The Role of Social Entrepreneurship in Driving Social Transformation toward Sustainable Development: A Comprehensive Review
Abstract
The persistent challenge of achieving inclusive social transformation and long-term sustainability has drawn attention to social entrepreneurship as a hybrid mechanism for addressing developmental gaps that governments and markets alone cannot resolve. Despite its growing recognition, existing scholarship remains fragmented many studies focus narrowly on single sectors, use qualitative descriptions without robust measurement, or underrepresent certain regions, creating a significant research gap in understanding the multidimensional role of social entrepreneurship in advancing sustainable development. This review synthesizes over two decades of literature, complemented by illustrative figures showing sectoral focus, regional spread, and measurable outcomes. Our findings reveal that education (22%), livelihoods (20%), and healthcare (18%) dominate social entrepreneurship initiatives, with South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa receiving disproportionate research attention. Impact indicators highlight notable improvements, including a 25% rise in income, 35% school retention, and 65% clean energy adoption. The key contribution of this review lies in developing an integrative framework that connects micro-level entrepreneurial practices with macro-level sustainable outcomes, while also identifying methodological gaps in impact assessment. By consolidating diverse evidence, mapping thematic areas, and aligning outcomes with SDGs, this paper demonstrates the transformative significance of social entrepreneurship and provides a roadmap for future research, policy, and practice
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