Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development Goals

Authors: Vikas Mishra

This chapter explores the intersection of social entrepreneurship and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), examining how innovative, mission-driven ventures can transform 21st-century development approaches. It discusses how social entrepreneurship challenges conventional boundaries between public, private, and civil society sectors by blending business acumen with social missions. The chapter demonstrates how social enterprises contribute directly and indirectly to multiple SDGs, acting not just as service providers but as catalysts for institutional change and grassroots empowerment. Key challenges, including access to finance and policy ambiguity, are addressed. The chapter emphasizes the need for a supportive ecosystem that includes enabling policies, cross-sectoral collaboration, and impact measurement tools. It concludes that while social entrepreneurship is not a panacea, it is a vital instrument for sustainable development, capable of mobilizing human creativity and local agency to address complex global problems. The chapter calls for building resilient ecosystems that nurture innovation while prioritizing equity and sustainability.

Cite this chapter:

Mishra, V. (2025). Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development Goals.. In Rethinking Development: Ideas, Institutions, and Impact in a Changing World (pp. 12-23). Indian Institute of Industrial and Social Research.

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