COVID-19 Action Agenda Leaders on the Front Line: Why Social Entrepreneurs Are Needed Now More than Ever

The report argues that social entrepreneurs are essential for reaching marginalized populations and driving a sustainable 'reset' of global economic systems after COVID-19. It identifies significant capital gaps and operational hurdles facing these enterprises and proposes a coordinated response across five actor groups: supporting intermediaries, impact investors, corporations, funders/philanthropists, and government institutions. The document provides specific recommended actions for each group to ensure the survival and scaling of social enterprises, which are viewed as vital for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted marginalized communities, with the World Bank projecting that as many as 100 million additional people could be forced into extreme poverty, living below $1.90 per day.
• Social entrepreneurs serve as a critical social safety net by providing essential products and services to the fringes of society and acting as first responders during the pandemic.
• Small and growing businesses (SGBs) face a severe viability crisis; by June 2020, data from ANDE indicated that 12% of SGBs had already failed and 37% were at high risk of failure.
• There is a massive financing gap for the sector; before the pandemic, the global financing needs of SGBs were estimated at $930 billion per year, while the annual SDG financing gap was $2.5 trillion.
• Impact investors are struggling to increase activity due to capital constraints and operational hurdles, with only 16% indicating they are likely to increase investment activity in response to the pandemic.
• Non-financial support is as critical as capital, with needs varying by entrepreneur 'archetype' (Pivot(er), Survivor, Thriver, Struggler), ranging from mental health support and legal aid to strategic pivoting and digital transformation.
• The report proposes five core response principles: elevating the voices of social entrepreneurs, preparing for a 'respond, recover and reset' cycle, cross-sector collaboration, looking beyond healthcare, and supporting existing 'shovel-ready' grassroots solutions.
• Government institutions are urged to recognize social entrepreneurs as key allies for job security and 'last-mile access,' yet many currently fail to reach them with relief packages, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and India.

APA

World Economic Forum (2020). COVID-19 Action Agenda Leaders on the Front Line: Why Social Entrepreneurs Are Needed Now More than Ever. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/COVID19_SocEnt_Alliance_Report_2020.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. COVID-19 Action Agenda Leaders on the Front Line: Why Social Entrepreneurs Are Needed Now More than Ever. 2020. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/COVID19_SocEnt_Alliance_Report_2020.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=COVID-19 Action Agenda Leaders on the Front Line: Why Social Entrepreneurs Are Needed Now More than Ever |date=September 2020 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/COVID19_SocEnt_Alliance_Report_2020.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2020covid19, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{COVID-19 Action Agenda Leaders on the Front Line: Why Social Entrepreneurs Are Needed Now More than Ever}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/COVID19_SocEnt_Alliance_Report_2020.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }