Female social entrepreneurs in Africa creating social value through innovation

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to identify the types and levels of innovations and the business categories of Female Social Entrepreneurs in Africa (FSEAs) and to determine how these FSEAs create social value in their societies. The database of Ashoka, an international organisation promoting exceptional social entrepreneurs, known as changemakers, were used to identify 142 FSEAs from 20 African countries. Schumpeter's (1939) typology of innovation and Hamel and Breen's (2007) hierarchy of innovation were used to determine the type and social value created and the FSEAs' contribution to society. The results indicate that at 85%, most FSEAs have post-school qualifications, of which 43% have a degree and 24% post graduate qualifications. The business categories of the majority of FSEAs are in Education and Learning (30), Development and Prosperity (30), and Health and Fitness (21). Furthermore, the Schumpeterian type of innovation of the majority is Opening of New Markets (78) and Introduction of New Products or Services (46). The Hamel and Breen's level of innovation of the majority of FSEAs is Product and Service Innovation (114). We found that the FSEAs identified and addressed important challenges in their communities through various types of innovation. This process created valuable social contributions to their communities, the broader society and, in some instances, other African countries.

Technological Transformation and the Role of Frugal Innovations in Entrepreneurship Development in India

“…Similar to this is SolarAid in African countries, which aims to eradicate the use of kerosene lamps by providing affordable solar lights to off-grid communities (Zarsky & Wilson, 2009). Adding to the list, frugal innovations such as bottle lights in the Philippines (Kuo, 2014), the Wonderbag and Reel Gardening in Africa (Manyuchi et al, 2019; Mawire et al, 2020; Nieuwenhuizen, 2020) and the Hand Talk in Brazil are some classic examples of frugal technologies in the world. ‘Any technology that claims the mantle of “appropriate” should also be adaptable and flexible, while eliminating—or at least minimising—adverse environmental impacts’ (Darrow & Saxenian, 1986).…”

Editors' Introduction

“…Beyond the function profiles play in the systematized process of search and selection within the organization, Ashoka Profiles offer a substantial resource to those interested in the field and provide a broad and historical view of social entrepreneurship around the world across many areas of work. Notably, and in this regard, fellow profiles have been utilized outside of Ashoka by social entrepreneurship scholars as primary data sources in a number of empirical investigations and peer reviewed journal articles that take up the fellow profiles as evidence and data (e.g., Meyskens et al, 2010;Chandra & Shang, 2017;Sunduramurthy et al, 2016;Nieuwenhuizen, 2020).…”

Empowerment of Social Entrepreneurs for Women groups in Cultural Tourism Villages

“…Women's involvement is an absolute requirement in efforts to realize equitable economic and social development, where the state cannot prosper if women are left behind, marginalized and oppressed (Vikaliana Resista, 2018). As revealed by (Nieuwenhuizen, 2022) that entrepreneurs from women's groups are more likely to contribute to society than create personal wealth, therefore the role of women becomes important in the socio-economic development efforts of a country. Then (Ismar Borges, 2016) stated that the tourism industry is currently changing where tourists no longer like the old tourist format so that tourism was created for certain groups of tourists (Niche Tourist) who travel with diverse needs such as creative tourism, community-based tourism, cultural tourism and environmental tourism.…”