Expanding global social economy network
What Is the Social Enterprise World Forum?
Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) was established in 2008, seeking means to advance the social enterprise movement and to lead global social economy organization networks. SEWF provides a platform for learning, sharing of successful cases, and building a movement with social enterprise practitioners, support agencies, investors, public, private, and government representatives.
SEWF has held annual events on every continent, it brings social actors, investors, government and academic leaders together to address complex challenges surrounding world’s social economy ecosystem. The events are designed to build capacity, provide tangible skills, promote knowledge exchange, and foster critical social capital through networking and personal contact. And SEWF engage with policymakers to influence policy agendas and advocate for social enterprises. Such engagements allow SEWF to elevate voices often excluded from policy discussions while strengthening the social enterprise movement.
Relationship with WT Foundation
Work Together Foundation (WT Foundation) first participated in the events of SEWF in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2011. Afterward, the Foundation joined the SEWF Organizing Committee in 2012 and made efforts to host the 2014 forum.
As a result, Korea became the hosting country for the SEWF 2014, and WT Foundation was selected as the forum organizer. In this process, WT Foundation's board member, KIM Jae-Gu, who is also an active member of the organizing committee in SEWF chaired the forum, held under the theme of 'Social Change through Social Enterprise.' At the time, 1,100 domestic and global social innovation organizations and workers participated.
Past Events
| Year | Venue | Agenda | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Brisbane, Australia |
Co-Creating the future | White Box Enterprises |
| 2021 | Nova Scotia, Canada | Climate and circular economy, youth, rural, Indigenous-led social enterprise, gender, social procurement, COVID-19 and economic recovery | Common Good Solutions |
| 2020 | Online | Impact of COVID-19 on Social Enterprises and Communities | Social Enterprise World Forum |
| 2019 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Local Traditions - Fresh Perspectives | THE BRITISH COUNCIL |
| 2018 | Edinburgh, Scotland, UK | Inspiring a new decade of impact | Community Enterprise in Scotland |
| 2017 | Christchurch, New Zealand | Creating our tomorrow | THE ĀKINA FOUNDATION |
| 2016 | Hong Kong,China | New Frontiers, New Markets | Hong Kong General Chamber of Social Enterprises Ltd |
| 2015 | Milan, Italy | Growing a new economy | ACRA Foundation |
| 2014 | Seoul, Republic of Korea | Social Change through Social Enterprise | Work Together Foundation |
| 2013 | Calgary, Canada | Leveraging markets and innovations to solve social problems | The Trico Foundation |
| 2012 | Rio de janiero, Brazil | The growing field of impact investing focussing on attracting new investment capital for social enterprise | NESsT |
| 2011 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Social enterprise as a catalyst for sustainable development | UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG |
| 2010 | San francisco, United States | Realizing the Potential of Social Enterprise | Social Enterprise Alliance |
| 2009 | Melbourne, Australia | Taking the next steps now | Social Ventures Australia |
| 2008 | Edinburgh, Scotland, UK | Raise awareness of social enterprise as an expanding global mechanism for social change | CEIS |