This paper explores the emergence and evolution of social entrepreneurship across Asia, emphasising the role of civil society organisations, development actors, and social enterprises in democratizing markets. It identifies four key strategies: empowerment, social inclusion, intermediation and resource mobilisation. Using regional case studies from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and India, the paper outlines how market engagement by NGOs and community actors has enabled marginalised populations to access resources, build resilience and participate in economic activities. It contrasts social entrepreneurship with corporate social responsibility, arguing for a distinct, pro-poor, distributive philosophy grounded in multi-bottom-line objectives and local contexts.
