Advisory in impact finance, system change and social innovation
Creating.Catalyzing.Connecting
MISSION
I believe that we need to look for innovative and entrepreneurial ways to address social and environmental challenges such as climate change, unemployment, integration of refugees or unequal access to opportunities and that solutions need to cut across organizational, sectoral or disciplinary boundaries. Many of us have experienced the great potential of relationships between individuals and groups brought together by a common idea. I also believe that finance and investment is a way to bring new ideas to life, help entrepreneurs and enterprises grow and achieved transformative impact.
We need to push the boundaries on data and knowledge and to develop a better understanding on best (and worst) practices in the impact field. We need to encourage engagement by the private sector and financial institutions, to help government make better decisions and to put to work financial, human and social capital to where impact is greatest.
I share the conviction of an increasing community of changemakers that "the success of an intervention depends on the interior condition of the intervenor".* I am mentor to individuals, facilitate initiatives that increase awareness and engage a variety of stakeholders in dialogue for true understanding, connection and joint action.
(Istanbul, November 2013)
*Scharmer, O. Käufer, K., 2013, From Egosystem to Ecossytem.
FOCUS
Catalyzing innovation and facilitating collective impact for transformative impact
Applied Research & Advisory Services
I provide hands-on advice to governments, development agencies, foundations and other organizations to use their capacities, networks and financial resources in a way that reflects their purpose and resources and makes a real difference. My work in the area of innovative impact finance, impact business strategies and social innovation is grounded in latest academic research and practical experiences thanks to my experience spanning over more than two decades of working in the development and impact field.
Facilitation
I design and create spaces for deeper listening, learning and connection for collective impact. I am a trained facilitator in collective leadership methods such as Theory U, Art of Hosting and Generative facilitation as well as Futures Thinking.
Incubation & project development
I am a passionate entrepreneur myself and I enjoy bringing new ideas to life. With partners around the world I engage in identifying eco-system gaps and incubate ideas that bring about real change.
Training & Capacity Building
The complex problems we are seeking to address require multilingual leaders with the ability to build bridges combing technical and financial skills with understanding of the social and environmental imperatives and leadership skills. I develop learning opportunities for both practitioners and newcomers to the impact finance and social innovation field that combine latest knowlege with practice learning.
Mentoring & Career advice
I have been mentoring career changers, young women or senior impact (finance) professionals for almost 10 years - just because I know that sometimes a small piece of advice or asking the right questions can really make a difference in other peoples lives
Communication & Sharing
I actively share knowledge through publications, speaking engagements, as member of working groups for example as host of Impact for Breakfast Berlin (please register).
Projects
Recent activities
Project manager & expert advisor
Led a team of international experts to take stock of innovative development finance trends, strategies, review of international and German development cooperation experiences in the field of innovative development finance, and provide recommendation to the German government (BMZ) and KfW. The team drafted a comprehensive stocktaking report (internal); and co-authored a toolbox document (2019-2020).
Member of Advisory Team
Appointed to an international team of experts to advise The Human Safety Net of Generali on the use of a scaling grant for refugee entrepreneurship (since 2019).
Workshop facilitation in strategic philanthropy / German foundation
Project manager & senior facilitator
Prepared and facilitated a workshop with the senior management team of one of Germany's largest foundation on the foundation's phasing out (exit) of its partner organisation. The process included in-depth interviews with senior leadership of the foundation, identifying critical issues, provision of related content and expertise, facilitation of 2 day workshop and workshop documentation (2020).
Facilitator & moderator
Facilitated a global practitioners' exchange to "Discover New Ways to Promote Entrepreneurship & Support MSME Development gathering entrepreneurship support organisations, practitioners, experts, investors and donors. On behalf of an international coalition of donors: BMZ, GIZ, EBRD, IFC, ILO and in cooperation with Adelphi (2019).
Senior advisor
Advised a private client on key trends in sustainable finance as well as market opportunities in sustainable business and finance market in Indonesia. Designed and supporting a major stakeholder convening of sustainable finance and business community in Indonesia as a market entry strategy for the client (2019-20).
Senior Entrepreneurship Advisor
Private sector foundation Swisscontact embarked on a journey to develop knowledge knowledge and contribute to the international debate on how entrepreneurship and enterprise development can be best promoted (2017-2018).
More information about the principles developed can be accessed in our blog.
Finance Guide / GIZ
Senior finance expert
The Finance Guide is an introduction to the basics of commercial finance and investment in the context of development cooperation. The objective is to enable readers with limited or no prior exposure to finance topics to understand some key aspects in the public and private sector. Given the increasing importance of mobilizing private capital for development purposes, the Finance Guide is intended to provide orientation to GIZ staff when considering the role of commercial finance in designing and implementing technical-assistance programs. In addition, when working with implementing partners or businesses looking for finance, the reader will be able to assume a more substantial role in supporting such local partners and entrepreneurs in developing bankable and investment-ready projects or businesses (2017/18).
The guide can be accessed at Endeva's website, the lead partner for this assignment.
Research
Supporting the UK innovation agency Nesta with designing and conducting a comprehensive piece of research on how foundations and other innovation funders fund and support innovation. The focus was on the role of learning, risk taking and failure and we specifically looked at philanthropic innovation funders engaged in developing and emerging countries. The results were to feed into the design of programs in international development
Training
F4C has been one of the first European leadership and training programs on impact investing. It's objective was to make the emering field, practicies and tools accessible to philanthropic funders, VC funds, business angels, intermediaries and financial institutions (2016-2017).
Research & Advisory
Advised Danida, the Danish Development Agency on options to mobilise private sector capital for sustainable development. The work included a recap of the current discussion of key concepts in impact investing and innovative finance, an identification of critical issues based on a literature review, stakeholder interviews in Europe, the US and emerging markets and a review of more than 20 blended finance vehicles (2015-2016).
The report is available here and the annexes including fact sheets for various blended finance investment vehicles can be downloaded here.
Leadership development & Training
Developed, designed and managed a training, mentoring and co-investment program for impact entrepreneurs, social businesses, intermediaries, social investors in Turkey supported by JP Morgan Chase Foundation. Co-trainer in 3 day social investment training with a panel of highly recognized international social investment and impact measurement experts.
Research
As Fellow of the German Mercator Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation / Impact Investing Policy Collaborative at the Istanbul Policy Center of Sabanci University Turkey led the first major research project in Turkey on social entrepreneurship and impact investment.
The work included a major social and green entrepreneurship survey; the testing of potential investors’ interest under various scenarios; identification on necessary conditions by international impact investment firms and funds for engaging in Turkey; a review of legal framework; the development of options for engagement by government and other market builders; convening of Turkey's first international impact investing conference in cooperartion with UNDP.
The results of the research were documented and shared in various publications, newspaper articles and blogs, which can be accessed here.
Research & Advisory
Inclusive Business involve low income communities in the value chain. Commissioned by GIZ, the German Government Agency explored demand by governments in Indonesia and Columbia for assistance for developing inclusive business policies.
Research & Advisory
The Turkish presidency of the G20 in 2015 identified Inclusive Business Policies as a priority topic for its Development Working Group. IFC and UNDP have been tasked by the G20 to lead on the development of a Framework on Inclusive Business Policies that can guide further actions. We were commissioned to support the consulting team led by our colleagues at Endeva to support the development of the framework. The Framework has been adopted as part of the G20 presidency in 2014.
The G20 Inclusive Business Framework can be accessed here.
Advisory
The project aim was to identify innovative options to channel sustainable investment finance to an economically underdevelopment region in Kenya. Work included a review of financial service providers, their products and technologies to identify market gaps; the implementation of an enterprise survey to identify market needs for new financial and non-financial support; a review of international experience in public venture capital, investment fund design and management of funds for social impact; the development of an initial deal pipeline, advice on fund design options, a fund investment strategy and testing of investor interest. NKIF became part of the governments Vision2030.
Insights
Selected publications
SDC Case Series on Innovations in Private Sector Engagement. Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
SDC Case Series on Innovations in Private Sector Engagement. Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Link to be added soon, in the meantime pls send us an email to receive a copy akoenig@socialimpactmarkets.org
SDC Case Series on Innovations in Private Sector Engagement. Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Link to be added soon, in the meantime pls send us an email to receive a copy akoenig@socialimpactmarkets.org
SDC Case Series on Innovations in Private Sector Engagement. SwissAgency for Development and Cooperation
Link to be added soon, in the meantime pls send us an email to receive a copy akoenig@socialimpactmarkets.org
The report can be downloaded here from ESCF website
Unpublished summary of a comprehensive report - a copy is available on request from akoenig@socialimpactmarkets.org
The report can be downloaded here
in: ECDPM GREAT INSIGHTS, 2030 Smart Engagement with business, Vol 5 Issue 5 October/November 2016, p 16. The article can be accessed here and the entire issue can be downloaded here (article on page 16-19)
The main report and annexes can be accessed here. Annexes include more than 20 fact sheets of blended finance impact investment funds, a market overview and new directions in impact measurement
Koenig, A. (2014): Developing social impact markets in Turkey: Framework for government engagement and review of policy options. Istanbul Policy Center, Sabanci University, Istanbul, April 2014
The report can be downloaded here
in IIPC, Impact Investing in 2014: A Snapshot of Global Activity, Impact Investing Policy Collaborative Annual Report 2014, p 13. The report can be downloaded here, the article can be found on page 13-22
In IIPC, Impact Investing in 2014: A Snapshot of Global Activity, Impact Investing Policy Collaborative Annual Report 2014, p 31. The report can be downloaded here, the article can be found on page 31-44
Collection of blog posts published between February 2013 and May 2013 on global trends in social investments globally, the situation in Turkey, diaspora investing and the need for a holistic approach to market building for social investment in Turkey
The report can be downloaded here and a blog on implications is available here.
Istanbul Policy Center, Turkey October 2013.
Collection of blogs: Documentation of methodological considerations in designing and implementing Turkey’s first survey of green and social entrepreneurship and survey results.
The report can be downloaded here.
Results of interviews with leading impact investment fund managers and firms on why impact investors engage in one country and not in another.
The report can be downloaded here and initial findings are discussed in this blog
Testimonials
What others said about my work - Thank You!
"Anja is one of the most innovative partners I've had the pleasure of working with in the social innovation and impact investing fields. She is a visionary who connects people and ideas in a way that has real practical results borne out through important policy and infrastructure change; she is tireless in her approach to building effective impact investing markets whether through convening field leaders, training practitioners, or conducting her own landmark research; and she is absolutely wonderful to work with. I consider her a critical adviser, collaborator, and thought partner to whom I will continue to turn for insight. It is my pleasure to recommend her."
Colby Daley, Managing Director at Build Healthy Work Places California/USA (former Associate Director at Pacific Community Ventures/Impact Investing Policy Collaborative by the Rockefeller Foundation)
"Anja was instrumental in creating and implementing the Social Investment Program at the Entrepreneurship Centre/Sabanci University that I have joined. Anja demonstrated great professionalism, experience and knowledge in Impact investment. The most impressive part of her involvement was her enthusiasm and dedication in making impact investment a norm of investment in Turkey."
Huseyin Demirhisar, Impact Investment Expert Amsterdam (formerly at PYMWYMIC and Angel Wings Ventures)
"As a person who is curious and keen to learn I attended the F4C Investor Bootcamp in order to expand my horizon, my knowledge and my network in relation to Impact Investing - all of it has been achieved ! The interactive design, the contribution of a wide range and highly competent experts and the mix of participants has been very valuable to hear different perspectives and to facilitate an exchange of these different groups. Anja and Leon have managed to set up a great format and I hope they will manage to create a series of offerings!."
Klaus Naeve, Head Philanthropic Advisory Services, Joh. Berenberg Gosslar &Co. KG Hamburg
"Knowing Anja and joining the Social Investment Program conducted by her was my one of best choices in life. [...] This Social Investment Program helped me to understand the philosophy of social entrepreneurship, social needs, and stakeholder expectations. All my life changed in a very good way after entering social investments world following participation in this fabulous program."
Besim Caliskan, IPA International Rescue Committee Turkey
Profile
Founder and Director
Anja Koenig is an experienced impact and development finance professional with in-depth technical expertise in impact finance, entrepreneurship promotion, blended value partnerships and a trained facilitator in social innovation, generative facilitation and systems change. She enjoys co-creating multistakeholder strategies and systemic interventions, catalyzing new ideas and connecting individuals and organization for greater impact.
She currently supports public private sector clients and social sector intermediaries in Germany and internationally on groundbreaking impact (finance) innovations, facilities cross-sectoral partnerships partnerships and supports multistakeholder initiatives.
In the past, she worked with the European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA), an European network of social nvestors (part time). In this capacity she represented EVPA in the DACH region and designed and facilitated innovative dialogue formats. She initiated Transformative Finance and Investing for Development Initiatives and led the design of a Transformative Finance Lab, a multistakeholder space to co-create financing solutions to systemic challenges.
Between 2017 and 2018 she supported private sector foundation Swisscontact strengthen its role on entrepreneurship promotion, finance and innovation in emerging countries. In 2016, she initiated Finance for Change in cooperation with the Impact Hub Berlin, to introduce investors, finance and philanthropy professionals to the world of impact investing.
In Turkey, where she lived between 2010 and 2014, she founded Social Impact Markets to build the field of impact investment and social innovation in Turkey and internationally. She initiated and led the Social Investment Program supported by JP Morgan Chase Foundation and was a fellow of the Mercator Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation (Impact Investing Policy Collaborative) at Sabanci University in Istanbul researching and sharing on effective ways for government and others promoters to mobilise capital for impact and to develop impact markets.
Between 2007-2010 she worked on various advisory assignments on behalf of governments, development finance institutions and companies in East Africa and represented KfW, the German Development Bank in the oversight committee of a USD 1bn Multi-Donor Trust Fund in Southern Sudan. In Kenya, she also worked with Financial Advisory Services of PricewaterhouseCoopers Kenya and as resident policy advisor to the Kenya government with the German Development Agency GIZ.
She was also expert advisor with an economic consulting company in London/UK focusing on public-private partnership and regulatory work in the UK and in emerging countries worldwide with a specific focus on the water, energy and communications sector. She started her career with PricewaterhouseCoopers Germany in the impact assessment of KfW Development Bank financing activities in developing countries.
She holds a MBA (University of Mannheim, Germany), a degree in Political Science and Economics (IEP “Science Po”, Paris France) and a post Master degree in Development Studies (German Development Institute).
She holds certificates in futures thinking from the Institute for the Future, a certificate in generative facilitation from the Generative Facilitation Institute Berlin and is trained in Theory U, Art of Hosting and other system practices (e.g. with the School of System Change / Forum of the Future) to help system leaders and groups successfully navigate innovation and systemic change for greater impact.
Anja is mentor mentor with OnPurpose, and has been a mentor with MentorMe, Germany's largest professional mentoring platform for young women. She has acted as pro bono jury member of start social, a government program to support innovative social projects in Germany.
She co-host and facilitated the Impact Investing Round Table Berlin for the past 7 years (now turned into the Berlin Chapter of Impact for Breakfast.
She speaks German (native), English, French as well as some Portuguese and basic Turkish. She is now based in Berlin, after living as a long term resident in London (UK) for 3 years, Nairobi (Kenya) for 6 years and Istanbul (Turkey) for 4 years and working on assignments in various countries in Africa, CEE, MENA, Asia and Latin America.
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