Abstract

Social enterprise is a maturing area of activity within the development sector, and in Vietnam the sector has expanded significantly over the last thirty years, providing social services to communities and individuals experiencing socio-economic exclusion. Initially growing in a legislative vacuum, social enterprise currently appears to be flourishing following recognition by the state. However, the sector now faces new challenges as it matures. With Vietnam’s attainment of middle-income status, the international development funding previously available is now limited and the focus is on capacity and viability. Based on findings from interviews with representatives from a wide range of social enterprises and support organizations we explore the challenges and opportunities for future development, finding that there continues to be significant opportunity for both the augmentation of the sector and its impact. Through analysing the influence of a changing international development environment on evolving government policy, we provide new insights into the thoughts and perceptions of social enterprise sector practitioners. Recognizing that policy change has not resulted in effective local implementation, we suggest that government action is now needed to fill that gap, by supporting new start-ups, prospective social enterprises, and those established enterprises which are striving for viability and increased impact.

摘要

社会企业是发展部门中一个成熟的活动领域，在越南，该部门在过去三十年中显着扩大，为遭受社会经济排斥的社区和个人提供社会服务。最初在立法真空中成长，社会企业目前似乎在国家承认后蓬勃发展。然而，随着该行业的成熟，该行业现在面临着新的挑战。随着越南达到中等收入状态，以前可用的国际发展资金现在有限，重点放在能力和可行性上。基于对来自广泛的社会企业和支持组织的代表的采访结果，我们探索了未来发展的挑战和机遇，发现继续存在扩大该部门及其影响的重要机会。通过分析不断变化的国际发展环境对不断变化的政府政策的影响，我们为社会企业部门从业者的思想和看法提供了新的见解。认识到政策变化并没有导致有效的地方实施，我们建议现在需要政府采取行动来填补这一空白，通过支持新的初创企业、潜在的社会企业以及那些正在努力提高生存能力和影响力的老牌企业。我们对社会企业部门从业者的想法和看法提供了新的见解。认识到政策变化并没有导致有效的地方实施，我们建议现在需要政府采取行动来填补这一空白，通过支持新的初创企业、潜在的社会企业以及那些正在努力提高生存能力和影响力的老牌企业。我们对社会企业部门从业者的想法和看法提供了新的见解。认识到政策变化并没有导致有效的地方实施，我们建议现在需要政府采取行动来填补这一空白，通过支持新的初创企业、潜在的社会企业以及那些正在努力提高生存能力和影响力的老牌企业。