Social Entrepreneurship as Mechanisms for Social Transformation and Social Impact in East Africa An Exploratory Case Study Perspective

Abstract

This study provides an analysis of 10 cases of social entrepreneurs who are also current Ashoka fellows and operate within the East African region. The article suggests characteristics associated with social enterprises, particularly those that lead to significant changes in the social, economic and political contexts for poor and marginalised groups. It generates propositions about fundamental innovations, leadership and operation, and scaling up in social enterprises that produces sustainable impact. The article concludes with a discussion on the implications for social entrepreneurial practice, research, and continuous development.

Keywords:

• Social transformation
• impact
• social change
• social entrepreneurship
• scaling up

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Vincent Odhiambo and the Ashoka East Africa Team and Dr. Br. Jonas Dzinekou of Tangaza University College for their support of this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The following websites were also used to collect background and impact information on the initiatives: https://www.ashoka.org/, http://fundibots.org/, https://www.peopletopeopletourism.com/, https://www.nucafe.org/, www.fadeco.co.tz.