Achieving Sustainable Development Goals through Social Entrepreneurship:A Study of India & South Africa

Abstract

Introduction: Social concerns without businesses and businesses without social consideration are anti-developmental. However, balancing both simultaneously is arduous and challenging. Nevertheless, social entrepreneurship has proven that it could be balanced simultaneously.   Objective: The study aims to comprehend how the multipronged SDGs could be achieved through social entrepreneurial activities in India & South Africa. Albeit, both nations have distinct features in terms of geographically, demographically, religiously, and culturally. Methods: The study randomly selected the samples from both countries & used the case study approach of qualitative research.   Results: The study shows that the selected cases from both nations focus mainly on waste management, social inclusion and women empowerment. Most of the case studies were working for waste management in both countries, where they aimed to reduce plastic pollution, i.e., both the nation's critical problems at the current time. However, due to contextual embeddedness, these social enterprises adopt different techniques to achieve these multipronged SDGs in both countries. Besides, they also generate employment opportunities for the people and help to reduce poverty in both countries. Few other case studies have impinged on women's empowerment and social inclusion, particularly disabled people.   Conclusion: The study concludes by saying that additional work needs to be done to develop the concept further and that the government should offer incentives for adopting this concept since, with the aid of social entrepreneurs, the government may accelerate its progress towards the accomplishment of sustainable development goals.