The Market Opportunity for Social Enterprise in Developing Nations

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors explore the market opportunity for social enterprises by drawing on the sub-Saharan middle class. Specifically, they look at some key indicators of market size, potential, and diversity. By making use of a 10 city study on the sub-continent, a range of topics emerge that expose high levels of heterogeneity between markets. As the world's fastest growing continent (in population) as well as one of the poorest regions on earth, sub-Saharan Africa is a key target for social enterprises that seek to change lives while running sustainable profit-making organizations. As this chapter adds to the narrative around market sizing and potential, the discussion also points to the need for a sophisticated view of social enterprises as propagated in this book as a whole.