Top five subsectors in which social enterprises work and their corresponding SDGs TABLE 1 Top three purpose areas and top three sub-purpose areas TABLE 2Top five subsectors where social enterprises operate Direct SDG Education (21%) SDG 4 – Quality education Agriculture (15%) SDG 2 – Zero hunger Health and well-being (12%) SDG 3 – Good health and well-being Civic engagement (10%) SDG 11 – Sustainable cities and communities SDG 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions Art, entertainment and recreation (9%) SDG 11 – Sustainable cities and communities, including the protection of cultural and natural heritage. SDG 3 – Good health and well-being SDG 4 – Quality education Source: Survey data, World Economic Forum Source: Survey data, World Economic Forum.Purpose areas The social enterprises surveyed most frequently define their purpose in terms of society (64%), inclusion (52%) and basic needs (46%). Inclusive principles in practice Table 3 presents common inclusive practices among social enterprises and the proportion of surveyed enterprises that report engaging in each practice.Purpose area Top sub-purpose % of SEs Society Community 45% Economy 43% Culture 17% InclusionYouth 41% Women 38% Rural poverty 23% Basic needsFood security 21% Livelihoods 21% Healthcare 13%1.5 Enablers of inclusive and sustainable development across industries Across Africa, social enterprises are advancing all of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With international development budgets under strain, social enterprises are emerging as vital actors – delivering local impact through sustainable models that span diverse industries and contribute to all 17 SDGs. This section explores the sectors and purpose areas in which they are most active, highlighting their breadth of contribution and how they embed inclusive practices to drive impact. Subsectors and SDGS The survey shows that social enterprises are contributing to all 17 SDGs), underscoring their role in addressing Africa’s interconnected development challenges. The State of Social Enterprise: Unlocking Inclusive Growth, Jobs and Development in Africa 23

State of Social Enterprise Africa 2025