26/09/2025
On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week, Development Alternatives, together with “la Caixa” Foundation, Haqdarshak, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and Givfunds, convened a powerful gathering in New York. The event brought into focus a question that sits at the heart of our shared future: how can society, government and markets come together to build resilient communities and create livelihoods at scale?
The event opened with a stirring keynote address by H.R.H. the Infanta Cristina, Director of the International Area, “la Caixa” Foundation, who reminded us of the critical role philanthropy can play in catalysing innovation and impact for communities across the world.
Najada Kumbuli, Vice President at Visa Foundation, spoke of how catalytic capital and blended finance can unlock entrepreneurial ecosystems. Seema Jalan, Deputy Director at the Gates Foundation, underscored the need to link livelihoods with gender and social equity. Sanjay Purohit, CEO of the Centre for Exponential Change, highlighted the role of systems thinking in scaling impact with communities as co-creators. And Joshua Fisher, Director at the Columbia Climate School, reminded the gathering that deep listening and open dialogue on livelihood security are pre-requisites for any action on climate resilience.
As Shrashtant Patara, CEO, Development Alternatives reflected, the dialogue made it clear that “lives and livelihoods of people have acquired much more prominence in the discourse on climate, calling for initiatives aimed at building resilience to be systemic in approach, with green and inclusive entrepreneurship being the key to impact at scale.”
Kanika Verma, Executive Vice President at Development Alternatives Group, unveiled the Mission Creating One Million Livelihoods by 2030, setting the tone for bold collective action. Building on this vision, Development Alternatives, GivFunds, Impact Lens and partners announced the Innovative Finance Facility, a landmark initiative designed to mobilise catalytic capital through blended finance, impact investing and collaborative partnerships. Together, these efforts will channel resources into scalable, community-driven solutions that not only create a million livelihoods but ensure they are inclusive and resilient.
