ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

Sustainable entrepreneurship is a relatively new concept. Nonetheless, interest and activities in this field has grown across the world. Creative entrepreneurial individuals are acting upon their environmental and social convictions to support the international sustainability agenda. In light of the significant contribution of the leading entrepreneurs toward sustainability, governments are increasingly aiming to encourage skills and provide support to current and future sustainable entrepreneurs.

 

Fostering SCP through sustainable entrepreneurship


Introducing sustainable lifestyles and sustainable entrepreneurship into universities and colleges was one of the first CSCP’s projects in the area of sustainable entrepreneurship. The primary objective of this project was to introduce the concept of SCP as an opportunity to elaborate business concepts and to explore the role of sustainable entrepreneurship as a means of reversing negative environmental and social trends. The project reached out to students and university professors and encouraged them to share their entrepreneurial skills to support local communities and their universities.

 

Innovative approaches to SCP education


The project integrated informal educational activities with formal post-secondary educational approaches. The training program developed within this project applied experiential learning strategies and interactive group exercises including sustainable entrepreneurship concept modules, manuals for trainers and guidelines for students.

   

What happened within this project?

The core activity of this two-year long project was the delivery of training sessions at European and African universities. Since women tend to be under-represented in business programs the project placed special emphasis on reaching and motivating female entrepreneurs. The training program was divided into a pilot test phase, delivered in August and November of 2009 in Mauritius and Germany, where information on the state of sustainable entrepreneurship at universities was gathered, followed by an “Educate the Educators” training program in April of 2010 based on a refined training package in Wuppertal, Germany. The second phase of the project brought together students and professors from fifteen African and European universities.

 

Background

This project corresponds to the priorities within the African 10 Year Framework of Programmes (10YFP) on SCP. Project contributors include Marrakech Process Task Forces, successful social entrepreneurs, leading organizations and individuals active in advancing sustainable entrepreneurship and women's development. Financial support was provided by the Marrakech Task Force on Sustainable Lifestyles, led by the Government of Sweden.