Temasek Trust and UNDP Urged Shift in Philanthropy
A new report calls on Asian philanthropic groups to move toward systemic change strategies for inclusive development.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Temasek Trust and the United Nations Development Programme have released a report advocating for systemic change in Asian philanthropy. The initiative seeks to close trillion-dollar development financing gaps by leveraging capital to mobilize larger public and private funds.
Why it matters
Isolated interventions often fail against broad systemic forces, necessitating a strategy where philanthropy invests in areas beyond market and government capacity. This approach embeds change into routine public planning rather than relying on limited initiatives.
Catalytic finance of $24 million successfully unlocked a $60 million commercial loan for mobility in Senegal. Meanwhile, women in Pasig City now earn three to four times the minimum wage through local textile production efforts.
The players
Temasek Trust
This organization serves as the philanthropic arm of Temasek, focusing on sustainable development and building impact-driven capital markets.
United Nations Development Programme
The UN agency works in over 170 countries and territories to help achieve the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion.
The details
The report highlights Pasig City as a model where a material recovery facility was converted into a circular economy innovation hub. By integrating circularity into formal city planning and providing informal waste workers with insurance and training, the region created a sustainable framework for economic growth.
Timeline
2025: Over 35 philanthropies pledged $300 million to the Climate and Health Funders Coalition.
- 2026-10-08
The joint report by Temasek Trust and the United Nations Development Programme was published.
2028: Inclusive circular economy practices are projected to expand across 60 local and regional governments in the Philippines.
Market Landscape
This report aligns with the broader push to integrate private philanthropy into the Sustainable Development Goals financing framework. It marks a shift from reactive grant-making toward structural integration that mirrors global efforts to bridge the development investment divide.
For stakeholders and the public, this strategy shift promotes more sustainable local economies where development projects are built into long-term municipal plans. These systemic changes aim to ensure that philanthropic investments lead to permanent income stability rather than temporary aid cycles.
The takeaway
Systemic philanthropy focuses on changing the underlying structures of a market to create long-term stability rather than short-term relief. Implementing circular economy models at the municipal level provides a clear blueprint for how local governments can partner with private investors.
What happens next
Regional governments in the Philippines are expected to scale inclusive circular economy practices across 60 jurisdictions by 2028.
Further reading
For more information on the evolving role of charitable capital in global development, visit the Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Alliance magazine.
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Should large charitable organizations prioritize funding systemic changes over individual local projects?
