How can carbon finance do more to strengthen rural livelihoods and empower the communities on the frontlines of climate change? Social Impact Pioneers - Anna Kilpatrick, from PUR, Ann Vaughan & Lilian Gwazayo of CARE, and Olaf Westermann, from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) explore this critical question.
The conversation, in turn, hears from people implementing carbon finance programmes with a focus on deepening livelihood benefits in countries from around the world, including Mr. Matola Sigele in Malawi; Karimi in Cambodia; Emmanuel and Joshua in Uganda.
Together, they unpack how nature-based solutions, carbon markets, and community-led restoration can deliver climate impact rooted in equity and sustainability. The conversation dives into payment for ecosystem services, carbon equity, and the importance of long-term investment in communities that steward forests and farmlands.
You will hear how carbon projects are reshaping livelihoods—improving food security, empowering women, and restoring degraded landscapes. And also some of the challenges - in making these programmes work - whether land rights, short-term rewards, or understandable skepticism.
This episode offers practical insights for businesses, investors, and NGOs seeking to align carbon finance integrity with inclusive development.
Listen now to explore how climate finance can be a cornerstone of sustainable livelihoods—not just a co-benefit.
This conversation is hosted by Yvette Torres-Rahman, co-founder of Business Fights Poverty.
Social Impact Pioneers:
- Anna Kilpatrick, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer at PUR, whose agroforestry projects help global companies decarbonize agricultural supply chains while improving smallholder incomes.
- Ann Vaughan, Associate Vice President for Resilient Futures at CARE, leading work to unlock climate finance that reaches 25 million people, especially women and girls.
- Olaf Westermann, Senior Technical Advisor on Climate Change and Agriculture at CRS, connecting conservation, livelihoods, and equity in nature-based carbon projects worldwide.
- Lilian Gwazayo, Field Advisor, & Environmental Scientist, CARE, Malawi.
Links:
Redd+ Projects: https://unfccc.int/topics/land-use/workstreams/redd/what-is-redd
PUR: https://www.pur.co/
Catholic Relief Services: https://www.crs.org/
Care: Malawi We Staan Nog Steeds: https://www.carenederland.org/verhaal/malawi-we-staan-nog-steeds
Care: Malawi: Herstel van groene vegetatie draagt bij aan duurzame toekomst
https://www.carenederland.org/nieuws/malawi-het-herstellen-van-groene-vegetatie
CARE Malawi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-international-in-malawi/posts/?feedView=all
CARE Nederland: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-nederland/posts/?feedView=all
Restore Africa: https://www.evergreening.org/restoreafrica/
All content for Social Impact Pioneers is the property of Business Fights Poverty and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
How can carbon finance do more to strengthen rural livelihoods and empower the communities on the frontlines of climate change? Social Impact Pioneers - Anna Kilpatrick, from PUR, Ann Vaughan & Lilian Gwazayo of CARE, and Olaf Westermann, from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) explore this critical question.
The conversation, in turn, hears from people implementing carbon finance programmes with a focus on deepening livelihood benefits in countries from around the world, including Mr. Matola Sigele in Malawi; Karimi in Cambodia; Emmanuel and Joshua in Uganda.
Together, they unpack how nature-based solutions, carbon markets, and community-led restoration can deliver climate impact rooted in equity and sustainability. The conversation dives into payment for ecosystem services, carbon equity, and the importance of long-term investment in communities that steward forests and farmlands.
You will hear how carbon projects are reshaping livelihoods—improving food security, empowering women, and restoring degraded landscapes. And also some of the challenges - in making these programmes work - whether land rights, short-term rewards, or understandable skepticism.
This episode offers practical insights for businesses, investors, and NGOs seeking to align carbon finance integrity with inclusive development.
Listen now to explore how climate finance can be a cornerstone of sustainable livelihoods—not just a co-benefit.
This conversation is hosted by Yvette Torres-Rahman, co-founder of Business Fights Poverty.
Social Impact Pioneers:
- Anna Kilpatrick, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer at PUR, whose agroforestry projects help global companies decarbonize agricultural supply chains while improving smallholder incomes.
- Ann Vaughan, Associate Vice President for Resilient Futures at CARE, leading work to unlock climate finance that reaches 25 million people, especially women and girls.
- Olaf Westermann, Senior Technical Advisor on Climate Change and Agriculture at CRS, connecting conservation, livelihoods, and equity in nature-based carbon projects worldwide.
- Lilian Gwazayo, Field Advisor, & Environmental Scientist, CARE, Malawi.
Links:
Redd+ Projects: https://unfccc.int/topics/land-use/workstreams/redd/what-is-redd
PUR: https://www.pur.co/
Catholic Relief Services: https://www.crs.org/
Care: Malawi We Staan Nog Steeds: https://www.carenederland.org/verhaal/malawi-we-staan-nog-steeds
Care: Malawi: Herstel van groene vegetatie draagt bij aan duurzame toekomst
https://www.carenederland.org/nieuws/malawi-het-herstellen-van-groene-vegetatie
CARE Malawi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-international-in-malawi/posts/?feedView=all
CARE Nederland: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-nederland/posts/?feedView=all
Restore Africa: https://www.evergreening.org/restoreafrica/
How IKEA Is Powering Global Social Entrepreneurship with Åsa Skogström Feldt
Social Impact Pioneers
25 minutes 2 seconds
1 month ago
How IKEA Is Powering Global Social Entrepreneurship with Åsa Skogström Feldt
In this episode of Business Fights Poverty’s Social Impact Pioneers Podcast, host Yvette Torres-Rahman speaks with Åsa Skogström Feldt, Managing Director of IKEA Social Entrepreneurship BV, about how business can be a force for good. Recorded live during the UN General Assembly 2025 in New York, this powerful conversation explores how IKEA is partnering with social entrepreneurs worldwide to create inclusive growth, fight inequality, and build sustainable livelihoods.
Åsa Skogström Feldt leads IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, a company within the Inter IKEA Group that invests in partnerships and accelerator programs supporting over 100 social enterprises each year. From empowering refugees and artisans to transforming circular waste systems in India, IKEA is proving that business-led social innovation can tackle the root causes of poverty while driving long-term sustainability.
Åsa brings a blend of corporate leadership and non-profit innovation, having previously served as Global President and CEO of The Hunger Project in New York and Sweden. Her career spans major roles at Sony Ericsson, Aspiro, and Ericsson Mobile Communications, alongside decades of activism championing women’s empowerment.
Together, Yvette and Åsa discuss how to bridge the worlds of philanthropy and business, scale social impact, and harness the power of AI, circularity, and social innovation to build a more inclusive economy. Discover how IKEA’s approach—through impact investing, mentoring, and global collaboration—is redefining what it means to be a responsible business.
Tune in to hear how Åsa Skogström Feldt and IKEA are proving that “it’s good business to be a good business.”
Social Impact Pioneers
How can carbon finance do more to strengthen rural livelihoods and empower the communities on the frontlines of climate change? Social Impact Pioneers - Anna Kilpatrick, from PUR, Ann Vaughan & Lilian Gwazayo of CARE, and Olaf Westermann, from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) explore this critical question.
The conversation, in turn, hears from people implementing carbon finance programmes with a focus on deepening livelihood benefits in countries from around the world, including Mr. Matola Sigele in Malawi; Karimi in Cambodia; Emmanuel and Joshua in Uganda.
Together, they unpack how nature-based solutions, carbon markets, and community-led restoration can deliver climate impact rooted in equity and sustainability. The conversation dives into payment for ecosystem services, carbon equity, and the importance of long-term investment in communities that steward forests and farmlands.
You will hear how carbon projects are reshaping livelihoods—improving food security, empowering women, and restoring degraded landscapes. And also some of the challenges - in making these programmes work - whether land rights, short-term rewards, or understandable skepticism.
This episode offers practical insights for businesses, investors, and NGOs seeking to align carbon finance integrity with inclusive development.
Listen now to explore how climate finance can be a cornerstone of sustainable livelihoods—not just a co-benefit.
This conversation is hosted by Yvette Torres-Rahman, co-founder of Business Fights Poverty.
Social Impact Pioneers:
- Anna Kilpatrick, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer at PUR, whose agroforestry projects help global companies decarbonize agricultural supply chains while improving smallholder incomes.
- Ann Vaughan, Associate Vice President for Resilient Futures at CARE, leading work to unlock climate finance that reaches 25 million people, especially women and girls.
- Olaf Westermann, Senior Technical Advisor on Climate Change and Agriculture at CRS, connecting conservation, livelihoods, and equity in nature-based carbon projects worldwide.
- Lilian Gwazayo, Field Advisor, & Environmental Scientist, CARE, Malawi.
Links:
Redd+ Projects: https://unfccc.int/topics/land-use/workstreams/redd/what-is-redd
PUR: https://www.pur.co/
Catholic Relief Services: https://www.crs.org/
Care: Malawi We Staan Nog Steeds: https://www.carenederland.org/verhaal/malawi-we-staan-nog-steeds
Care: Malawi: Herstel van groene vegetatie draagt bij aan duurzame toekomst
https://www.carenederland.org/nieuws/malawi-het-herstellen-van-groene-vegetatie
CARE Malawi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-international-in-malawi/posts/?feedView=all
CARE Nederland: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-nederland/posts/?feedView=all
Restore Africa: https://www.evergreening.org/restoreafrica/
