The 7th Annual Conference on Social Entrepreneurship, themed “Building Networks to Advance Social Entrepreneurship in Africa,” was held at Tangaza University with a focus on addressing pressing global challenges such as environmental crises and youth unemployment. The conference aimed to leverage existing networks to create a continental network of social entrepreneurs, fostering collaboration and driving transformative change across Africa.
Janet Kamotho, Head of the MSEA Nairobi Region, represented the MSEA CEO at the conference. She emphasized the importance of fostering social impact and sustainable business models to drive positive change within Kenya and across the African continent. Ms. Kamotho highlighted the crucial role of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) engaged in social entrepreneurship in contributing to Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). She underscored the collaborative efforts of MSEA, other state agencies, and the national government in facilitating the development of social enterprises and promoting social innovation.
Janet Kamotho, Head of the MSEA Nairobi Region, addressed participants on behalf of the MSEA CEO during the conference. She emphasized the importance of fostering social impact and sustainable business models to drive positive change not only within Kenya but also across the African continent. Ms. Kamotho highlighted the pivotal role of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) engaged in social entrepreneurship in contributing to Kenya’s government agenda for Bottom-Up Economic Transformation (BETA). She underscored the collaborative efforts of MSEA, other state agencies, and the national government in facilitating the development of social enterprises and promoting social innovation.
Head of the MSEA Nairobi Region Janet Kamotho addressing participants at 7th the Annual Conference on Social Entrepreneurship
Ms. Kamotho detailed various initiatives spearheaded by MSEA and the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSME Development to support social entrepreneurship. These initiatives include:
- Capacity Building: Training programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of social entrepreneurs.
- Technology Adoption: Encouraging the use of modern technologies to improve efficiency and impact.
- Access to Affordable Credit: Providing financial resources to support the growth of social enterprises.
- Modernization of Infrastructure: Upgrading facilities and resources to support enterprise development.
- Market Linkages: Facilitating connections between social enterprises and potential markets.
A notable upcoming initiative is the NYOTA Project, which includes a dedicated component focused on supporting social entrepreneurship through funding and capacity building. This project is expected to significantly enhance the resources available to social entrepreneurs, enabling them to achieve greater impact.
Stakeholders present during the 7th Annual Conference on Social Entrepreneurship
The three-day conference featured a diverse lineup of speakers, panelists, and participants from various countries. This diverse gathering provided a platform for sharing valuable information, experiences, and insights, as well as opportunities for networking and collaboration. Attendees engaged in discussions on best practices, innovative solutions, and strategies for advancing social entrepreneurship in Africa. The exchange of ideas and the formation of new partnerships were key outcomes of the conference, further strengthening the network of social entrepreneurs across the continent.
Overall, the 7th Annual Conference on Social Entrepreneurship successfully advanced the dialogue on social entrepreneurship in Africa, reinforcing the commitment to building robust networks that can drive sustainable development and social change.