Ashoka launches social entrepreneurship plan
dubai — With social entrepreneurship emerging as a major force of change to drive job creation and the growth of the small and medium enterprises sector, a group of entrepreneurs from Dubai and the region have created a strong platform to support the growth of entrepreneurship.
Ashoka, a global platform for social innovation, has launched a dedicated programme — the Arab World Social Entrepreneurship Programme (ASEP) — in Dubai. The event, attended by some of the region’s leading social entrepreneurs, outlined a roadmap for supporting local social innovators in scaling up their operations in three core areas – healthcare, environment and women participation for inclusive growth.
A Leadership Circle, comprising of business entrepreneurs from the region who will support social development initiatives in these three core areas, was also formed. ASEP will follow a structured approach to drive growth by first engaging with social entrepreneurs who are ready to scale up their model; connect them with business entrepreneurs, global peers or consultants; analyse their strategy and operations; present plans to business entrepreneurs for their feedback; evaluate the business plan of the social entrepreneurs and select best strategies for their implementation.
Badr Jafar, chief executive officer of Crescent Enterprises and managing director of the Crescent Group, who spearheaded the partnership with Ashoka, said the launch of ASEP will catalyse social entrepreneurship in the Gulf by establishing a community of the region’s business entrepreneurs as supporters and linking them to Ashoka’s global network.
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