Community

Shaping Tomorrow: Collective Action for People and Planet

by Kasia Kotlarska / October 2025

“We are living in changing times, war, climate disruption, inequality, ageing society and disconnection. This year more than ever, many of us have felt the weight of the world pressing down. But in moments like this, community matters most. And here we are, a global community of changemakers, doers and believers, coming together not just to cope but to co-create. We still believe change is possible and with your support, we’ve made the impossible possible”. – Oliver Chang, Impact Hub Taipei (Taiwan)

The Social Enterprise World Forum 2025 (SEWF25), co-hosted with Impact Hub Taipei, brought together social innovators, policymakers and changemakers from around the world to explore how collective action can shape a better future for people and the planet. Held over 29-30 October, as the culmination of SEWF25 Week (27-31 October), the event reflected the resilience, creativity and commitment of the global social enterprise community amid an increasingly complex and uncertain world. Over 1000+ participants from more than 65 countries joined, sharing insights, learning from each other and contributing to a truly global conversation about the future of social enterprise.

SEWF25 Week opened with Social Enterprise tours on 27 October, giving participants the chance to witness social enterprises of Taipei in action. Fringe Day on 28 October created space for experimentation, dialogue and collaboration, setting the tone for the main forum by highlighting bold ideas and hands-on approaches that local social enterprises in Taiwan are taking, towards social innovation.

Connecting a global community

Across the world, hundreds of participants gathered at 10 SEWF25 Community Hubs to connect and build connections in their own communities, while at the same time connecting to the global forum in Taipei. From Kampala to Honiara, Cairo to Lagos, Edmonton to Krakow and Tandil to Calgary, these Hubs bring local social changemakers together to experience the SEWF25 programme, share insights and collaborate with peers and ecosystem stakeholders.

In Uganda, the Social Enterprise Uganda Summit united rural social entrepreneurs to engage with global content and tackle critical local challenges. In Honiara, women leaders convened across sessions designed to strengthen leadership and collaboration. Lagos is hosting multiple Hubs focusing on rural enterprise visibility, resilience and building networks for impact. In Cairo, designers and educators were invited to a Future Design Lab to prototype solutions with inclusive futures at the core. In Canada and Poland, Hubs combined live SEWF content with local discussions and workshops to strengthen regional ecosystems. And in Argentina, the Tandil Community Hub fostered connection across local actors, promoting collaborative solutions and ecosystem growth.

“We had lots of good conversations about the trends and gaps in procurement of social enterprises. We also took stock of ways our ecosystem is responding to the different calls to action and spent time discussing collaboration and opportunities to collaborate especially in procurement. We also spent time on how AI can be used to give us some time back to do real meaningful work and some of the precautions and benefits of using it.” – Chantal, Community Hub Calgary (Canada)

These Hubs amplified SEWF25’s reach beyond Taipei, demonstrating the power of collective learning, cross-cultural exchange and locally grounded innovation to drive social impact across continents.

Since SEWF piloted the Community Hub model in 2021, 57 Hubs have been hosted across the globe, gathering hundreds of people to take part in the Forum experience and connect local movements to the global conversation on social enterprise.

View all Community Hubs

Responding to a world in flux

In a context marked by climate crisis, economic uncertainty and social inequities, SEWF25 demonstrated how social enterprises are positioned to respond where traditional systems often fall short. These mission-driven organisations operate at the intersection of purpose and enterprise, creating solutions that are locally grounded yet globally relevant.

“Our movement mirrors life in a continuous flow of change, new enterprises start, ideas evolve, get more sophisticated, innovation and unlocks further potential and impact”
– Hélène Malandain, SEWF (France)

Across sessions and panels, speakers highlighted the urgent need for collective action to tackle challenges ranging from climate adaptation and sustainable livelihoods to inclusive economic growth and equitable access to essential services. Discussions reflected a shared understanding: social enterprises do more than provide products or services – they cultivate resilience, empower communities and reimagine what business can be when profit is aligned with purpose.

“There are no economies without communities (…) We often think of the economy as separate from our communities. And it’s in that thought that we actually…perpetuate this idea of capitalism being the sole driving force of our economy. But what I often say is that you do not have economies without communities.” – Rick Macourt, First Nations Economics (Australia)

Learning from Asia-Pacific

As this year’s co-host region, Taiwan and the broader Asia-Pacific context were central to the conversation. Participants explored examples of social enterprise policy innovation, cross-sector collaboration and ecosystem-building across Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Bhutan, Australia and beyond.

Speakers and participants reflected on how collaboration across sectors remains key to scaling impact. From local initiatives addressing community needs to global networks shaping policy and investment, SEWF25 reinforced that lasting change depends on collective effort. The conversations throughout the Forum highlighted that solutions are most effective when rooted in lived experience, community knowledge and shared values.

“It’s about entering into a conversation with the community and saying ‘how can we co-create solutions together?’” – Vanna Sann, Dorsu (Cambodia)

These insights highlighted a crucial lesson: policy and practice must go hand in hand. Effective social enterprise ecosystems are shaped by policies that listen to those they serve, decentralise decision-making and enable rapid, adaptive responses to emerging crises.

Discover how social enterprises are shaping the future of Asia Pacific (APAC). Impact Hub Taipei’s latest report highlights the innovation, collaboration and resilience driving the region’s social enterprise movement. From inclusive business models to cross-sector partnerships, it showcases how APAC social enterprises are redefining growth and creating solutions rooted in community and sustainability.

Disrupting the status quo

“Set fire to the damn system” – Rick Macourt, First Nation Economics (Australia)

SEWF25 showcased how social enterprises continue to challenge traditional business models and expand the boundaries of what an enterprise can achieve. From climate-positive production practices to innovative social procurement and digital inclusion initiatives, the Forum illustrated the multiplicity of approaches social enterprises take to address systemic issues.

Participants also reflected on the interconnectedness of social and environmental challenges, reinforcing the importance of holistic approaches that do not prioritise short-term economic gain over long-term wellbeing. The discussions underscored a critical question: how can the social enterprise movement scale impact without compromising its values?

Voices of optimism

Despite the turbulence of our times, SEWF25 radiated optimism and possibility. Speakers emphasised the opportunities within disruption: how social enterprises can leverage uncertainty to innovate, foster inclusive economies and accelerate transitions to a regenerative future.

“How we first started … wasn’t very easy. We were rejected twice. The local authority or the municipality we went to didn’t believe in our idea… we didn’t take ‘no’ for an answer and that’s advice to social enterprises. When someone says ‘no’ there’s always someone else that’s going to say ‘yes’”. – Abdul R. Shiil, Sahan Cares (UK)

The Forum also reflected on the global reach of the social enterprise movement. With participants joining from 65 countries, SEWF25 illustrated the power of collaboration, networks and shared purpose in driving systemic change.

From insight to action

A recurring theme throughout SEWF25 was the shift from ideas to action. While the Forum celebrated learning and dialogue, it emphasised tangible next steps: building connected ecosystems, aligning enterprise with public policy and ensuring that social impact is recognised and valued alongside financial performance.

“Together with Social Enterprise World Forum we were actually able to integrate the People and Planet First verification so that our customers can actually go on there today and find people and planet first verified companies.” – Jennifer Beason, SAP (USA)

SEWF25 concluded as a reminder that social enterprise is not a niche sector, it is a global movement capable of reshaping economies, communities and the world. By placing people and planet first, these organisations demonstrate that sustainable, inclusive and transformative change is achievable.

SEWF25 is a testament to what can be achieved when people and organisations come together with a shared mission: to create a world where compassion, sustainability and collective action are not aspirations but guiding principles.

The power of place

Hosted in the former Songshan Tobacco Factory, now part of the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, SEWF25 embodied the spirit of transformation. Much like the shipbuilding hangar of Kromhouthal in Amsterdam that hosted SEWF23, this post-industrial space offered a powerful metaphor for change – from manufacturing to meaning-making, from production to collaboration. Its open halls and marketplace created the perfect setting for exchange, connection and the kind of conversations that spark new ideas and partnerships.

Thank you

SEWF25 would not have been possible without the dedication of our partners, co-hosts, sponsors and social enterprise suppliers. We are grateful for your support and commitment to advancing the global social enterprise movement.

Co-host: Impact Hub Taipei
Partners: 行政院 Executive Yuan Taiwan Government, DBS Foundation, 嘉威聯合會計師事務所 Jia Wei CPAs, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education, National Development Council, Council of Indigenous Peoples, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Hakka Affairs, Council, Department of Information and Tourism, Tzu Chi Foundation, Chunghwa Telecom, TVBS | TVBS GOOD, Cathay Financial Holdings, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, 人物誌 Persona Media, SAP, Taiwan Startup Terrace, Atlassian Foundation, E Ink, Foundation for Women’s Rights Promotion and Development, 公益支持 I-Mei Foods, MeetAngel, SERT, SK,CSES, Taiwan Sugar Corporation, ViewSonic, TNL mediagene | Becoming Aces