[Palu] – The Palu City Government is excited to announce the implementation of a new initiative aimed at fostering social enterprises within the community. This initiative is designed to promote sustainable economic growth, create job opportunities, and address pressing social issues through innovative business solutions. Social enterprises (SE) are organizations that prioritize social, cultural, or environmental objectives alongside financial goals. By leveraging market mechanisms, these enterprises can generate revenue while making a positive impact on the community.
As a city striving to become disability friendly city, the City Government of Palu, in collaboration with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation through local NGOs, the Sikola Mombine Foundation and Kopernik, is providing assistance to disability small and medium enterprises (SMEs). To ensure the sustainability of support for disability SMEs, a collaboration is being established with the Business Incubator (InBis) to develop a manual book, and this program is set to commence in early 2025.
As a result of these efforts, the City Government of Palu had the opportunity to share strategies on the implementation of the SE concept at the 2024 Philippine Social Enterprise Roadmap Conference, themed ‘Harmonizing Social Enterprise and Social and Solidarity Economy Initiatives for ASEAN’s Contribution to the SDGs,’ organized by the Bayan Family Foundation in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, from November 12-15, 2024.
Dr. Dissa Ahdanisa, Program Officer from the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan, was joined by two panellists from Palu City, Wulan from the Sikola Mombine Foundation and The City Government of Palu, represented by Ardin, a Planner at the Regional Planning Development Agency. In the panel session, Ardin explained that the policies related to the SE concept are backed by regional regulations and mayoral decree. This is important to ensure the sustainability of the program. In addition, he also conveyed that the collaboration between various stakeholders in Palu City through projects involving the concept significantly contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The integration SE in Palu City not only addresses immediate economic and social challenges but also aligns with the broader objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals. Their contributions foster a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable community, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for all residents.
