yunus social business
Yunus Social Business: A Pioneer for Social Innovation and Sustainability
editYunus Social Business (YSB) is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting economic efficiency with social responsibility. Founded in 2011 by Muhammad Yunus, Saskia Bruysten, and Sophie Eisenmann, YSB builds on the successes of Muhammad Yunus' pioneering work in microfinance through the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh.
Mission and Values
editThe main mission of YSB is to "harness the power of business to tackle poverty and climate change"[2][4]. The organization firmly believes that business models can be designed to achieve both economic success and social and environmental benefits.
Key Products and Services
editYSB consists of two main areas:
Yunus Funds
editYunus Funds is the impact investing arm of YSB. It provides patient loans and comprehensive post-investment support to social enterprises in countries such as Brazil, Colombia, India, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. The funding focuses on sectors such as agriculture and livelihoods, health and sanitation, education and training, as well as energy and environment[1][2].
Examples of supported social enterprises include Tugende, which offers motorcycle taxi drivers in Uganda the opportunity to rent and eventually own motorcycles, and Impact Water, which provides affordable water purification systems for schools.
Yunus Corporate Innovation
editYunus Corporate Innovation is the consulting arm for corporate social innovation. It supports multinational companies in transforming their business models to become a force for good. Projects include collaborations with companies such as Reckitt, Vodafone, MAN Truck & Bus, and IKEA to develop social intrapreneurship programs and social procurement initiatives[1][2].
Sustainability Goals and Initiatives
editYSB is committed to achieving significant social and environmental impact. This includes:
- Poverty Reduction: By financing and supporting local social enterprises that provide jobs, education, healthcare, clean water, and clean energy, YSB reaches over 17 million people in East Africa, Latin America, and India[2].
- Climate Protection: YSB promotes companies focused on renewable energy, environmental protection, and sustainable agriculture.
- Social Integration: Supporting social enterprises that strive for the social and economic integration of marginalized groups is a central goal.
Research and Collaboration
editYSB works closely with renowned institutions such as the World Economic Forum, INSEAD, and HEC Paris to conduct research and publications on the business benefits of social intrapreneurship and social procurement. These works include studies such as "Business as Unusual: How Social Intrapreneurs Can Turn Companies Into A Force For Good" and "The Social Procurement Manual"[1].
By combining social purpose with entrepreneurial implementation skills, Yunus Social Business makes a significant contribution to solving the most pressing global challenges and demonstrates that business and social responsibility can go hand in hand.
Sources:
edit- 1 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yunus_Social_Business
- 2 - https://www.yunussb.com/about
- 3 - https://lab.neos.eu/_Resources/Persistent/f31b9d5e51bb7b9a93e3139c8e716c3babb84fa4/NEOS-LAB-ELF-SocialFinance_Dieter%20Feierabend.pdf
- 4 - https://www.yunussb.com
- 5 - https://www.podcast.de/episode/623642265/impact-schaffen-wie-daniel-nowack-als-geschaeftsfuehrer-eines-sozialen-investment-fonds-das-leben-von-millionen-verbessert