Social Entrepreneurship: Shifting Africa’s Geopolitical Landscape

What is Social Entrepreneurship?

Social Entrepreneurship is a venture founded with the aim to solve an issue for society. These enterprises are increasingly found in developing African nations where there is a high need for basic goods and services. In July 2015, the 6th annual Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi highlighted the role of social entrepreneurship in Africa’s economic and political future. Over the past decade, these companies have initiated a social movement in Africa through empowerment. Social entrepreneurs are strengthening their countries, which is turning heads on the international stage. A 2014 study by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) on East Stage Entrepreneurial Activity includes 5 African nations, confirming a trend.

Perhaps Africa’s era of dependence on foreign aid has found a more sustainable replacement. Some, however, are skeptical. Much of the concern is based on access to capital and equal opportunity for international vs domestic investment. Once dominated by international investors, African-based Venture funds, Crowd Funding, Microfinance initiatives, and Government Programs are used to ensure Africa is in control of her own future, developing a generation of ethical leaders dedicated to their countries. International funding has its place, but the youth are determined to build their own societies.

Social entrepreneurs tackle challenges in a wide range of fields from Agriculture to Health Care. Education is a major area where many have rushed to fill the void of weak or non-existent education systems throughout Africa. Although enrollment statistics have improved drastically, too many are left without an opportunity to develop the essential skills and knowledge necessary to excel. An estimated 40% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa go without primary education. To increase productivity of the workforce, the education crisis must be addressed and the solution must start with the youngest generation.

Afroes (http://afroes.com) is a domestic South African company who created smart phone applications designed with educational material for children. They are designed as games and include topics from math and sciences to local history. Organizations like Afroes are providing the 200 million African youth between the ages of 15 – 24 the opportunity to truly build a better life. In the long-run, this will have profound social and geopolitical impacts.

"Ethical leaders, in business as well as in public service, are the future" Shane Immelman, Tutu Fellow

In addition to Afroes, Business Institutes have been established by leading business schools Harvard, Cambridge, and the London School of Political Science. Although external institutions, they bring top-class training to the most promising leaders. Domestic educational institutes, such as Ashoka East Africa and the African Leadership Institute, give young people the opportunity to learn and prove their ideas. Within these programs, there is an increasing emphasis place on ethics and honor to community. Often seen as a continent plagued with political stiff and corruption, this next phase in African economic growth will require just and competent leadership. The reliance on aid has been cited as a flawed system of support. Numerous scandals, corruption, and misallocated or missing fund often never reach the people that stand the gain the most. Inefficient capital expenditure can be seen as a factor in restrained progress on the convenient. Social entrepreneurship gives the control back to the people, allowing them to better themselves and their communities. This is clearly a better long-term growth strategy that will hopefully help provide hope for Africa’s economic and political future.