Letter to the editor: Let’s talk about social investment

Mr. Director:

Regarding the conversation that has taken place in Mexico City about philanthropy, I would like to take the subject even further. Philanthropy refers to love for humanity, for others, for selfless help.

For some time now it is time to leave behind this view because social change cannot be completely disinterested, there must be not only a purpose, but also an interest in achieving results, in producing social changes that have an effect on people’s lives. I propose that we talk about social investment.

This concept assumes that social problems are complex and structural, and therefore require planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning, in the same way as any long-term investment. It is not just a matter of ‘giving’, but of investing to produce change, strengthening local capacities, reducing dependencies and generating lasting social value, where the return is those concrete, scalable and sustainable changes in the lives of people and communities.

The work that is done is complex, professional and must have high standards, since the objective is to achieve tangible results and thus transform realities. Social investment does not end with the delivery of financing: it ends when the weight invested has improved people’s lives. And that is exactly what Chile needs.