Working area Social Entrepreneurship Sustainable business models with social impact
We work with social enterprises that are changing society for the better through innovative ideas and technical solutions.
With the 2030 Agenda, the global community has set itself ecological, economic and social goals for sustainable development. Together with government, civil society and business, social enterprises make an essential contribution to achieving these Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): They develop solutions to the world’s most pressing problems and anchor them locally and in the long term with a sustainable business model. Together with social entrepreneurs, we work in particular in African countries to reduce supply deficits and create structures that enable sustainable business and open up economic prospects. Locally adapted technologies with a social impact play a special role in this.
© WeTu/Siemens Stiftung
© Siemens Stiftung
© Siemens Stiftung
© Impact Hub Accra
© Smart Energy Enterprise
© Siemens Stiftung
© TeamUp
© WeTu
© Sunken Limited
Priorities
Essential services:
promoting access to vital products
Together with social enterprises, we are helping to bring about a lasting improvement in essential services, particularly: water, sanitation, sustainable energy, mobility, food, and health. Securing access to these vital products and services improves people’s quality of life and gives them new opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
Projects
We are committed and actively working to promote sustainable networks for development cooperation.
Our portfolio consists of operational, socially entrepreneurial projects in the field of E-Mobility, Water & Hygiene, and Sustainable Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Portfolio
Our programs provide comprehensive support for selected social entrepreneurs.
At present, we are working with a series of social enterprises, offering targeted assistance to develop their business models. You can find an overview of our entire network of social entrepreneurs on our empowering people. Network.
Instruments
Business Development
Good ideas deserve to grow: That’s why we work with social enterprises as part of our tenders and projects to test new business models and increase their impact through research & development.
We accompany each organization individually – from training and coaching to acting as intermediaries and establishing links with potential partner companies, social investors and financial backers.
In an effort to promote an ecosystem that supports social entrepreneurship in the Global South and encourages focused on long-term impact, we engage with peer-to-peer networks, conferences, studies and advocacy groups, both in our focus regions and in international development policy.
Partners
Our efforts contribute to the United Nations‘ global Sustainable Development Goals. Together with partners from the development cooperation ecosystem, including international NGOs, social enterprises, and public- and private-sector development cooperation stakeholders, we are also involved in initiatives that pool expertise and promote knowledge transfer amongst the various organizations.
Social Entrepreneurship in the Global South – learn more!
Call for R&D: Piloting high-impact solutions on the e-mobility transition in Kenya
- Siemens Stiftung and GIZ are looking for 3-5 Kenyan enterprises to conduct research and development (R&D) projects for up to 12 months. The aim is to develop effective market-based solutions and increase the social and ecological impact of e-mobility.
Creating a period-friendly world – The Female Health and Hygiene Accelerator Bootcamp has kicked off in Naivasha, Kenya
- Working towards a period-friendly world is the underlying goal of the program, which was launched by Siemens Stiftung in partnership with Seecon Impact and Cewas as well as funding and implementation partners.
Publications
A three-part study by Siemens Stiftung and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation, estimates that one million new jobs could be created by social enterprises by 2030 in the twelve countries investigated alone, and sets out recommendations to leverage this potential.
E-Mobility Solutions for Rural Sub-Saharan-Africa
Project portals
Smart Energy Solutions for Africa
WeTu
WeTu is a social enterprise set up by Siemens Stiftung that works on innovative solutions to supply energy and drinking water in East Africa. It is also deploying the first-ever electric vehicles developed for rural Africa.
TeamUp
In collaboration with the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (German Foundation for World Population), and Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung, the TeamUp program creates new opportunities for young people in rural regions of East Africa.
Background reports
World Youth Skills Day 2024: African youth at the crossroads of educational opportunities and systemic change
- African youth are at a critical juncture, facing both educational opportunities and the need for systemic transformation. Siemens Stiftung is addressing this by implementing holistic projects that combine STEM education, social entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment to foster 21st-century skills and enable active participation in shaping Africa's sustainable future.
Foundations as Catalysts for Resilience
- As representatives of civil society, foundations are particularly well suited to forging partnerships and providing testing grounds for new solutions that enable sustainable social development in our fast-changing world. An article by our board member Dr. Nina Smidt.
Contact
Would you like to work with us? Or do you have any questions?
Christine Janezic
christine.janezic@siemens-stiftung.org
+49 89 540487 301
Marah Köberle
marah.koeberle@siemens-stiftung.org
+49 89 540487 306