Enterprising for social impact

We want to set up a programme that supports young people to set up successful WASH enterprises. But what is already out there?

Curious to know more about the business community in Accra, Eric and I went to the social enterprise happy hour organized by the One Acre Fund and hosted by iSpace, a colourful space in the heart of Osu where start-ups or freelancers can work and use the computers, wifi, and meeting rooms offered (‘new ways of working’ for sure).

Three of Ghana’s more successful social enterprises were the main attraction of this evening: Global Mamas, MoringaConnect and Trashy Bags.

So what is a social enterprise you may ask? While the meaning of social entrepreneurship is widely debated (and justifiably so), a social enterprise distinguishes itself from other entrerprises through its emphasis on the social benefit, rather than optimisation of monetary profits.Social entrepreneurship is gaining popularity across the globe, mostly because social enterprises are more sustainable than those more traditional initiatives (i.e. charities) that do not have a commercial focus at all.

(c) WaterAid

The stories of the people behind Global Mamas, MoringaConnect and Trashy Bags were all kind of similar; they had come to Ghana for some reason or another, spotted an opportunity, and started. None of them seemed to have a background in business, none had difficulty accessing capital, and all of them truly believed in their product.

While these stories were inspiring, I noted a few observations. Firstly, I had hoped to see many more young Ghanaians keen to hear the secrets of starting a successful business – instead the international volunteer community filled the space. Secondly, and significantly, none of the speakers had had difficulty accessing capital, while this must be the number one challenge for young aspiring entrepreneurs in Ghana. And finally, the products offered were all quite ‘cool and attractive’ (with Trashy Bags being the edgiest of all!), primarily serving the international market. It got me thinking. What if we were to invite a local entrepreneur who runs a number of toilet blocks for the community? Would we consider him/her a social entrepreneur and would people come to hear his/her story?

Challenge accepted. Trashy bags have managed to sell trash, so surely we can also sell poop? I cannot wait to start working with the many young people in Ghana who are eager to see positive change and come up with creative solutions to address Ghana’s WASH challenges.

Lisa Freiburg

Trainer Consultant MDF West Africa / Young Expert Programme Water