Competence
center Social Entrepreneurship Sustainable business models with social impact
We work with social enterprises that are changing society for the better through innovative ideas and technical solutions.
With the 2030 Agenda, the global community has set itself ecological, economic and social goals for sustainable development. Together with government, civil society and business, social enterprises make an essential contribution to achieving these Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): They develop solutions to the world’s most pressing problems and anchor them locally and in the long term with a sustainable business model. Together with social entrepreneurs, we work in particular in African countries to reduce supply deficits and create structures that enable sustainable business and open up economic prospects. Locally adapted technologies with a social impact play a special role in this.
© WeTu/Siemens Stiftung
© Siemens Stiftung
© Siemens Stiftung
© Impact Hub Accra
© Smart Energy Enterprise
© Siemens Stiftung
© TeamUp
© WeTu
© Sunken Limited
Our Work
Our work brings together social innovation, learning and hands-on experience to strengthen social entrepreneurship:
Social Innovation Hub
Our Social Innovation Hub develops, tests and scales innovative solutions for sustainable development together with social enterprises and local partners. We focus on challenges where markets, infrastructure and public services fall short, supporting business models that create lasting social and environmental impact.
Our work combines practical innovation, local collaboration and continuous learning. By strengthening social enterprises and connecting key actors in the fields of E-Mobility, Water, and Sustainable Energy, we help turn promising ideas into sustainable solutions that improve lives accross Sub-Saharan Africa.
Community Learning & Development
Community Learning & Development strengthens social entrepreneurs and other change agents through practical learning, peer exchange and capacity building. We create opportunities to share knowledge, build skills and learn from real-world experience, helping innovative approaches grow beyond individual projects.
The Academy for Impact is a key part of our learning offer. Through practice-oriented courses, tools and collaborative learning formats, participants strengthen both their entrepreneurial skills and their capacity to create lasting social impact.
Our social enterprise WeTu
Our social enterprise WeTu in Kenya is our living innovation lab. Together with local communities, social enterprises and partners, we develop and test solutions under real-world conditions. This hands-on experience helps us understand what works in practice and generates valuable insights that strengthen our partnerships, programs and support for social entrepreneurs.
Priorities
Essential services:
promoting access to vital products
Together with social enterprises, we are helping to bring about a lasting improvement in essential services, particularly: water, sanitation, sustainable energy, mobility, food, and health. Securing access to these vital products and services improves people’s quality of life and gives them new opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
Partners
Our efforts contribute to the United Nations‘ global Sustainable Development Goals. Together with partners from the development cooperation ecosystem, including international NGOs, social enterprises, and public- and private-sector development cooperation stakeholders, we are also involved in initiatives that pool expertise and promote knowledge transfer amongst the various organizations.
Social Entrepreneurship in the Global South – learn more!
Female Social Entrepreneurship
Discover our programs specifically designed to empower female founders.
News
Unified water stewardship to accelerate SDG 6 commitments
- To strengthen collaboration and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal on Clean Water and Sanitation, a “Leadership Breakfast” will be convenened to bring stakeholder across sectors in New York.
Siemens Stiftung’s new position paper, ”From Water Scarcity to Water Security”
- Siemens Stiftung's new position paper, "From Water Scarcity to Water Security: A Systemic Approach Powered by Social Entrepreneurship and Partnerships," outlines how locally rooted social entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and strong partnerships can deliver sustainable access to safe drinking water in East Africa.
Projects
We are committed and actively working to promote sustainable networks for development cooperation.
Our portfolio consists of operational, socially entrepreneurial projects in the field of E-Mobility, Water & Hygiene, and Sustainable Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Instruments
Business Development
Good ideas deserve to grow: That’s why we work with social enterprises as part of our tenders and projects to test new business models and increase their impact through research & development.
We accompany each organization individually – from training and coaching to acting as intermediaries and establishing links with potential partner companies, social investors and financial backers.
In an effort to promote an ecosystem that supports social entrepreneurship in the Global South and encourages focused on long-term impact, we engage with peer-to-peer networks, conferences, studies and advocacy groups, both in our focus regions and in international development policy.
Publications
Social Entreprises as Job Creators in Africa
E-Mobility Solutions for Rural Sub-Saharan-Africa
Background Stories & Interviews
Creative, Concrete, Dynamic and Transformative: WeTu’s cross-sectoral approach
- What do fishing lamps have to do with motorcycles? And what role do clean drinking water, ice, and recycled electronic devices play in the mix? Let me take you to an immersive journey to Kisumu, the third largest city in Kenya, and from there to Mbita via Homa by, along Lake Victoria.
Social Entrepreneurs in Uganda: Local Solutions for Education and Health
- With innovative ideas and social entrepreneurial spirit, women in Uganda are providing clean water, improved hygiene, and greater access to education
Contact
Would you like to work with us? Or do you have any questions?
Head of Community Learning & Development
Christine Janezic
christine.janezic@siemens-stiftung.org
Head of Social Innovation Hub
Jonas Restle-Steinert
jonas.restle-steinert@siemens-stiftung.org
Project manager / CEO, WeTu (Social Enterprise)
Tilmann Straub
tilmann.straub@siemens-stiftung.org
Project portals
Smart Energy Solutions for Africa
WeTu
WeTu is a social enterprise set up by Siemens Stiftung that works on innovative solutions to supply energy and drinking water in East Africa. It is also deploying the first-ever electric vehicles developed for rural Africa.
TeamUp
In collaboration with the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (German Foundation for World Population), and Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung, the TeamUp program creates new opportunities for young people in rural regions of East Africa.
