Members of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) have reportedly drafted a bill on social entrepreneurship and submitted it for consideration to the Majlisi Namoyandagon session. 

The law defines the social entrepreneurship as a socially responsible business activity aimed at supporting socially vulnerable groups of the population, producing or supplying social goods as well as providing social services, carried out in the manner established by this law.  

The law authors -- R. Rajabzoda, R. Shomurod and J. Murtazozoda – say the relevance of the speedy implementation of mechanisms of social entrepreneurship in Tajikistan has become extremely obvious because there has been a significant increase in the burden related to payment of pensions and allowances and compensations to the vulnerable groups of the population on budget.  

According to data from the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan, in 2022, a total number of pensioners in Tajikistan was 763,300 people (23.6–percent increase compared to the basic year of 2015), and the number of people with disabilities was 159,100 (0.88-percent increase compared to 2021).  

The law reportedly regulates the concept, objectives, principles and area of activity of social entrepreneurship. 

Social entrepreneurship applies the principles and guidance used by start-up founders and entrepreneurs to a business that directly generates social change or impacts a social cause. A social entrepreneur is primarily motivated by a desire to alleviate some kind of systemic social or cultural problem.  

Social entrepreneurship is a new, innovative business venture that influences change. A social entrepreneur has a specific cause that they care about, and they develop a business model around making a positive impact.  The main goal is to create lasting social change through business.

Some key areas of interest for social entrepreneurs might include: economic development; education; gender equality; health care; agriculture; environmental sustainability; renewable energy; and community development

Social entrepreneurship can operate as a non-profit, for-profit, or hybrid business (also known as a social enterprise), depending on the business model that you prefer and the availability of funding.