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Listen "Social & Environmental Impact Through Business-NGO Collaboration With Diageo and Care"
Episode Synopsis
How can businesses and their partners design programmes to tackle multiple societal issues whilst making economic sense?
Listen in to this conversation between Social Impact Pioneers: Amanda Smith, Global Head of Social Impact at Diageo; Amayaa Wijesinghe, Climate and Resilience Advisor at CARE International UK; and Thomas Ongogo, Program Manager at CARE International Kenya – as they explore how businesses and NGOs can work together to simultaneously tackle climate, gender, and economic challenges.
This conversation was recorded during the Business Fights Poverty Global Equity Summit 2025. During which, Diageo and CARE International shared honest insights from their collaboration with smallholder farmers, grounding the discussion in their latest case study and practical experiences. Together their discussion highlights five actionable insights:
1. Integrate Social, Environmental & Economic Goals – Achieve holistic, long-term impact by designing programs that empower women, promote climate resilience, and build local economies.
2. Build Local Ownership – Strengthen communities by investing in local leadership and gender-inclusive initiatives like VSLAs.
3. Secure Multi-Year Funding – Ensure sustainable outcomes by advocating for long-term financial commitments that allow for deeper, systemic change.
4. Pool Resources for Collective Impact – Leverage cross-sector collaboration to drive scalable, innovative solutions.
5. Embrace Digital Solutions – Use tech to extend agricultural knowledge, improve productivity, and reinforce value chain resilience.
Tune in to explore how aligning social and environmental goals can deliver measurable business value while creating lasting impact on the ground.
Listen now to learn how purposeful partnerships can power inclusive, sustainable development.
Links:
Business Fights Poverty Global Equity Summit 2025, including further resources from this and many other sessions: https://businessfightspoverty.org/global-equity-summit/#Highlights
Business Fights Poverty (2024). Business, Social Impact and Inclusivity with Amanda Smith. [podcast] Available at: https://businessfightspoverty.org/
business-social-impact-and-inclusivity-with-amanda-smith
Diageo (2025). Helping our smallholder farmers tackle the impacts of climate change and gender inequality. [online] Available at: https://www.diageo.
com/en/news-and-media/stories/2025/helping-our-smallholder-farmers-tackle-the-impacts-of-climate-change-and-gender-inequality
YouTube (2024). Business, Social Impact and Inclusivity with Amanda Smith. [video online]
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRmdJt-CAgs
Listen in to this conversation between Social Impact Pioneers: Amanda Smith, Global Head of Social Impact at Diageo; Amayaa Wijesinghe, Climate and Resilience Advisor at CARE International UK; and Thomas Ongogo, Program Manager at CARE International Kenya – as they explore how businesses and NGOs can work together to simultaneously tackle climate, gender, and economic challenges.
This conversation was recorded during the Business Fights Poverty Global Equity Summit 2025. During which, Diageo and CARE International shared honest insights from their collaboration with smallholder farmers, grounding the discussion in their latest case study and practical experiences. Together their discussion highlights five actionable insights:
1. Integrate Social, Environmental & Economic Goals – Achieve holistic, long-term impact by designing programs that empower women, promote climate resilience, and build local economies.
2. Build Local Ownership – Strengthen communities by investing in local leadership and gender-inclusive initiatives like VSLAs.
3. Secure Multi-Year Funding – Ensure sustainable outcomes by advocating for long-term financial commitments that allow for deeper, systemic change.
4. Pool Resources for Collective Impact – Leverage cross-sector collaboration to drive scalable, innovative solutions.
5. Embrace Digital Solutions – Use tech to extend agricultural knowledge, improve productivity, and reinforce value chain resilience.
Tune in to explore how aligning social and environmental goals can deliver measurable business value while creating lasting impact on the ground.
Listen now to learn how purposeful partnerships can power inclusive, sustainable development.
Links:
Business Fights Poverty Global Equity Summit 2025, including further resources from this and many other sessions: https://businessfightspoverty.org/global-equity-summit/#Highlights
Business Fights Poverty (2024). Business, Social Impact and Inclusivity with Amanda Smith. [podcast] Available at: https://businessfightspoverty.org/
business-social-impact-and-inclusivity-with-amanda-smith
Diageo (2025). Helping our smallholder farmers tackle the impacts of climate change and gender inequality. [online] Available at: https://www.diageo.
com/en/news-and-media/stories/2025/helping-our-smallholder-farmers-tackle-the-impacts-of-climate-change-and-gender-inequality
YouTube (2024). Business, Social Impact and Inclusivity with Amanda Smith. [video online]
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRmdJt-CAgs
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