Reports
Published: 17 November 2025

The State of Social Enterprise: Unlocking Inclusive Growth, Jobs and Development in Africa

The State of Social Enterprise: Unlocking Inclusive Growth, Jobs and Development in Africa provides a comprehensive synthesis of the social enterprise landscape, drawing on new survey data and existing literature from across the continent.

The State of Social Enterprise: Unlocking Inclusive Growth, Jobs and Development in Africa provides a comprehensive synthesis of the social enterprise landscape, drawing on new survey data and existing literature from across the continent.

Developed by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, Africa Forward, the African Union Commission, the Motsepe Foundation and SAP, it aims to inform governments, investors, companies and development partners about the vital role social enterprises in Africa – more than half of which are led by women and more than a third are youth-led – play in unlocking inclusive growth, creating jobs and advancing sustainable development.

By providing a policy-ready evidence base, the report offers actionable insights for governments, investors, corporations and development partners seeking to accelerate Africa’s inclusive growth and sustainable development.

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