Comparative Analysis of Social Enterprise Development: A Case Study of Cambodia and Indonesia

Abstract

Social enterprises have become a viable solution for tackling urgent social and environmental issues in developing economies. These organizations combine business strategies with a mission to generate positive social impact, particularly in areas that are often overlooked by traditional for-profit and government initiatives. Social entrepreneurship in the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region is gaining recognition as a means to address the growing income inequality and environmental degradation and empower women and girls. This study aims to investigate the social enterprise concept in Indonesia and Cambodia, with a specific emphasis on the legislation, operational model, and societal impact of these enterprises. The study employed a qualitative secondary data analysis through the search of existing literature related to social enterprise in both countries. The comparative examination of social businesses in Cambodia and Indonesia reveals shared impacts and diverse characteristics shaped by their socioeconomic and institutional contexts. Both nations possess social businesses that tackle social and environmental issues, foster job creation, strengthen communities, enhance the status of women, and safeguard cultural heritage. Disparities in priority areas, support systems, and economic contributions underscore the necessity to adapt social enterprise models to individual country situations. The study implies that key factors