In this section we provide answers to a number of the most frequently asked questions in relation to the project and also define our understanding of some key terms and concepts.
Questions about registration
- Am I eligable to register?
- Who is the Trickle Out Africa Project Directory for?
- How will my registered data be used?
- How will my registered data be stored?
- Will I have to pay?
- Can I remove my data from the directory?
- Why should I register?
Conceptual and definitional questions
- What is a social enterprise?
- What is a social entrepreneur?
- What is social entrepreneurship?
- What is an environmental enterprise?
- What is an environmental entrepreneur?
- What is environmental entrepreneurship?
- What is the relationship between social and environmental enterprise and entrepreneurship?
- What is a sustainable/hybrid enterprise?
- What is sustainable development?
- What is poverty alleviation?
- What is the bottom of the economic pyramid?
- What is trickle out?
Questions about registration
If you are an owner or representative of a social and/or environmental enterprise in one of the 19 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa in which the Trickle Out Africa Project is working then you are eligible to register. These countries are: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
We have defined a social and/or environmental enterprise as an organisation with a social and/or environmental purpose that engages in some form or trading activity or which gains at least some of its income from trading activities. Social enterprises create social, environmental and economic value. In such enterprises the creation of social and/or environmental value is as at least as important as profit making. For a more extensive definition of social and/or environmental enterprise please scroll down.
In this project we recognise that social and/or environmental enterprises come in a variety of forms including co-operatives, if you are a representative of a co-operative you can also register for the trickle up directory. Finally we recognise the important role aid and donor agencies play in encouraging the development of the social and environmental economy in Southern and Eastern Africa. If you are the representative of a donor or aid agency you can also register for Trickle Out.
Please click to Register for the Trickle Out Directory
Who is the Trickle Out directory for?
The Trickle Out Africa Project Directory is intended to provide an important tool and resource for development actors and agents operating across East and Southern Africa. It is envisaged that the directory will help participating enterprises to publicise their activities, and to make links with donor and funding agencies and other businesses, with the overall goal of increasing their sustainable development and poverty alleviation impact.
How will my registered data be used?
Your registered data will be used exclusively for the Trickle Out project. If consent is given your organisations name, area of activity, country of origin, location and potentially a contact email will be made publically available in the Trickle Out Africa Project Directory for access free of charge. However you may register for the Trickle Out Africa Project Directory without making this information publically available. Futher information you provide as part of your registration and as part of any subsequent contact i.e. if you choose to participate in a more in-depth social and environmental enterprise survey will not be publically available. This data will be used in the creation of the final Trickle Out Africa Project report and related public and academic outputs, However the confidentiality of organisations and individuals will be maintained. Informed consent will be sought before any data beyond that in the directory is used.
How will my registered data be stored?
Your registered data will be stored securely at all times with secure backup.
There is no cost for registering your data with the Trickle Out Africa Project.
Can I remove my data from the directory?
If at any point you decide that you no longer want your data to be stored in the Trickle Out Africa Project directory that data will be removed.
Registration with the Trickle Out Africa Project Directory may provide your organisation with significant public relations benefits. It is also hoped that the wider directory will contribute to sustainable development across studied countries. If you choose to participate in the Trickle Out survey you will furthermore be eligible for entry into a prize draw to win a number of useful prizes. For more information about these prizes please follow this link to Register for the Trickle Out Africa Project Directory
Conceptual and Theoretical Questions
A social enterprise is an organisation that engages in some form of trading activity for a social purpose. In a social enterprise the creation of social value is at least as important as the creation of economic value. Profit making is a means to an end rather than an end in itself. Social enterprises often have participatory forms of governance. Social enterprises come in a variety of shapes and forms, what unifies them and distinguishes them from regular businesses, is the importance they place on social value creation. What distinguishes social enterprises from charitable organisations is their active engagement in some form of trading activity.
What is a social entrepreneur?
A social entrepreneur is the founder of a social enterprise. Some social enterprises are founded by multiple social entrepreneurs. Social enterprenuers also exisit within exisiting businesses and organisations. They are internal change agents spearheading innovation and positive change. They encourage organisations and businesses to give greater priority to the creation of social value.
What is social entrepreneurship?
Social entrepreneurship is the process through which a social enterprise is founded and operates.
What is an environmental enterprise?
An environmental enterprise is an organisation that uses trading activity in the creation of environmental value. In contrast to a social enterprise the creation of environmental value does not necessarily have to be the driving force behind the establishment of an environmental enterprise. The environmental entrepreneur may simply have identified a niche in providing environmental products or services; the creation of environmental value is incidental.
What is an environmental entrepreneur?
An environmental entrepreneur is the founder of an environmental enterprise/ green business. They may be driven by environmental values, ethics and the goal of green value creation; they may be more pragmatic identifying a green niche market.
What is environmental entrepreneurship?
Environmental entrepreneurship is the process through which environmental enterprises are formed and operate.
What is the relationship between social and environmental enterprise and entrepreneurship?
Social and environmental enterprise and entrepreneurship are often used interchangeably. Social enterprises often also create environmental value and vice versa. The term sustainable or hybrid enterprise has been suggested to describe the triple bottom line value creation nature of these enterprises. Social enterprises can however be distinguished from some environmental enterprises in the importance they give to ethics and values.
What is a sustainable/hybrid enterprise?
The term sustainable/ hybrid enterprise is used to describe triple bottom line enterprises in which the creation of social, environmental and economic value are viewed as equally important.
What is sustainable development?
A balanced mix of sustainable economic growth, social equity and environmental protection.
The definition presented in 1987 in Brundtland report defines sustainable development as:
'Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
It contains within it two key concepts:
- The concept of 'needs', in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and
- The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology; and social organization on the environments ability to meet present and future needs.'
Improving the material living conditions of the very poor, allowing them to meet their basic needs.
What is the bottom of the economic pyramid?
The bottom of the economic pyramid refers to the 2.5 billion people globally who live on less than $2.50 a day.
What is Trickle Out as described in this study?
Trickle Out is the process whereby the sustainable development and poverty alleviation benefits of social and environmental enterprise and entrepreneurship activity trickle out across communities.
