"This is a brilliant book on scaling up social innovation and entrepreneurship, with relevance for Africa and far beyond. It presents an excellent analytical framework, wide ranging evidence of specific social enterprises, and practical guidance for social entrepreneurs and their partners. The author uniquely combines thorough literature research and on-the-ground interviews with her own rich experience as a serial social entrepreneur in Nigeria." – Johannes F. Linn, Brookings Institution, USA and Emerging Markets Forum.
"Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli’s has written a highly readable and useful primer for those seeking to scale high-impact entrepreneurial ventures in a highly diverse African context. As reflected in its title, this is a practical guide that begins by delineating the challenges facing entrepreneurial companies and non-profits that are unique to this continent, one where each country differs in its historical, political, social and economic background. While acknowledging these differences, Nwuneli is able to dive deep into the critical steps any social venture needs to take – whether in Africa or elsewhere – to safeguard the venture’s legitimacy, reputation, financial sustainability and impact on the lives of its clients. The author highlights these steps with specific examples of high-impact ventures that continue to learn as they scale. Social Innovation in Africa: A practical guide for scaling impact is an important contribution to a growing trend among entrepreneurs that seek to combine business and social goals to transform systems and practices with negative consequences for individuals, communities and countries." – Pamela Hartigan, Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, UK.
"While Ndidi hasn’t succeeded in getting herself out of a job, this first effort to reflect on scaling up social innovation in the Continent provides the nuts and bolts of doing so. Funders, governments, social innovators and civil society have much to learn from this book." – Kole Shettima, MacArthur Foundation, Nigeria.
"Rather than dwell on the barriers only, or tell a story of a few hard-to-replicate successes, this book concentrates on what could practically and immediately support scaling our local social innovations – by understanding the ecosystem and resources available on and to the continent. If you’re advancing social innovation in your communities, your organization, your sectors or your country, this book presents a comprehensive review of the frameworks of thinking, the key pieces of the puzzle, and, through a rich journey of interviews, unpacks insights into some fascinating cases on the continent. Ndidi’s path continues to be one of action, and through that, an inspiration to others in Africa – and now her gift to us all is a guide to make our own paths wider, to make them go further, intersecting with others as we join her call." – François Bonnici, Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
"Social innovation is a term that conjures up mystery. Drawing from her vast experiences as a serial entrepreneur, Ndidi Nwuneli has written an excellent handbook both for the perplexed and the curious. Social Innovation in Africa is as practical as it is inspirational." – Calestous Juma, Harvard Kennedy School, USA and author of Innovation and Its Enemies: Why People Resist New Technologies.
