Social enterprises refer to businesses that prioritize purpose over profit in operational and strategic decisions. They exist to solve social and/or environmental problems and reinvest to achieve their goals. Despite varying definitions in different countries, social enterprises are commonly understood as economic entities standing at the intersection of business and social good, spearheading innovative solutions that generate economic value as well as drive social and environmental impacts. Nurturing social entrepreneurship has become a pivotal strategy for social innovation and sustainable, inclusive socioeconomic growth. This project resonated with the APO Vision 2025 that highlights the importance of resilience, inclusiveness, and innovation.

To learn about strategies and practices nurturing social entrepreneurship, the APO Secretariat collaborated with the NPO Bangladesh in organizing an online training course on Social Entrepreneurship, 12–15 August, aiming to impart knowledge of tools and methods that could help social enterprises create greater impacts.

Twenty-eight participants from 12 APO members completed the training course, led by four resource persons, one each from Bangladesh and New Zealand, and two from the Philippines. Participants were familiarized with the latest trends and practices of social enterprises and their contributions to innovation and impact. They also learned about practical tools to help social enterprises review and position their values and business models for more sustainable operations.