April 19 3:00 PM GMT
Here are highlights of day three from the Skoll World Forum:

April 16 3:33 PM GMT
Here’s a short video of highlights of day two of the Skoll World Forum:

April 16 9:46 AM GMT
Are social entrepreneurs closer to business leaders and investors? Or artists, scientists and other explorers? Are social entrepreneurs fundamentally the same as or different from business entrepreneurs? The GPs of a leading Sand Hill Road venture firm which described for me the key characteristics of a business entrepreneur:  a sponge for information (if you ride an elevator with them they will find out what special thing you know and learn all about it by the time you both reach the lobby), “wicked smart” – and doesn’t need to show it, and an insatiable appetite to solve a given problem – not for the money, but for the satisfaction.  

April 16 9:20 AM GMT
Paul Hawken spoke last night at the awards ceremony of the Skoll World Forum. He shared a list of thousands of NGOs from all over the world and described them as “people like us.”  Speaking through a short film, the CEO of Transfair rallied the troops saying, “the markets are not our enemy.”  These perspectives illustrate the reality of the social entrepreneur – fitting in multiple world, belonging to none.

April 15 10:41 PM GMT
How can culture be factored into the double bottom line? We understand the environmental impact of a green supply chain, and appreciate businesses that deliver a social return in the form of living wage jobs. But how can languages or traditional practices like dress, food, and ritual be supported through market-based approaches? This challenging question was raised during the panel discussion, “Beyond the single bottom line: Pioneers in blended value,” held today at the Skoll World Forum.

April 15 7:00 PM GMT
Here’s a short video of highlights of day one of the Skoll World Forum:

April 15 5:27 PM GMT
Great discussion this morning about cluster level impact assessment. As social entrepreneurs and other seek opportunties for leverage, understanding how a cluster of actors can address the needs of a community or a geographic region, or tackle a social challenge through a common theory of change becomes increasingly relevant.

But how do you measure the impact or results of the cluster? Actors employ a range of interventions, and may be at various stages of maturity when it comes to understanding the problem and finding its solution. In this case, different assessment measures are required.

Clusters of grantees formed by funders may feel competitive rather than collaborative, and uncomfortable sharing lessons from expectation failures. The challenges and limitations of individual organizations in a cluster may prevent their ability to fully participate in data collection and analysis even when they are willing. While coordinated action makes sense, it raises the stakes on social impact assessment or results measurement – already a tough task.

April 15 9:10 AM GMT
Does it all boil down to listening to the voice of constituents? The opening plenary of the Skoll World Forum featured a panel on the work of Camfed, an NGO focused on girls education in Africa. The founder Ann Cotton and others described Camfed’s deep focus on respecting girls and their families, including them in decision-making and ensuring transparency to allow them to inspect Camfed’s work. These practices  were described as “governance” – which seems to raise the ante and their importance. And maybe that’s what’s needed to grab our attention.

April 14 7:15 PM GMT
Welcome to my blog from the Skoll World Forum, which brings together social entrepreneurs from around the world. The Forum runs from April 14 to April 16 in Oxford, England, and I’ll be filing daily reports with the latest news and views from Oxford.

Laura Callanan, McKinsey & Company

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