Sasakawa Peace Foundation

日本語
  • About SPF
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • History
      • Program Policy and Five Priority Goals
      • Board Members
      • Diversity and Inclusion
      • Financial Position
      • Honorary Chair's Message Archive
      • Activities Before 2017
    • President's Message
    • Brochure and Annual Report
    • Access
    • Idea Submission
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Experts
  • Programs
    • Japan-U.S. and Security Studies Unit
    • General Affairs and Networking Program
    • National Security and Japan-U.S. Program
    • Strategy and Deterrence Program
    • Asia and Middle East Unit
    • Strategic Dialogue and Exchange Program
    • Peacebuilding Program
    • Social Innovation Program
    • Sasakawa Japan-China Friendship Program
    • Ocean Policy Research Institute
    • Division of Ocean Vision and Action
    • Division of Island Nations
    • Scholarship Unit
    • Sasakawa Scholarship Program
  • Research & Analysis
    • Reports and Publications
    • Essays and Commentary
    • SPF Now Interviews
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Browse by Regions
    • Regions
    • Americas
    • Northeast Asia
    • Southeast Asia
    • South Asia
    • Middle East
    • Oceania
    • Europe and Eurasia
    • Arctic
    • Africa
    • Satellite Sites
    • International Information Network Analysis
    • SPF China Observer
    • Asia Women Impact Fund
    • The OPRI Center of Island Studies
    • The Friends of WMU, Japan
    • SPF Insights into Japan–U.S. Relations
    • From the Oceans
    • Asia Peacebuilding Initiatives (APBI)
    • History of the Sasakawa Japan-China Friendship Program
      (Japanese language)
    • Japan-China Relations Data Graph (Japanese language)
  • News
    • News
    • Press Releases
    • SPF Newsletter
    • Media Coverage
  • Events
  • Social Innovation Program Home
  • Our Work
    • Promoting Social Impact Creation
      • News
      • Reports and Publications
    • Realizing Inclusive Societies
      • News
      • Reports and Publications
    • Bridging Societal Gaps  
      • News
      • Reports and Publications
    • Climate Change and Migration
      • News
      • Reports and Publications
    • Women’s Economic Empowerment
      • News
      • Reports and Publications
    • Past Programs List
  • News
  • Reports and Publications
  • Events
Social Innovation Program Home
Asia and Middle East Unit

Social Innovation Program

Bridging Societal Gaps

For many in Asia, entrepreneurship is an effective means of earning a living and an opportunity to balance family and work and achieve decent work. By starting their own businesses, citizens gain the ability to take a new perspective at social issues and actively contribute to society as innovative participants. This is especially the case for women – women's economic and social empowerment is known to have a ripple effect not only on women, but also on their families, children, and the communities in which they live. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to take the initiative to start their own businesses and increase their economic power.

However, there are often many hurdles for aspiring entrepreneurs. Location and social background are factors which can limit access to opportunities to develop and grow. Further, in regions and countries that traditionally require gender-normative roles and behaviors, women are not always tolerated for being entrepreneurs – despite, in many cases, being the majority of individuals pursuing their own business – and “unconscious bias” prevents them from fulfilling their potential. As a result, many entrepreneurs lack necessary support and access to appropriate resources, including funding and mentorship.
 

We aim to bridge this societal gap by building inclusive ecosystems which make investment and support readily available to entrepreneurs regardless of gender, location, background, or size of business. By uplifting aspiring entrepreneurs, we expect to produce serious dividends in terms of economic growth as well as social cohesion and stability.

News

Solving Social Issues Through Entrepreneurship Vol.7 – Bringing World-Class Education to Children in the province

Solving Social Issues Through Entrepreneurship Vol.7 – Bringing World-Class Education to Children in the province

The Cnai Accelerator Program, a project developed by SPF and its partners to support entrepreneurs with a gender perspective. We spoke with the finalist entrepreneurs of the second phase about their entrepreneurial stories, challenges, and how they contribute aim to solve social issues through their businesses.In this seventh installment, we spoke with Mr. Vannak Soth, co-founder of API (Australia Pacific International School), an international school offering 13 years of education (K–12) from kindergarten through high school.

February 7, 2025
Solving Social Issues through Entrepreneurship Vol.6: Addressing Agricultural Challenges in Cambodia and Empowering Female Smallholder Farmers

Solving Social Issues through Entrepreneurship Vol.6: Addressing Agricultural Challenges in Cambodia and Empowering Female Smallholder Farmers

The Cnai Accelerator Program, a project developed by SPF and its partners to support entrepreneurs with a gender perspective. We spoke with the finalist entrepreneurs of the second phase about their entrepreneurial stories, challenges, and how they contribute aim to solve social issues through their businesses.In this sixth installment, we interviewed Soukhim Im, the young female CEO of CamAgro-Food, which was established in 2023. The company purchases and processes raw materials such as lemongrass, ginger, turmeric, moringa, and chili from smallholder farmers scattered around Siem Reap, a well-known hub for tourism.

February 7, 2025
Solving Social Issues through Entrepreneurship Vol.5 - Building a Fraud-Free Society through Blockchain Technology

Solving Social Issues through Entrepreneurship Vol.5 - Building a Fraud-Free Society through Blockchain Technology

The Cnai Accelerator Program, a project developed by SPF and its partners to support entrepreneurs with a gender perspective. We spoke with the finalist entrepreneurs of the second phase about their entrepreneurial stories, challenges, and how they contribute aim to solve social issues through their businesses. In this fifth installment, we interviewed Jason Chhinlim, finalist of the second phase and founder of Xertificate, a company utilizing blockchain technology. Xertificate, exemplifying the rapidly expanding “Web3” space, aims to prevent fraudulent activities such as the misrepresentation of qualifications and employment history

February 6, 2025
Challenge of Women Entrepreneurs: Solving Social Issues through Entrepreneurship Vol. 4 – E-commerce Business Opportunities in Cambodia

Challenge of Women Entrepreneurs: Solving Social Issues through Entrepreneurship Vol. 4 – E-commerce Business Opportunities in Cambodia

The Cnai Accelerator Program, a project developed by SPF and its partners to support entrepreneurs with a gender perspective. We interviewed female entrepreneurs, selected as finalists in the program about their businesses that solve social issues. The fourth installment reports on Tenbox, which contributes to improvement of distribution and growth of women retailers through e-commerce in Cambodia.

April 11, 2024
Explore Our News

Reports and Publications

Stakeholder Research for Successful Investment in South East Asia

Stakeholder Research for Successful Investment in South East Asia

The Sasakawa Peace Foundation surveyed Japanese stakeholders investing in Southeast Asia to find out what kind of support and intervention Southeast Asian women entrepreneurs need in order to secure funding from Japanese investors.

By AVPN Sasakawa Peace Foundation

March 23, 2023
Explore Our Reports and Publications

pagetop

Video Title

Footer

Sasakawa Peace Foundation

  • About SPF
  • News
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Programs
  • Access
  • Research & Analysis
  • Contact Us

Latest Updates

Receive regular updates about news, events, and research from the Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

Satellite Sites

  • From the Oceans
  • The Friends of WMU Japan
  • Asia Women Impact Fund
  • Insights into Japan–U.S. Relations
  • International Information Network Analysis (IINA)
  • The OPRI Center of Island Studies
  • SPF China Observer
  • Asia Peacebuilding Initiatives (APBI)
  • History of the Sasakawa Japan-China Friendship Program (Japanese language)
  • Japan-China Relations Data Graph (Japanese language)
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SITE POLICY
  • SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
  • SITE MAP
  • WEB ACCESSIBILITY POLICY

Copyright © 2021 The Sasakawa Peace Foundation. All Rights Reserved.