Social Entrepreneurial Activities for Rural Livelihood Improvement and Poverty Reduction

Abstract

Many countries have begun to pay more attention to the concept of social entrepreneurship simply because it is considered as an efficient method for the sustainable development of underserved areas as well as for the acceleration of government initiatives and private investment. The activities of social entrepreneurship have emerged as an efficient method for the creation of solutions for social issues including accessibility to education, healthcare, water, food, and electricity supply. A researcher collected the data in the field and analyzed it using a qualitative case study methodology. This study was conducted at CHEMA (Community Habitat Environmental Management), a non-governmental organization in a rural area located in Karagwe, Tanzania. The research sample yielded a total of 16 important informants, including 10 employees and 6 peasants who participated in focus groups. The research findings indicated that social entrepreneurship projects relieve poverty and improve rural livelihoods in Tanzania by increasing and strengthening agricultural production, increasing people's ability to deal with hunger, preserving the environment, maximizing household income, and enhancing the effectiveness of agricultural activities. Even though social entrepreneurship has helped rural communities improve their lives and reduce poverty through its activities, the projects have not made a big difference because of problems like donor dropout, lack of knowledge, and poor infrastructure in rural areas. Despite all the advantages of social entrepreneurship projects, the social entrepreneurship concept is still in its infancy stage in Tanzania, which brings a lot of questions to society. It is advised that more research on impacts of social entrepreneurship projects should be done by scholars to gain more attention to contribute more awareness for both government and private organizations.