Social entrepreneurship can play a significant role in Saudi Arabia’s development by addressing social, cultural, and environmental challenges while contributing to economic growth, nonprofit sector leaders said during a forum in Riyadh this week.
Social Entrepreneurship Week, organized by the Entrepreneurship Vision Association in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha’at), was held in Riyadh from June 14 to 18.
The event brought together leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and representatives from more than 40 government, private-sector, and nonprofit organizations.
More than 50 sessions and meetings were held throughout the week, covering topics including social investment, food security, resource management, and the role of development institutions in strengthening the social enterprise sector.
Prince Fahd bin Mansour bin Nasser, chairman of the Entrepreneurship Vision Association, described community entrepreneurship as a key pillar of sustainable development. He emphasized the importance of building partnerships and supporting social entrepreneurs to expand their positive impact on society.
Saud Al-Sabhan, deputy governor for entrepreneurship at Monsha’at, said the success of an entrepreneurial ecosystem should be measured not by the number of events it hosts, but by the initiatives, businesses, and success stories it generates.
Several flagship projects were unveiled during the event, including the Green Impact Leadership initiative.
The forum also saw the launch of the Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator, a program designed to support promising social ventures through specialized mentoring and development initiatives aimed at improving their efficiency, sustainability, and long-term impact.
Mohammed Al-Shaikh, co-founder of climate technology startup Netzero, said social entrepreneurship represents a growing opportunity in Saudi Arabia because it combines community benefit with economic sustainability.
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