South Africa Workshop for Social Entrepreneurship - 2008/Reflections/Introduction

What is social entrepreneurship? There is no hard definition although “social entrepreneurship uses entrepreneurial and business skills to create innovative approaches to social problems. (Ashoka)” could be one. Similarly “Social entrepreneurship uses entrepreneurial and business skills to create innovative approaches to social problems.” (Ashoka) is another. However, what is clear is that social entrepreneurship is “movers and shakers” using innovative ideas, processes and systems to improve the socio-economic conditions of impoverished communities which have been neglected by both government and business.

What is a social entrepreneur? Entrepreneurs are those who take risks, often act on gut feel and venture into unknown territory whilst developing innovative products and services. They bring these same attributes to the solving of society’s problems. They are ambitious and persistent, don’t rely on governments or business to find answers and above all they use innovation and “out the box” thinking to encourage communities to find new, sustainable ways of solving their social problems and finding economic opportunities.

“''For social entrepreneurs, the social mission is explicit and central. This obviously affects how social entrepreneurs perceive and assess opportunities. Mission-related impact becomes the central criterion, not wealth creation. Wealth is just a means to an end for social entrepreneurs''.” (J Gregory Dees)

“They have the heart of Mother Theresa and the brains of Richard Branson”

The World Bank Institute, Pretoria, led by Bob Hawkins convened this workshop to which academia from across the university community of South Africa, as well as other interested parties, were invited to discuss, debate and decide on how to foster a culture of social entrepreneurship in South Africa to address the needs of rural and impoverished communities.