on years of technical analysis and lived experience, seeks to provide practical tools for our National Partners aiming to design, advocate and influence their governments to implement successful impact policy strategies.

Like every GSG Impact effort, this guide has been developed with and for our National Partners, true drivers of change on the ground, many of which are prioritising policy advocacy as part of their own national programmes. 

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Sebastian Welisiejko

Chief Policy Officer - GSG Impact

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Santiago Sueiro

Senior Manager, Policy - GSG Impact

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Uriel Basualdo Franchino

Policy Analyst - GSG Impact

Julieta Bertolini

Project Consultant - GSG Impact

Renata Gorodisch

Policy Analyst - GSG Impact

Sebastian Welisiejko

Chief Policy Officer - GSG Impact

realimpact@gigii.org