Why

Why We Exist

Divine Ox exists to solve a global problem: over 98% of all businesses don’t, won’t or can’t capture their social and environmental impact – but we cannot solve the climate crisis or tackle inequality without their contribution.

Micro, small and medium sized businesses are the oxen of the global economy. Hard-working, typically unheard and often taken for granted. They shoulder a large part of the world’s economic activity, generating over 60% of global GDP.

There are estimated to be over 350 million micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and collectively these businesses have a direct impact on the lives of billions of individuals. They are vital to local and national economies, generating income, innovation and growth. They provide jobs, financial security and retain wealth in local communities.

Yet today no one can tell you MSMEs’ collective social or environmental impact. It is effectively invisible. Which means we cannot track their impact nor act to improve it.

Our mission is making global MSME impact visible and develop the means to improve it at scale.

To succeed we need to make impact management easy, affordable (i.e. free to many) and worth doing for MSMEs.

We cannot do this alone. We work with a broad range of partners. If we can get this right, together we believe we can:

  • Help organisations who interact with large numbers of MSMEs to capture, report and influence collective social and environmental impact based on minimal data (e.g. supply chain owners, investors, funders, data accreditors).
  • Reduce the risks of social- and green-washing by supporting credible, auditable MSME impact reporting based on proportionate data disclosures.
  • Support MSMEs to secure access to commercial opportunities and/or affordable capital through being able to report on impact.
  • Accelerate the speed and scale at which businesses large and small can help address global climate emergency and social inequality (i.e. vital issues that threaten their ability to operate).