While NGOs face the challenges of budget cuts, compassion fatigue and criticisms of a lack of real impact, the idea that social enterprise could fill the gaps left by traditional development has gained traction in the past few years.
Whether it is supporting traditional industries in Vietnam, providing affordable drinking water in Pakistan or introducing solar power across Africa, the role of social enterprise in development is growing.
States have cut financial commitments to countries with growing economies – the UK’s Department for International Development (DfID) decided to stop bilateral aid to India and South Africa by this year – in favour of investing in social enterprise schemes. In June 2013, USAid and DfID announced the Global Development Innovation Ventures (GDIV) fund, which would invest in “innovative solutions to world poverty”.
But the needs of the 1.2 billion people currently living in extreme poverty cannot be met by either traditional development or social enterprise alone. The ideal scenario may be where the two can work together, but how can this be done?
Join the discussion
On Wednesday 24th June, 1pm - 2pm BST, a group of experts will join us to discuss:
- How traditional methods of development can work alongside social enterprise to reach the same goals
- Whether social enterprise should be held to the same standards as NGOs and development agencies
- The ways in which social entrepreneurship can be encouraged and supported in developing countries
Panel
Paula Woodman, social enterprise adviser, British Council
Clare Clifton, inclusive market development project manager, Christian Aid
Bart Edes, director of poverty reduction, gender and social development division, Asian Development Bank
Emily Darko, researcher, Overseas Development Institute
Tamara Hasan Abed, senior director of enterprises, Brac
Nicolas Hazard, chairman, Le Comptoir de l’Innovation, and vice chairman, Groupe SOS
Helen Marquard, executive director, SEED
Nicola Jowell, programme director, MPhil in Inclusive Innovation, Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town
Ask a question
You can join the discussion and ask a question in the comments section below, or by tweeting @GuardianSustBiz using #AskGSB.
