ID: 1610
Presenting Author: Ivan Steenkamp
Session: 552 - Accelerating with Integrity: Strengthening Social Impact Assessment in the face of urgency and misinformation
Status: pending
Social enterprise ecosystems foster innovation, collaboration, and sustainability by connecting diverse stakeholders, yet face challenges in finance, policy, and capacity, requiring inclusive, adaptiv
This study reviews existing literature on social enterprise ecosystems (SEEs) to explore how these dynamic networks support the growth, sustainability, and innovation of social enterprises (SEs). Through a systematic review of peer-reviewed publications from 2017 to 2023, the research identifies key dimensions of SEEs, including their structure, diversity, and mechanisms for fostering social innovation. The findings reveal that successful SEEs rely on collaboration among public, private, and community actors who co-create social and economic value. Diversity and innovation emerge as essential drivers, enhancing entrepreneurial resilience and adaptability in addressing complex socio-economic challenges. Nevertheless, SEEs face persistent barriers such as limited access to finance, fragmented policy frameworks, and inadequate capacity-building mechanisms. The review highlights that effective ecosystems require enabling policies, stakeholder engagement, and hybrid financial models that integrate social and commercial objectives. For practitioners, strengthening partnerships and fostering knowledge exchange can enhance operational effectiveness and impact scalability. Theoretically, the paper contributes to understanding SEEs as multi-dimensional, adaptive systems that balance profit and purpose. Integrating SEEs into broader development strategies can facilitate sustainable growth and systemic social transformation. Overall, the review underscores that advancing SEE frameworks is pivotal to achieving inclusive and innovative pathways for social value creation.
Ivan Steenkamp is a strategic leader, academic, and changemaker with 20+ years’ experience in consulting, academia, and public service, advancing sustainability, social enterprise, and inclusive devel