BwB Talk Series: Transforming Workers’ Lives Through Social Bonds

The BwB Talk Series gives our international network the opportunity to engage with and learn from innovative leaders in impact, finance, and the environment. The deep knowledge and experience shared across the series provides new perspectives, strengthens our market intelligence, and generates new ideas. 

“Why social bonds? Because corporations, even in the face of penalties [for exploitative or unsafe labour practices], continue to view investing in better conditions and infrastructure for workers as an unnecessary expense… Social bonds can provide targeted capital allocation, making much-needed investment available without the usual pressure of opportunity cost."

Human rights advocate, legal innovator, filmmaker, and academic, Duncan Jepson works at the intersection of finance, law, and systemic injustice. Currently Chairperson and Director of Strategy and Operations at Praeveni Global, an NGO that he co-founded, Duncan joined us to discuss how social bonds can be leveraged to transform labour practices, enhance corporate accountability, and improve infrastructure in global supply chains.

Key takeaways from Duncan’s fascinating presentation include:

• From Trade Bans to Capital Markets: Duncan detailed how targeted investigations into forced labour have triggered US trade bans and catalysed regulatory action, leading to both reputational and financial consequences for multinationals, including a landmark case against a Fortune 500 company.

• A New Frontier for Social Bonds: Highlighting the absence of proactive corporate investment in worker welfare, Duncan explored social bonds as a mechanism for funding critical improvements in workplace infrastructure, accommodation, and governance structures across high-risk industries.

• Beyond ESG: Citing limitations in current ESG frameworks, Duncan argued that social bonds offer a more tangible, enforceable alternative, ensuring that capital is directly allocated to predefined social outcomes rather than to discretionary CSR initiatives or reporting.

• Engaging Investors Differently: Drawing from conversations with institutional investors, Duncan explained how social bonds could help investors stay engaged with issuers while demanding specific, measurable improvements – bridging the gap between ownership and impact.

• Reframing Accountability: With examples from the agriculture and mining sectors, the discussion underscored the urgency of linking human rights abuses to capital flows, as well as holding companies accountable not just through compliance but through financial architecture.

This powerful session underlined the need to find innovative ways to embed transparency, incentive, and accountability into financial systems.

To learn more about the BwB Talk Series or partner with us on future sessions, follow BwB on LinkedIn or reach out at contact@bwb.earth.