Developing Social Entrepreneurship The Micro-consignment Model

Developing Social Entrepreneurship offers a new, innovative model that can be implemented in the developing world to help alleviate poverty. In this model, called the Micro-consignment Model (MCM), local entrepreneurs work together with businesses to develop a distribution channel for essential goods and services.

Starting with an explanation of the field of social entrepreneurship as it stands today, Smith and Van Kirk show how this model is a development that builds and improves upon some of the existing models. For example, micro-credit and micro-franchise models still require an initial financial investment (and therefore risk) from the entrepreneur, while the micro-consignment model does not. The book also offers practical insights into applying the model, and making it scalable and replicable.

This book will be an engaging read for students in social entrepreneurship classes, and to practitioners, businesses and NGOs committed to poverty alleviation.

1. Getting Started: What is Social Entrepreneurship  2. What was the Genesis of the Model?  3. What's the Problem?  4. What's the Solution?  5. Why a New Model?  6. What are the Guiding Principles?  7. How Exactly Does it Work?  8. How is Success Measured?  9. How Do you Get Started?  10. How Does it Scale?  11. What are Possible New Innovations for the Model?  12. What are the Common Pitfalls and Keys to Success?

Greg Van Kirk is an Ashoka-Lemelson Fellow and co-founder of the New Development Solutions Group.

Brett R. Smith is Founding Director of the Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Miami University, Ohio, USA.