Abstract:
An individual or organization that primarily aims to improve communities or the environment and whose efforts are supported by a solid business plan that allows it to stand on its own two feet is known as a social entrepreneur or enterprise. Through their revenue-generating entrepreneurial endeavors, social enterprises create social value and promote positive social change. This study looks at the opportunities and difficulties faced by Addis Ababa's social entrepreneurs. The demographic, social, political, and economic traits of social entrepreneurs and enterprises in Addis Ababa were investigated using a descriptive research design. The investigator employed a census as a means of gathering essential data from the entire group of 44 recognized social entrepreneurs and enterprises. 39 social entrepreneurs provided their primary data through interviews and questionnaires. Secondary data gathered from both publicly available and unpublished sources. The data gathered through the various methods for this study was analyzed by using quantitative and qualitative approaches of data analysis. The research reveals that Addis Ababa's social entrepreneurs face several regulatory challenges, including a government that does not follow its own rules and regulations, a lack of workspace, tax policy uncertainty, unfavorable policies, an unfavorable political environment that includes security, and an unwelcoming bureaucratic environment in government offices. However, the study also come up with opportunities like the availability of financial and other voluntary support from foreign partner organizations that encourage social entrepreneurs, supportive government policies for entrepreneurship development, especially for small and medium enterprises and support from their families and have moral views. Lastly, the study recommended that to help social enterprises maintain their operations and broaden their social impact; the government should provide them with adequate assistance in gaining access to low-interest loans and other financial services. It also takes political will on the part of government agencies to treat social enterprises differently by having laws, policies and procedures.
