Network Insights - September 27 2024

Weekly impact, news, and predictive insights from the world's largest social entrepreneur network.

Global – The global population is trending older (number of people over 65 will more than double by 2050), and workforce and?retirement?expectations are changing, too. Last year, France increased its retirement age, and just this month, for the first time since the 1950s, the Chinese government announced a (gradual) increase of the?retirement age?in China, where some?300M people (21% of the population) are age 60 and up. For their part, social entrepreneurs are shaping new norms of lifelong contribution and connection. Explore emerging ideas via a new series The New Longevity, with features that include Ximena Abogabir of Chile (watch) and Dixon Chibanda of Zimbabwe (watch). You can also check past episodes, including DY Suharya (watch), Marc Freedman (watch), Ole Kassow (watch).?

South Africa – On the earlier end of the age spectrum, Africa is the youngest continent, with one-third of all 15-24-year-olds globally expected to live in Africa by 2050 (see NYT, first chart). Grace Matlhape spoke with us last week about her work?expanding early learning in South Africa and encouraged countries across the Global South not to wait for costly infrastructure (like big childcare centers) but instead resource and elevate the assets already abundant in communities: caring adults (mainly women) who care for and educate young children, allowing their parents to go to work. Listen to Grace’s conversation with Nneka Mobisson.

Rwanda | UK – Research and monitoring can benefit from open strategies that activate many people (beyond the recognized experts). This week in Rwanda, Olivier Nsengimana's community of local wildlife watchers and conservation scientists published a survey revealing far greater species diversity than previously thought in Rugezi Marsh, a protected high-altitude wetland that is one of the headwaters of the Nile River; and in the UK, Lisa Wilkins’ DigVentures was announced as one of the lead contractors for the UK’s largest-ever post-excavation project, a 225-km (140-mile) route from London to West Midlands. DigVentures (“Archeology in your hands”) helps enthusiasts of all backgrounds deeply connect with history by learning archeological principles and methods, joining digs, and unearthing artifacts like this.