Roadmaps for promoting social entrepreneurs on social networks and marketplaces have been developed in Belarus

Modern e-commerce tools such as social networks and marketplaces allow entrepreneurs to conduct business with clients online. However, entrepreneurs in rural areas face additional challenges in running an online business as most financial resources, educational institutions and business infrastructure are still concentrated in large cities.

In 2023, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Belarus launched a pilot program to bridge the digital divide for rural businesses in the Bragin and Khoiniki regions. The initiative is the use of social networks and marketplaces by social entrepreneurs to promote their social impact among consumers. The initiative’s experts helped entrepreneurs create personal accounts, understand the organization of delivery, monitoring and analytics, and also gave practical advice on promotion on marketplaces.

Experience from working with social entrepreneurs in the Bragin and Khoiniki districts formed the basis for three road maps:

Promoting business through e-commerce tools will help social entrepreneurs, both from regions and from large cities, to more effectively position the social component of their business and attract new customers, which will contribute to the achievement by the Republic of Belarus of Sustainable Development Goals 8, 10, 11 and other SDGs.

More information about the pilot program for promoting social entrepreneurs on social networks and marketplaces can be found at the link.