CAIRO: In order to advocate social innovation among the youth, institutions need to change their approach and their definition of the concept, a roundtable discussion held as part of the Arab World Social Innovation Forum (AWSIF), concluded. “The important thing is how we act, there is a need by institutions to try to change policies and the mindset and an understanding of the spirit of innovation,” Ahmed Younis, senior analyst at the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, and moderator of the roundtable, explained. The roundtable discussion on “Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship” brought together leading experts in Arab youth development who debated some of the most pressing underlying challenges and ways in promoting youth entrepreneurship in the Arab region. Participants recognized that way they, as experts who advocate social innovation, approach the youth, and the language and discourse they use, have to be positive in order to be effective and change the youth's perception. While the lack of a definition for social entrepreneurship is viewed as one of the challenges impeding the promotion of the concept of youth social entrepreneurship, participants agreed that there shouldn't be a great emphasis on finding a definition for social entrepreneurship, but that efforts should rather go into implementing the concept itself. Participants also agreed that there should be a change in policies and the public's mindset and that the long-term goals of youth entrepreneurship initiatives should be recognized. They also recommended finding ways to measure the impact of social entrepreneurship. In addition, they highlighted the need to encourage innovation and risk-taking not simply business creation. “Youth define this region and investing in young people and catalyzing their development is crucial,” said Ramy Khoury, participant in the roundtable discussion from the American University of Beirut. There is also a need for role models in the Arab world who cultivate the spirit of real volunteerism. Furthermore, participants said that it is their job, as experts in the field, to create a medium through which people can grow. The challenges facing Arab youth are widely known and have become a permanent fixture in Arab development and policy debates. Similarly, substantial research is mounting from institutions throughout the world, advocating for moral, social, political and economic imperative of integrating young people in Arab society. Within these efforts, a number of initiatives are citing entrepreneurship as a means of achieving youth inclusion. After all, with the need for private sector development and job creation at an all-time high, young people could play a pivotal role in spurring business growth. In short, youth are at an ideal age to awaken their entrepreneurial energies, making the excitement building around youth entrepreneurship both timely and positioning. Ashoka has been working on youth innovation around the world for 30 years and in the Arab World for the past seven years in which it was a tool for cultivating innovation, problem-solving and leadership skills that can be applied to nearly any market. “Business entrepreneurs are people who create jobs, they are not a threat to the status quo, governments or social norms. [On the other hand] social entrepreneurs challenge social norms, the status quo and maybe even governments,” said Dalia Mogahed, executive director of Gallup Center for Muslim Studies and Advisor to White House on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. “The two are very linked, in terms of kind of environment, people who engage in social entrepreneurship are more likely to start a business that creates jobs,” she added. Mogahed also noted that “An environment which helps a social entrepreneur strive, helps becoming economically productive.” “Social entrepreneurs are a crucial component of any country's development agenda and a prerequisite for a thriving civil society,” Iman Bibars, vice president of Ashoka Global and regional director of Ashoka Arab World, said at the opening of AWSIF. Bringing together business, social, academic and political leaders from all over the Arab region and around the world, AWSIF, headed by Bibars, was held last weekend in Cairo. The Arab-driven initiative seeks to be a catalyst for change, a venue in which social innovators from the region can meet with their global counterparts to celebrate, share and generate ideas, Bibars said.
