Impact Policy Tracker Policy

National Impact Economy Strategy (ENIMPACTO)



In 2023, Brazil enacted the National Impact Economy Strategy (Enimpacto) through Presidential Decree 11.646/23, building on the National Strategy for Businesses and Impact Investing established back in 2017. This updated strategy sets measurable and ambitious goals, including reaching 12,500 impact businesses and certifying over 300 incubators and accelerators with socio-environmental impact. It is structured around five strategic pillars: expanding access to capital; increasing the number of impact businesses; strengthening intermediary organisations; improving the institutional and regulatory environment; and enhancing coordination with states and municipalities.

The strategy is led by the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services (MDIC), through its Secretariat for Green Economy, Decarbonisation, and Bioindustry, in coordination with the Department of New Economies. To support its implementation, the government established the Impact Economy Committee, a consultative body composed of 25 representatives from government and 25 from civil society.

Highlights

  • Builds on the Success of Enimpacto (2017): Widely seen as a pioneering and effective impact policy initiative, the 2017 strategy significantly boosted Brazil’s impact ecosystem. It expanded access to capital through the selection of three BNDES-backed Impact Funds (representing at least USD 160M), launched a Receivables Investment Fund call with a potential contribution of up to USD 800 million, and allocated an extra USD 350 million for COVID-19 response. The number of impact businesses grew from 579 in 2017 to 1271 in 2021, over 100 start-ups were accelerated, more than 19,500 individuals received capacity building, 75+ intermediary organisations were supported, and 140 professors across 70 universities were trained in impact-related topics.

  • Subnational Uptake and Spillover Effects: Enimpacto (2017) inspired several state governments to create their own impact strategies. Eight Brazilian states and several municipalities are currently developing or implementing their own local impact strategies, aligned with the national framework but adapted to the subnational context. States like Rio Grande do Norte, Rio de Janeiro, and Minas Gerais have led the way, while others, such as São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul, are advancing similar initiatives in their legislatures.

  • Key role of GSG’s National Partner in Brazil: Aliança pelo Impacto played a key role in securing government support for Enimpacto in 2017, fostering collaboration between the federal government and the impact business ecosystem. Their strategic advocacy, alongside their partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Services, was instrumental in establishing the working group that shaped the original strategy. This collaboration also contributed to the relaunch of the National Impact Economy Strategy in 2023, with Aliança pelo Impacto leading two of the five working groups of the strategy.

Government’s Role:
Market Facilitator


Country:
Brazil

Policy Type:
National Impact Strategies

Year: 2023

Responsible Institution:
Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services

Additional information:
OECD Toolkit for the Social Economy: Brazil's National Strategy for Impact Investment and Business (EnImpacto)
National Strategy for Investment and Impact Business: A Major Boost for the Sector in Brazil

National Impact Strategies

What are National Impact Strategies?

National Impact Strategies serve as comprehensive roadmaps to advance impact economies, identifying government priorities and actions tailored to a country's specific circumstances, existing policies, and legal framework. These strategies typically: a) Set clear, measurable targets and objectives; b) Align the activities of multiple sectors and levels of government;

c) Define specific responsibilities and coordination mechanisms; and d) Often include legally binding measures, usually supported by legislation to ensure effective implementation. Furthermore, they convene stakeholders around a shared vision, helping to build robust impact ecosystems through sustained coordination and a long-term commitment.

Specific national strategies to foster impact economies or promote social impact investing are still relatively rare around the world, with current examples such as Brazil’s Ten-Year National Impact Economy Strategy (2023–2032) and Portugal’s 2030 Agenda for Impact (AFI30) standing out as the most ambitious and comprehensive. Other national strategies or blueprints tend to have a narrower scope, typically targeting either the demand for impact capital -eg. blueprints for social enterprises or broader frameworks for the social and solidarity economy - or the supply of capital, often via green or sustainable finance strategies aimed at mobilising financial flows towards environmental goals.