The Scaling of Social Innovations in Africa and Beyond

Scaling social innovations (SI) requires international networks to enhance legitimacy, secure funding, and maximize impacts that are measured beyond financial performance. The dual logic of managing revenues and impact with multiple stakeholders makes this scaling process more complex than profit-generating business models. Our observations of how SIs internationalize are based on two longitudinal cases of SIs in Africa – M-PESA, a Kenya-based firm, and Kiva, a USA-based company operating in Africa – which reveal the role of founder’s international networks in social impact scaling. We present a typology of SI scaling, future research questions for scholarship, and actionable insights to social entrepreneurs.