Assessing the Role of International Organizations in the Development of the Social Enterprise Sector

This paper examines the contribution of international organizations to the development of the social enterprise sector worldwide, and assesses the types of programs and policies international organizations are using to promote this agenda globally. The results indicate that international organizations' support to the social enterprise sector has consisted primarily of providing financial resources, notably grants. However, international organizations' contributions to developing sector-specific policies have been limited. Furthermore, many programs that are supported by international organizations remain largely unassessed. The paper proposes a set of policy recommendations directed primarily to international organizations and the public administration, to improve and enhance the development of the social enterprise sector