Do One Better with Alberto Lidji in Philanthropy, Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship

A deep dive into how philanthropy in Asia is evolving, and how the next generation of leaders is being prepared to make it more effective, collaborative and impactful.

In this conversation with Brian Sen, Secretary General of the Institute of Philanthropy in Hong Kong, the discussion explores why the Institute was created, what it means to be a “thinking, funding and doing” tank, and how it is working to strengthen the wider philanthropic ecosystem across Asia.

A central focus of the conversation is the LEAP Fellowship, Leadership Excellence in Asian Philanthropy, a new programme designed to equip emerging senior leaders with the skills, networks and mindset needed to tackle complex social and environmental challenges. Brian explains how the fellowship blends world class academic input from partners such as J-PAL at MIT, the London School of Economics and the University of Hong Kong, with practical, challenge based learning and mentorship from senior philanthropic leaders.

Listeners gain insight into who the fellowship is aimed at, how it is structured, and why investing in talent development is critical for the future of philanthropy. The discussion also touches on the Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust, its rigorous approach to impact measurement, and the collaborative ethos that underpins the Institute’s work.

The episode closes with a personal reflection from Brian on his own journey into the sector, and a clear call to action for funders and organisations to prioritise building stronger talent pipelines for the field.

Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 350+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.

What if the biggest barrier to education is not poverty, infrastructure, or even access but low expectations of what children can achieve?

In this conversation, Caitlin Baron shares how the Luminos Fund is proving that children who have never been to school can master foundational literacy and numeracy at extraordinary speed when the right conditions are in place.

We hear how Luminos works with 10 and 11 year olds across Africa who are often first generation readers and who frequently enter classrooms without ever having encountered the printed word. Many are taught in languages they do not speak at home. Despite these challenges, Luminos students complete three years of learning in just ten months and go on to remain in school at twice the national average.

Caitlin explains the science behind accelerated learning and why rigorous sequencing, phonics based instruction, and mastery driven progression are essential for children starting from the very beginning. She also describes how global research must be paired with deep linguistic and cultural expertise at the local level to avoid the pitfalls that have limited education reform in the past.

Listeners are taken inside a Luminos classroom where joyful learning is the guiding principle. With no electricity, no internet, and minimal infrastructure, teachers use handmade materials, role play, song, movement, and tactile learning to engage the head, the hand, and the heart. From forming letters in clay to running classroom marketplaces for mental math, learning is active, practical, and deeply rooted in children’s lived experience.

The discussion also explores how Luminos equips teachers, many without formal training, with highly detailed instructional guides developed through classroom observation and continuous evaluation. These materials are co-created with African led organizations and ministries of education, rigorously tested in local languages, and released as open source public goods so they can strengthen entire education systems.

Caitlin reflects on the role of collaborative philanthropy, the importance of long term partnerships with governments, and why evidence alone is not enough without trust, patience, and local leadership. She also shares her own journey from growing up in Brooklyn to working across Africa, driven by a lifelong commitment to expanding access to opportunity through education.

A compelling exploration of literacy, learning science, and the belief that joyful classrooms can transform lives.

Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 350+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.

Nick Temple returns to discuss how Social Investment Business has evolved from a specialist social lender into a major player in grant delivery, programme management, and impact-driven finance across the UK.

At the heart of the conversation is what it takes to turn strategy into action. Nick reflects on the realities of running large-scale, complex programmes, the importance of pace in a turbulent landscape, and how data can be used not just to improve delivery but to shape wider sector thinking.

What you’ll hear in this episode

A refresher on Social Investment Business today: a charity and social investor providing loans to charities and social enterprises, alongside managing large grants and business support programmes.

The Youth Investment Fund at scale: delivery of a £300m capital grants programme to build and renovate more than 270 youth centres in some of the UK’s most deprived communities, supporting tens of thousands of young people.

Why community buildings are a hidden energy challenge: how poor energy efficiency in community assets drives up costs and squeezes frontline budgets, especially in disadvantaged areas.

Energy resilience in practice: support for measures such as solar, insulation, lighting upgrades and other practical interventions that reduce bills while delivering carbon benefits.

How AI is already changing delivery: early use cases such as processing grant monitoring receipts, strengthening risk assessments and due diligence, and exploring what “relationship management” could look like in an AI-enabled future.

What “strategic opportunism” really means: balancing clear strategic priorities with the ability to respond quickly to tenders, partnerships and emerging needs in a fast-changing environment.

What the organisation wants next: a forward-looking focus on the green transition, community assets, and public service transformation, alongside an ambition to reach £1bn in grants and loans deployed by 2030.

Who they want to hear from: ambitious, capable charities and social enterprises with a track record and appetite to deliver, plus more action-oriented impact investors, including endowments and family offices.

Nick’s career path: from an English degree and early charity work to social enterprise leadership, and why diligence, kindness, and delivering quality work matter more than a perfect plan.

Key themes
Community assets as a lever for impact
Buildings are not just infrastructure, they are platforms for services, connection and opportunity. Improving the resilience and running costs of those assets can unlock more mission delivery.

Efficiency and scale
From AI-enabled back-office processes to large capital programmes, Nick argues that execution quality and speed are becoming non-negotiable for organisations trying to meet urgent social and environmental needs.

Action over noise
A recurring message is to focus on what can be changed through practical delivery, strong teams, and clear decision-making, even when the wider landscape feels uncertain.

Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 350+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.

Peggy Dulany is a philanthropist, member of the Rockefeller family and the Founder and Chair of Synergos, a global nonprofit dedicated to advancing social change through collaboration and systems leadership.

In this episode of the Do One Better Podcast, Peggy joins host Alberto Lidji for a thoughtful conversation on what it takes to address complex social challenges in an increasingly interconnected world. Drawing on decades of experience working alongside social innovators, community leaders, governments and philanthropic institutions, Peggy shares insights into the importance of trust, long-term thinking, and inclusive leadership.

The discussion explores the founding and evolution of Synergos, the organization’s emphasis on bridging divides across sectors and geographies, and why meaningful progress often depends less on technical solutions and more on relationships, humility, and shared purpose.

This conversation offers valuable perspective for anyone interested in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, systems change, and the human dimensions of social impact.

Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 350+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.

Benjamin Perks, UNICEF’s Head of Advocacy for Child Development and Protection, joins Alberto Lidji on the Do One Better Podcast to make the case that the single most powerful investment a society can make is in the relationship between children and their caregivers.

Drawing on more than three decades of neuroscience, public health, and social science, Perks explains why secure caregiver child attachment is not only the foundation of healthy childhoods but also one of the strongest predictors of lifelong wellbeing, economic productivity, and social stability. When those relationships break down, the costs ripple outward into education systems, health services, labor markets, and criminal justice systems. When they are strengthened, the benefits compound across generations.

At the center of the conversation is the Global Caregiver Forum, an inaugural intergovernmental gathering convened by UNICEF and the World Health Organization with the Government of Spain. Ministers from roughly 25 countries, alongside leading scientists and practitioners, are coming together to accelerate the global scale up of evidence based parenting and caregiver support programs.

Perks describes why these programs represent a breakthrough in public policy. A 2022 WHO led systematic review of more than 435 randomized controlled trials shows that evidence based parenting programs consistently increase nurturing care, reduce violence and maltreatment, improve children’s developmental outcomes, and significantly improve parental mental health. In other words, they deliver on child protection, early learning, and adult wellbeing at the same time.

The discussion moves from science to systems. Today, only about one quarter of countries report having widely available parenting programs, even though the interventions are relatively low cost and highly scalable. Perks explains how UNICEF and partners are working to build the global architecture needed to change that, including common frameworks, measurement tools, and coverage indicators similar to those used for vaccines and other public health interventions.

A critical theme is the return on investment. While the largest gains of early childhood support appear over decades, Perks points to growing evidence that parenting programs also generate benefits within political and budget cycles. These include reductions in low birth weight, fewer child placements in institutional care, better parental mental health, and lower productivity losses, all of which translate into tangible fiscal savings for governments.

Listeners also hear what modern caregiver support actually looks like. All families have access to support, with additional intensity for those facing higher risks due to poverty, trauma, or mental health challenges. Delivery channels range from home visiting and health systems to community hubs and digital tools, all adapted to local culture and context.

Beyond the forum, Perks reflects on a broader shift underway in global child policy. Too often, governments are presented with long lists of disconnected reforms. He argues that real progress requires focusing on a small number of interventions that are scientifically proven, politically feasible, and capable of driving multiple outcomes at once. Parenting programs and universal access to quality early childhood education sit at the top of that list.

The conversation also touches on the newly established International Day of Play, a United Nations observance led by UNICEF and UNESCO. Perks explains why play is not a luxury but a biological and social necessity that underpins learning, creativity, resilience, and human connection across the life course.

The episode closes with a powerful reminder. In a world marked by polarization and instability, the science of child development offers something rare: a practical, evidence based pathway to improve human wellbeing at scale. By investing in caregiving, attachment, and play, societies have an unprecedented opportunity to prevent trauma, and give every child the chance to grow up safe, loved, and nurtured.

Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 350+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.