ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

Sustainable entrepreneurship is a relatively new concept. Nonetheless, interest and activities in this new field has grown across the world. Increasingly, 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 foster 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’ is a major CSCP sustainable entrepreneurship project. The primary objective of this project is 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 aims to reach students and university professors to inspire and open young entrepreneurial minds to sustainable business opportunities. The project also aims to encourage students to share their growing entrepreneurial skills to support local communities facing environmental challenges.

Innovative approaches to SCP education
The project integrates informal educational activities with formal post-secondary educational approaches. The training program applies experiential learning strategies and interactive group exercises and includes sustainable entrepreneurship concept modules, manuals for trainers and guidelines for students.

Moving forward
The core activity of this two year 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 is 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.

The CSCP intends to offer the training program in other regions of the world.

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 organisations 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.