The British Council’s Global Social Enterprise programme draws on the UK experience in social enterprise to promote its growth around the world. We build capacity in the sector, forge international networks, and support policy leaders to create ecosystems in which social enterprise and social investment can thrive. Our work supports positive social change, inclusive growth and sustainable development while building trust and creating opportunities between the UK and other countries. Currently running in 26 countries and on four continents, British Council’s Global Social Enterprise programme aims to:
-Provide aspiring and existing social enterprises with skills training, consultancy, mentoring and access to funding;
-Disseminate best UK and global practice to support policy leaders to create enabling ecosystems for social enterprise and investment;
-Support education institutions to embed social enterprise, exchange best practice, and deliver joint research on social enterprise;
-Facilitate the use of social enterprise approaches in international development programmes;
-Commission research and organises high profile events that foster social enterprise and social investment, and;
-Build international networks linking social entrepreneurs, intermediary organisations and social investors.
Background to the project:
Support for Social Enterprises in East Africa Project is funded by the European Union to be implemented in Ethiopia and Kenya over a period of 24 months. The overall objective of this project is: to support vulnerable populations to access ‘Social protection, health, education and jobs’ therefore supporting ‘Inclusive and sustainable economic growth for human development’. The specific objective of the action is: to promote and strengthen an evidence-based social enterprise approach in addressing these development priorities in Eastern Africa, notably in Ethiopia and Kenya. The programme exists of 4 interconnected components with the following expected results:
-Result 1: Improved information and understanding of the social enterprise sector in Kenya and Ethiopia.
-Result 2: Increased capacity of social enterprise institutions and practitioners in Kenya and Ethiopia, including social entrepreneurs, civil society leaders, intermediaries and educators.
-Result 3: Increased capacity of government officials and policy influencers.
-Result 4: Increased South-South as well as South-North collaboration and partnership between the social enterprise communities within and between Kenya and Ethiopia and the wider East Africa region and with the EU and the EU diaspora where appropriate.
Deadline for submission: 17 July 2016
Eligible CSOs: please refer to mandatory eligibility checklist