Social Business : the challenge of scaling up
Entrepreneurship can meet the needs of “base-of-the-pyramid” populations, provided the business in question has reached the critical size needed for profitability and sustainability. Examples of “inclusive businesses” which have successfully “scaled up”, however, are few and far between. Rectifying this situation means removing a number of practical, psychological and financial barriers. There are many ways in which development finance institutions can help this sector to grow.
What role can businesses play in combating socio-economic inequalities and environmental depletion? This key issue in the current debate over development straddles three relatively independent phenomena. First, with financial ressources now limited or reduced, authorities and private foundations are looking for leverage that will boost the impact of their actions. Their watchwords now are social-business support, public-private partnerships and impact investing. The second phenomenon is the 2008 financial crisis which triggered a moral conflict in many business leaders seeking to reconcile their responsibilities towards their shareholders with their personal convictions. Here the watchwords are inclusive business, shared value and base- of-the-pyramid. The third phenomenon applies to NGOs, non-profits and social entrepreneurs who wish to sustain their initiatives and reduce their dependence on ad hoc resources such as grants and donations. Their watchwords are social business, sustainability and “turning beneficiaries into customers”.
While the outlook, ideologies and vocabulary differ, the key question is the same, i.e., can businesses – long considered the source of social and environmental problems – become part of the solution? Are there any concrete examples which prove that inclusive business1 approaches can solve social problems in an economically profitable way and on a large scale? While inclusive businesses may have sprung up in developing countries, we need to ask ourselves why they are not more wides- pread? What obstacles do they encounter when changing scale and what can development finance institutions do to help them grow?
Success of scaling up: examples of your inclusive businesses
The following examples of inclusive businesses prove that scaling up is indeed possible. The businesses in question have reached a critical size that ensures both profitability and sustainability. They also directly impact a huge number of customers and have inspired the creation of similar businesses.
See the full article on the blog Private Sector & Development, animated by Proparco.
