From Silos to Systems, Projects to Portfolios: A Perspective on How Philanthropy Can Better Support Inclusive Development in Asia

This joint working paper by UNDP and Temasek Trust explores how philanthropy can better support inclusive development in Asia through a systems- and portfolio-based approach. - Proposes a new role for philanthropy: organising capital around systems and the conditions that help societies thrive through uncertainty, rather than funding isolated projects - Portfolios of connected interventions hold a direction while discovering the path with partners, scale learning rather than only projects, and use early, risk-tolerant capital to draw in larger public and private investment - Draws on lessons from over 100 countries where UNDP has tested systems- and portfolio-based approaches, with examples from the Philippines, Nepal and Senegal and Temasek Foundation's work in Singapore - Calls on philanthropy to steward system shifts, intervene where systems meet, mobilise capital differently and invest in the capacity to learn while doing