A blog post by Devahuti Choudhury, Senior Regional Specialist for Asia-Pacific at UNDP's Private Finance for the SDGs. Originally published February 24, 2025.
Southeast Asia is at a pivotal moment in its sustainable development journey. The region faces urgent challenges, from climate change to gaps in health care and education, but also holds immense potential for innovation and investment. Recognizing this, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP), launched the SDG Venture Scaler in 2024. This initiative mobilizes private finance to support high-growth ventures advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam.
In late 2024, the SDG Venture Scaler hosted a series of forums, bringing together investors, private sector leaders, and policymakers to explore pathways for unlocking capital in critical sectors. These discussions revealed both systemic barriers and emerging opportunities, offering valuable insights into how sustainable finance can drive impact at scale.
Exploring Investment Opportunities Across Key Sectors
The forums highlighted the interconnections between climate action, health care, and education, showcasing opportunities for private sector investment across multiple industries. A key theme was the need for integrated solutions that tackle structural challenges while fostering innovation and sustainable growth.
For example, in Indonesia, participants explored investment opportunities in health care and education. Discussions emphasized gaps in preventative care infrastructure, challenges in health-tech adoption, and the urgent need for digital transformation. In education, stakeholders pointed to the impact of frequent curriculum changes and the digital divide in remote areas. Initiatives like Kampus Merdeka, which engaged over one million participants in 2023–2024, provide valuable insights into aligning education with global competencies and industry needs.
In the Philippines, discussions centered on agriculture, water security, and waste management. There was a strong focus on investment models that balance profitability with affordability for farmers and consumers, particularly through climate-adaptive technologies. Blue financing, which supports sustainable water solutions, is also playing a growing role in addressing water scarcity, funding projects that improve access to potable water in underserved areas.
In Viet Nam, participants examined renewable energy, waste management, and education. They emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) and clearer regulatory frameworks to attract investment. While smaller renewable energy projects hold great potential, many struggle to access financing, highlighting the need for stronger local capital markets. Meanwhile, EdTech innovations offer promising solutions to expand educational access, address gender disparities, and equip workers with skills for emerging industries.
Collaboration for Impact
What sets the SDG Venture Scaler apart is its focus on collaboration. The program is hosted within the Impact Venture Hub, a UNDP initiative dedicated to fostering private sector engagement in sustainable development. The Hub provides a platform for impact-driven enterprises, investors, and policymakers to connect, share insights, and scale solutions aligned with the SDGs.
The initiative is also supported by the SDG Investor Platform, which provides market intelligence to help investors identify high-impact opportunities. Partnerships with organizations like Creatella Impact further strengthen the ecosystem by offering mentorship and investment matchmaking, helping ventures scale and achieve long-term impact.
In 2025, the program aims to support up to 30 growth-stage enterprises through tailored advisory services, investment facilitation, and robust Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) training. These efforts bridge the gap between investor interest and the practical needs of SDG-aligned ventures, demonstrating the viability of private capital in driving sustainable development. This initiative aligns with UNDP’s broader efforts under the Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH) to develop and socialize pipelines of impact ventures, ensuring a steady flow of investment-ready enterprises that contribute to the SDGs
Partnerships Driving Change
The SDG Venture Scaler builds on a long-standing partnership between UNDP and the Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP). Demonstrating the power of purposeful collaboration, UNDP and CIIP leveraged ASEAN market intelligence as part of Phase I of the engagement to inform the design and implementation of the SDG Venture Scaler in Phase II.
This strategic approach ensures that investments are both impactful and aligned with national development priorities. By continuously refining insights and adapting to market needs, UNDP and CIIP are helping enterprises overcome barriers, secure funding, and deliver measurable impact in critical sectors.
A Vision for Southeast Asia
The SDG Venture Scaler is a testament to how financial systems can be aligned with development goals. By channeling private capital into ventures that address urgent social and environmental challenges, the initiative fosters a model of growth that prioritizes resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability.
With its fast-growing economies and high climate vulnerability, Southeast Asia faces both significant challenges and unique opportunities. With the right investments, the region can not only achieve the SDGs but also set new standards for how the public and private sectors collaborate to solve global challenges. The SDG Venture Scaler is laying that foundation—one investment, one venture, and one solution at a time.
