Charu Adesnik’s Post

In April 2023, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the first Resolution on the Social and Solidarity Economy to highlight the contribution of cooperatives, social enterprises and other social economy organisations to realising the SDGs. Yet, only one in five countries has legal structures or specific legislation to support social enterprises. Even though there are approximately 10 million social enterprises worldwide, which collectively generate around $2 trillion in annual revenues, creating over 200 million jobs! The sector now outranks other mainstream industries by annual revenue, such as telecom and apparel.  There are 10 million social enterprises. Half of the social enterprises are led by women, compared to a mere 20% of conventional businesses. Thank you Dr. François Bonnici Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship and Catalyst 2030 for your work in highlighting the contribution of organisations like Indigital https://lnkd.in/gSCiQ4Yv

Yesterdays National Social Enterprise Conference was a snapshot on the state of the sector and a chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Thanks to all of the speakers and panellist as well as the team SERI (Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland) and the Department of Rural and Community Development Robert Nicholson, Richard Gavin, John Ryan. These events take so much behind the scenes work. Interesting to hear Mr Yoshiki Takeuchi, OECD - OCDE recommend that Ireland should reconsider how CICs(Community Interest Companies) in the UK operate and if it is something we should try to emulate and how crucial it is to access the right funding. Maybe we need to help the social enterprises with this, by being very articulate on who funding calls are targeted at and the T&Cs on eligibility. Robert Nicholson summed up what the DRCD team have been doing this year, the census and the in-depth consultations in preparation for the new Social Enterprise Strategy in 2024 and highlighted that the key themes will be: Building Awareness of Social Enterprise Growing Social Enterprise Climate Action National & International Engagement Data & Social Impact Measurement On the “Will Technology Change the Work of Social Enterprises” panel we heard a lot of common sense and got a sneak preview into the future from Sam Marchetti. OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions & Cities report 'Boosting Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise Development in Ireland' was launched https://bit.ly/40Ktc22 Irish Local Development Network Pobal Stuart Fraser Lucie Cunningham Miriam Spollen Una Lowry #socialenterprise #socialinnovation #GetSocialDublin

This is great! We need to keep the discussion on legal forms for #SocialEnterprise a priority so that: a) There is a greater understanding of the legal forms and their implications b) Social Enterprises (and their advisors) have a better understanding of what the legal form options are when setting up You can drill down into Ireland-specific responses here - https://bit.ly/3S2pldI (Provided by Arthur Cox LLP- )

There is a saying in isiZulu that goes: "Indlela yibuzwa kwa ba phambili". Loosely translated this means if you need information about the road ahead, ask those who have already traveled it. Joel is best suited to share commentary on not only Transformation but rather the Impact thereof, the visible outcomes on the coalface and the multiplier effect of the efforts upon the target beneficiaries. Having been involved in implementation of Transformation strategies both on the employability of young people through Learnerships and Internships as well as Enterprise and Supplier Development to facilitate creation of those job opportunities.

This is great insight on transformation strategies strengthen company performance, build the economy, and deliver social impact!!! What a piece by Joel Emmanuel. Kizito Okechukwu Shireen Naicker Grace Kadzere Shayne Janks Nicolas Karishma Naidoo Dominique D. this article will offer strategic insight to enhancing a multipronged model to maximize productivity and social impact. #thoughtleadership #skillsdevelopment #transformation #enterprisedevelopment #supplierdevelopment #SAeconomicgrowth #upskillingSouthAfricans #SMEtraining #creatingentrepreneurs

“Encouraging all businesses to ‘do good’ is where we want the world to move.” A big thank you to Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT (SECNA) and the City of Sydney for hosting the Sydney Hub of the Social Enterprise World Forum 2023. The event was full of inspiring guest speakers, expert panel discussions and the opportunity to meet the community of fellow entrepreneurs and Social Enterprises. Celeste Bernard Chandler represented Catalyze APAC, talking to the importance of structured, collaborative and transparent decision making on impacting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and offering other Social Enterprises opportunities for education and pro-bono work in order to forward the goals of this social movement. Social enterprises are a way to harness the power of business for the greater good, using market-driven strategies to solve some of the world's most pressing challenges. They represent a growing movement that combines profitability with purpose, demonstrating that it's possible to make money while making a positive impact on the world. #decisionmaking #socialenterprise #socialimpact

In the battle for positive change, social enterprises are our caped crusaders! But in Cyprus, they face unique challenges. Join us on a journey of networking, misconceptions, and collective action. Read the inspiring story of Sotiris Themistokleous, CSICY Center for Social Innovation Cyprus and their impact. https://buff.ly/3QXLXfs #SocialEnterprise #CyprusUnites #PositiveChange

The Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) movement has been gaining increasing visibility and political influence, primarily due to two significant developments. First, the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted the "Resolution concerning decent work and the social and solidarity economy" in June 2022. Second, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the "Promoting the social and solidarity economy for sustainable development" resolution in April 2023. This growing focus on SSE is a beacon of hope, underscoring its potential impact. However, it also necessitates a critical examination of SSE's core principles, especially in comparison to other emerging economic models that claim to address global challenges. For instance, the concept of Social Entrepreneurship, often supported by corporations and promoted through the Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship in partnership with the World Economic Forum, sometimes presents itself as part of the SSE. Yvon Poirier offers an in-depth analysis of these recent developments from an SSE perspective, highlighting the need to scrutinize the alignment and distinctions between SSE and other economic approaches. https://lnkd.in/dXvprGvn

The recently launched "State of #SocialEnterprise 2024" report at the #WEF positions social enterprises as double the size of the global advertising industry. Generating $2 trillion in annual revenue, equivalent to 2% of global GDP. Notably, half of social enterprises are led by women, a stark contrast to conventional enterprises where only 1 in 5 hold leadership positions. 10 million social enterprises worldwide, comprising 3% of all businesses. A significant financing need of $1.1 trillion among social enterprises, reflecting a crucial aspect of their growth trajectory. Social enterprises are actively seeking external financing, with 75% expressing this need, typically amounting to around 68% of their annual revenue. The absence of a universally accepted definition for social enterprise remains a hurdle. The research emphasizes the need for globally aligned research methodologies to foster a consistent data set. As the Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship takes the lead in advocating for infrastructure and standards, the call for more resources echoes loudly.

Cross-sector partnerships between social innovators, businesses, and governments are crucial in unlocking untapped economic opportunities and addressing systemic exclusion. Our latest report, Innovating for Equity: Unlocking Value for Communities and Businesses, outlines clear pathways for private and public sector leaders to create transformative change. Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship Dalberg GHR Foundation