Social enterprise in Rwanda: an overview

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the context, the concept and the main types of social enterprises in Rwanda, and to present its main institutional and contextual trajectories.

Design/methodology/approach

The author carried out a literature review and interviews. Six categories were identified; each one is illustrated by one emblematic case.

Findings

The paper presents the evolution of economically oriented social organizations in Rwanda, mostly under the form of cooperatives and NGOs and with inspiration from traditional forms of mutual help. The context of emergence of social enterprise in Rwanda was shaped, among other factors, by Anglo-Saxon influence. Other factors include notably the aftermath of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi, the current governance prevailing in the country and the current entrepreneurships trends. The paper also underlines the absence of research on the subject in Rwanda. Six categories of social enterprises in Rwanda and their main features have been identified and analyzed, namely, NGOs, cooperatives, informal organizations, social entrepreneurs, public/private partnerships and companies carrying out social activities. Finally, the paper analyzes the institutional and contextual trajectories of social enterprise in Rwanda.

Originality/value

The paper explores and provides insights into the specificities and the current trends of social enterprise in Rwanda with a view to fostering further analysis for several research avenues.

Citation

Rwamigabo, E.R. (2017), "Social enterprise in Rwanda: an overview", Social Enterprise Journal, Vol. 13 No. 4, pp. 376-391. https://doi.org/10.1108/SEJ-09-2017-0044