The organisations we support work on the issues defined by the people, of the people, with the people.
India
In India, we work through our sister organization Social Synergy Foundation. Assignments range from impact measurement frameworks and sustainable agricultural models to broader strategic repositioning. In every case, the objective is long-term institutional resilience - governance, leadership, financial architecture, and strategic clarity. Projects are funded by leading philanthropic organizations and NGOs in Europe and the United States, such as Ford Foundation, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe or Womanity. This institution-building approach differentiates us from growth-centric impact models. While growth is a natural outcome of a healthy development, an explicit focus on rapid scaling - common in parts of the impact investing market - requires careful consideration. Ambitious return expectations can materially affect an organization’s capacity, culture, integrity and, in the worst case, lead to mission drift. At Social Synergy Deutschland, we have adopted the same philosophy and engagement model. It is a well-structured organizational development process in which we act as an independent moderator - aligning governance, finance, leadership development, investment priorities, fundraising, and strategy with the organization’s core identity. We deliberately pursue a non-disruptive, sequential, and step-by-step approach. Institutional transformation often requires profound mindset shifts. Sustainable change, in our experience, is built on continuity and persistence with a long-term perspective.
Our sister organization, Social Synergy Foundation, was founded in 2012 in Mumbai. It works primarily with established small and mid-sized nonprofits, strengthening them at an institutional level instead of focusing narrowly on short-term scale or efficiency gains.
Ukraine
Since January 2023, we are partnering with organizations and platforms such as Ukrainian Social Venture Fund (USVF), CrowdUkraine, SILab Ukraine, GIZ, Plattform Wiederaufbau Ukraine der Bundesregierung as well as Fraunhofer Gesellschaft and Fraunhofer Zukunftsstiftung. Our work on the ground provides practical insights for institutional investors and foundations seeking to unlock the country’s significant innovation potential. Already before the war, parts of Ukraine’s infrastructure were outdated - creating substantial opportunities for leapfrog investment. Investors prepared to engage early and manage risks can become first movers in a post-war recovery environment. In cooperation with the German government’s Plattform Wiederaufbau Ukraine, we aim to help develop Ukraine’s impact ecosystem as a key pillar of an inclusive, sustainable reconstruction. Over the next three years, a scalable incubation platform will be established in Kyiv, with USVF acting as organizer and intermediary - bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, academia, and public stakeholders to develop viable business models in sustainable products and services. Ukraine offers strong structural fundamentals: a large domestic market, highly competitive talent, rich natural resources, and a strategic geographic position. Priority sectors include technology (especially IT and digital economy), infrastructure, renewable energy, healthcare, education, and agriculture. While significant public and private capital is expected to flow into Ukraine following a peace agreement, the framework conditions remain fragile. Long-term security risks, EU/NATO accession pathways, institutional stability, and broad-based prosperity will be decisive factors. Timely and well-structured engagement can contribute to this transformation from the ground up. Also, it remains to be seen how effectively state institutions will be to ensure critical infrastructure, uninterrupted basic services for citizens, and logistics for the economy in order to improve living standards for the majority of the population.
The Ukrainian Social Venture Fund (USVF) is one of the few, particularly important incubators for impact-driven ventures in Ukraine.
The professional platform SILab Ukraine promotes social entrepreneurship and social innovations development as tools for the formation of social responsibility culture in society.
In cooperation with the Plattform Wiederaufbau Ukraine of the German Federal Government, we aim to help develop Ukraine’s impact ecosystem as a cornerstone of inclusive, sustainable reconstruction.
Azerbaijan
Since autumn 2025, we collaborate with the team of Resource HUB in Baku which launched a new initiative to support the women entrepreneur community in Azerbaijan by strengthening their economic skills and connecting them with German best practices in community development. Together, this partnership builds a strong foundation for inclusive economic growth, led by empowered women entrepreneurs from Azerbaijan’s regions. The initiative aims to enhance young women’s confidence, leadership capacity, and practical competencies, enabling them to lead sustainable community and business development efforts in rural regions of Azerbaijan. Fifty women from various regions have participated in intensive capacity-building workshops focused on leadership, project management, business development, and economic opportunity creation. Through structured mentorship, eleven women entrepreneur community groups are receiving guidance to design and implement one-year development plans tailored to their local realities. These plans focus on strengthening community-based business development, improving communication and branding strategies, exploring new blended finance model opportunities, and generating long-term economic impact. Special emphasis is placed on economic collaboration between Azerbaijan and Germany through continuous knowledge exchange and the sharing of best practices. German partners contribute structured mentorship models and community development approaches, while Azerbaijani participants bring grassroots innovation, resilience, and deep local expertise. Cross-border workshops and a study visit to Germany ensure sustainable learning beyond individual training sessions.
Photo credit: Farida Murshudova
PARTNERS
