BLOG SURF: Meeting the SDGs

Social entrepreneurship can be characterized by the adoption and practice of several principles.

First, social entrepreneurs apply business and management principles to solving social problems, especially where governments or markets have failed or where there are unmet needs.

Second, social entrepreneurs emphasize the development of efficient, affordable and cost-effective solutions.

The need to work within severe resource constraints has encouraged social entrepreneurs to be innovative and develop frugal solutions.

An example is Ehealthpoint, which works in some of the poorest areas in India, offering residents access to clean water at a low fixed monthly cost.

At the same time, it takes advantage of the points where residents collect water to provide primary care.

Ehealthpoint developed a frugal solution that achieves both a public health goal (access to clean water) and a healthcare delivery goal.