Taking The Pulse of the Social Enterprise Landscape In Developing and Emerging Economies

A study from Zeppelin University and Siemens Stiftung provides for the first time data that evaluates the ability of social enterprises to satisfy the basic needs of poor populations. Focusing on Colombia, Mexico, Kenya and South Africa, the dynamics in the public, private, and third sectors were examined, as well as to what extent these influence the activities of social enterprises. The study includes concrete recommendations on how to increase the contribution of social enterprises to poverty alleviation.

From the paper:

"The study highlights that differences emerge between the types of social enterprises; it is social enterprises with a hybrid structure (for-profit and nonprofit) that succeed in serving lower income segments. They use innovative crosssubsidization strategies that combine profitable and socially oriented activities to ensure that their products and services reach the poorest of the poor."