Social Entrepreneurs:

People and Solutions

December 2007

How does the world address these challenges?

• Government (public sector)– Strengths: Resources, mandate, authority– Weaknesses: Does not innovate, inefficient, politics

• Business (private sector)– Strengths: Efficient, innovative, competitive,

resources– Weaknesses: Few services to poor, focuses on

wealthier segments, no mandate• People (citizen sector)

– Strengths: Innovative, autonomous, efficient– Weaknesses: Few resources, needs help growing to

scale

Social Entrepreneurs

• Innovators of the Citizen Sector– New products, services, strategies

• Put the society’s resources to best use– Redefine how to deal with a problem

• Make systemic change– Impact beyond direct service to client– Scalable, often cross-scectoral

Ron Layton – IP Ownership for Small Producers

• Capture the value of intangible assets• Ethiopian coffee farmers, Congolese craftsmen,

Amazonian tribes• Beyond fair trade• Worldwide network of volunteer marketing experts,

patent attorneys, export officials

Andreas Heinecke, GermanyDialogue in the Dark

Siriwan Vongkietpaisan, Thailandcombating human trafficking

Butet Manurung, Indonesiaeducating indigenous children

Pisit Chansanoh, Thailandmangrove conservation

Anshu Gupta, IndiaGoonj - clothing with dignity

How to Support Social Entrepreneurs – Ashoka’s

experience

• Look for them

• Understand their needs

• Invest in them and their work

• Forge links to other sectors

Ashoka

Contact:

Mr. Chris CusanoDirector, Entrepreneur-to-Entrepreneur (E2E)

Program in Asia

ccusano@ashoka.org

www.ashoka.org