Social entrepreneurship has been introduced as an innovative model that can address persistent problems of poverty and inequality in Arab societies by harnessing the potential of the “youth bulge” to fuel economic and social growth. While social entrepreneurship is still a relatively emergent sector in the Arab world, there is evidence of its arrival in the region over the last decade through international programs and regional incubators supporting entrepreneurs in both the business and social sectors.
Social entrepreneurs apply business principles and non-conventional approaches to solve intractable development challenges in their local communities, which the public and private sectors are unable or unwilling to address. Unlike traditional business entrepreneurs, their goal is not exclusively to maximize financial profit. Rather, social impact is their primary objective. While their institutional models vary, from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to privately owned social enterprises, social entrepreneurs have been successful in introducing new reforms and models to improve education, health outcomes, community development, gender issues, economic growth, and more.
A 2010 report published by the Brookings Institution, Social Entrepreneurship in the Middle East, notes that Egypt is home to the largest number of social entrepreneurs, but also suggests a low level of familiarity with the terminology and concept in general.2 While recent gains have been made in the nascent sector, this reveals the need to do more to build awareness and change attitudes towards social entrepreneurship. However, a strong culture of volunteerism is evident across the Arab world, particularly among youth who are involved in community-led activism and philanthropic charities, signaling a strong potential for social entrepreneurship to develop further.3 Recent anecdotal evidence has revealed a surge in youth activity in the entrepreneurial sector over the last year, but uncovered a number of key barriers to enter this sector with high failure rates for new start-up ventures. This paper will help to examine these important issues and evaluate the potential for social entrepreneurship to flourish in a post-Arab Spring era.
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