The Bertha Centre and Impact Investing South Africa (IISA) hosted the first in a series of webinars, titled Applying impact investing strategies to the COVID-19 crisis. The event focused on the relevance of public and private sector collaboration in COVID-19 emergency and recovery responses, highlighting the opportunities for private investors and philanthropic capital to contribute to recovery and stabilisation efforts. Our keynote speaker Nick Hurd, one of the UK’s longest serving Ministers for Civil Society and a key player in establishing the UK’s impact Investment market, shared his perspectives on the COVID-19 crisis. A panel of local changemakers, featuring Dr Miriam Altman, National Planning Commission, Sibonakaliso Mavuka, Tshikululu, and Hamilton Ndlovu, ABSA, brought the conversation home. Moderated by Tanya van Lill, CEO of SAVCA, the panel interrogated the relevance of impact investing strategies in our collective response to the crisis.