DBS Foundation launches Senior Micro-jobs Programme with THKMC

What is a cancer-inclusive company? How does that look in practice? Traditional management often views an employee’s contribution in a silo as if their personal life can be neatly separated from their professional role. I’m not suggesting that managers must become counsellors to their staff. But it’s clear that our career choices, motivation, and drive are deeply influenced by our personal lives. As the saying goes, charity begins at home. Ryan Kong, my colleague from Singapore Cancer Society, shares his perspective on what a cancer-inclusive company looks like for someone living with cancer or caring for a loved one. Many of these flexible arrangements already exist within HR practices. These are not major restructuring or ask from the organisation. Hence, hiring and supporting people living with cancer and their caregivers is not only possible but practical. Given demographic shifts with the triple whammy of longer lifespans with later retirement, smaller family structures, and rising cancer diagnoses - it is strategic for any HR leaders to adapt policies for this inevitable future. A workforce where productive employees are also living with chronic illnesses (such as cancer) and/or serving as family caregivers is fast becoming the norm Doing so ensures organisations retain a continuous competitive edge in talent management structured with the future in mind. Reference: https://lnkd.in/gJr8VH52 #cancercare

NTU Awarded a New Project under FWC SEA Lot 4: “Preparatory activities for transformation of public institutions for provision of social services in the community”- Republic of North Macedonia! NTU International A/S is proud to announce a new 24-month assignment, with a budget of €511.000, to reinforce the reforms in social protection and deinstitutionalisation, by supporting national authorities. This important initiative supports the Ministry of Social Policy, Demographics and Youth (MSPDY) and other relevant public institutions. The aim is to expand the variety and availability of social care and address regional disparities in access to quality care. 🎯 Specific Objectives: • Provide consultancy services for the rehabilitation of buildings at three residential public institutions: the Public Institution for Care and Rehabilitation Banja Bansko Strumica, the Special Public Institute Demir Kapija, and the Public Institution for Upbringings of Children with Educational and Social Problems and Antisocial Behaviour “25 May” – Skopje. • Facilitate institutional transformation and expand the delivery of social services within the community. • Lay the groundwork for implementing investment projects planned for financing under the IPA III 2024-2027 Operational Programme “Human Capital”, which are going to be crucial in realising: 1. National Strategy for Deinstitutionalisation “Timjanik” 2018-2027, 2. National Programme for Development of Social Protection 2022-2032. Stay tuned for updates as NTU supports MSPDY’s efforts to enhance the implementation of social protection and deinstitutionalisation reforms.

At AVPA, we know that to build a mentally healthy world, we need sustainable financing and bold collaboration across sectors. Keeping investment in mind is an important step forward. It helps funders from government, business, and philanthropy see that investing in mental health isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s also an economically sound opportunity. To address this, the Coalition for Mental Health Investment (CMHI), co-founded by African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA), Clinton Global Initiative, Kokoro , the McKinsey Health Institute, and Wellcome Trust, has developed a practical guidebook for stakeholders seeking to establish, shape, and fund impactful mental health initiatives locally and globally. This open-access resource helps de-risk mental health investment by promoting sustainable financing approaches for funders, implementers, innovators, policymakers, and advocates. AVPA is using this guidebook as we design our Catalytic Pooled Fund for mental health.  We're excited to reference the strategies in this guidebook as we work to make scalable, sustainable investments in Africa. We’re grateful to our CMHI partners, Global Advisor Organizations, and many others for their collaboration on this important initiative. ➜ Access the guidebook: https://lnkd.in/eytNukh8 #InvestInMentalHealth #BrainHealth #MentalHealth

I met an investor recently, and we spoke about ageing. At first, he laughed and said, “Rukky, ageing? Isn’t Africa too young for that?” And that’s the common assumption: Africa = young, so ageing isn’t urgent. Globally, ageing is one of the fastest-growing markets. It’s not just about healthcare, but also technology, housing, education, and how societies reimagine work and retirement. Think about it: 📌 In Japan, entire startups are building robots to support elderly care. 📌 In the US, platforms like Papa are connecting seniors with on-demand “grandkids-on-call.” 📌 In Europe, digital learning platforms are helping retirees re-skill, stay active, and delay cognitive decline. These aren’t passion projects. They’re billion-dollar businesses. Now, let’s get real. Africa is not immune. By 2050, our continent will have 200M+ people aged 60 and above. That means: 📌 A growing demand for affordable elderly care solutions 📌 Urgent need for healthtech innovations that can scale in low-resource settings 📌 Opportunities for educational platforms that keep older adults engaged and productive longer The global benefits? When you invest in ageing solutions, you: 📌 Reduce the burden on healthcare systems 📌 Strengthen intergenerational economies 📌 Unlock new markets worth trillions worldwide And yet, very few venture capitalists are looking at this space. Most are still chasing the next fintech or e-commerce play. Here’s my take: The next big winners will be those who see ageing not as a burden, but as a frontier market, especially in the Global South. So I told that investor: “The best time to invest in ageing solutions in Africa was yesterday. The next best time is now.” What do you think? Is Africa ready to build and fund solutions for its ageing future, or will we wait until the crisis hits? #GlobalHealth #Ageing #HealthTech #Policy #VentureCapital #Africa

Rethinking Retirement & Insurance in South Africa’s Emerging Market South Africa stands at a crossroads. The insurance and retirement industry is not only being reshaped by global headwinds and local economic realities, but also by the shifting needs and expectations of our people. This moment demands more than incremental change — it calls for visionary leadership and bold innovation. 🔹 We can no longer rely on legacy models. Sustainability, inclusivity, and adaptability must define the next generation of financial solutions. 🔹 Trust and transparency will be our currency. In an environment of rising costs and uncertainty, building genuine confidence is as critical as delivering returns. 🔹 Technology is not an enabler — it is the battlefield. From AI-driven advisory to digital platforms that democratise access, those who harness innovation with purpose will lead. The future of retirement and insurance in South Africa will not be written by those who wait for the market to settle. It will be shaped by those willing to embrace disruption, reimagine value, and place the long-term wellbeing of South Africans at the centre of every decision. The question is not whether we can keep up — it is whether we can lead. I believe South Africa has the talent, resilience, and ingenuity to do just that. #SouthAfrica #Insurance #Retirement #Leadership #FinancialInclusion #FutureFocused

Earlier this week, Cherian Mathews (CEO, HelpAge International), Ruth Baker (Director of Fundraising & Strategic Partnerships) and Leonie Try (Adviser, Fundraising & Strategic Partnerships) met with the new Commonwealth Foundation Director General, Razmi Farook, along with Deputy Director Shem Ochola and Head of Programmes Wale Ogunleye. The discussion explored opportunities for collaboration to deliver 'Ageing Well in the Commonwealth: A Roadmap for Healthy Ageing' (https://lnkd.in/dvT2mgYb) - through a multi-sectoral approach involving governments, businesses, civil society organisations and communities. Together, we aim to promote healthy ageing, wellbeing, and the rights of older people across the Commonwealth. They also discussed the partnership between HelpAge International and the CommonAge Assoc in mobilising the CSO sector to advance this shared vision. This work comes at a critical juncture for ageing in the Commonwealth. While 60% of the Commonwealth’s 2.7 billion people are under 30, the number of people aged 65 and over is projected to rise from 231 million in 2019 to 559 million by 2050 - an increase of over 142%. This demographic shift brings both challenges and opportunities. The Roadmap for Healthy Ageing lays out practical ways to ensure this transition becomes a powerful force for inclusion, wellbeing and prosperity for all generations. Mansur Dalal, Andrew Larpent

Raven Outcomes' "CDOCs’ (Community-Driven Outcomes Contracts') broad philosophy is to shift money and power into the hands of the communities most affected by social challenges….CDOCs aim to guarantee that the affected communities are involved in defining the problem, codesigning solutions and implementation, and determining how success is measured." - Sofia Tomljanovic, Sanjith Gopalakrishnan, Rachel Kiddell-Monroe, and Vanitha Virudachalam   Insightful read in Stanford Social Innovation Review about the benefits of centering communities when designing social programs. Read more: #outcomesfinancing #impactinvesting #impinv   

Great to see this growing momentum for participatory approaches to Monitoring & Evaluation. "The hallmark of the Community-Driven Outcomes Contracts (CDOC) model is community leadership throughout the entire life cycle of a project, from defining the problem to designing the intervention, selecting metrics, making funding decisions, and evaluating impact. CDOCs treat community members as equal partners, affirming that they have unique insights into context, challenges, and potential solutions..." Please keep the examples coming. Futureproof Studio Everyday Peace Indicators Center for Peer Driven Change Village Capital Indigenous Clean Energy Jessica Newfield Jeffrey Prost-Greene Fernando Atristain María del Sol Sánchez Rabanal Ben Wrobel Marie Zernovoj Mauricio Miller Pamina Firchow Jona Repishti Freddie Huppé Campbell Stanford Social Innovation Review