Today 16:59
Members of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (the lower house of Tajikistan) have reportedly drafted a bill on social entrepreneurship and submitted it to the Majlisi Namoyandagon session for deliberation.
The law defines social entrepreneurship as a socially responsible business activity aimed at supporting vulnerable groups, producing or supplying social goods and providing social services, carried out in the manner prescribed by law.
The authors of the law, R. Rajabzoda, R. Shomurod and J. Murtazozoda, stated that the importance of a rapid implementation of the social entrepreneurship mechanism in Tajikistan became extremely evident due to a significant increase in the budgetary burden associated with the payment of pensions, allowances and compensation to vulnerable segments of the population.
According to data from the Tajikistan Presidential Statistics Service, the total number of pensioners in Tajikistan in 2022 was 763,300 (23.6% increase compared to the base year 2015), and the number of disabled people was 159,100 (0.88% increase compared to 2021).
The Act reportedly regulates the concept, objectives, principles and areas of activity of social entrepreneurship.
Social entrepreneurship applies the principles and guidelines used by startup founders and entrepreneurs to businesses that directly create social change or impact a social cause. Social entrepreneurs are primarily motivated by a desire to alleviate some systemic social or cultural problem.
Social entrepreneurship is a new and innovative business venture that creates change. Social entrepreneurs have a specific purpose that they care about and develop a business model that will have a positive impact. The main goal is to create lasting social change through their business.
Key areas of interest for social entrepreneurs include economic development, education, gender equality, healthcare, agriculture, environmental sustainability, renewable energy and community development.
Social entrepreneurship can operate as a non-profit, for-profit, or hybrid business (also known as a social enterprise), depending on the desired business model and availability of funds.
