CanSocialInnovation&

SocialEnterprise
StartupsBeTheAnswer
ForABetter
Afghanistan?
photoby:DarrellChaddock

ThisisoneofthemostinspiringinterviewsIhaveeverdone.My
entirereasonforstartingCauseartistwastodiscovernewwaysthat
socialenterprise,technology,andsocialinnovationcould
collaboratetogetherandcreatesystematicchangeintheworld.For
muchofmylifeandmanyothersofusinthewesternpartofthe
world,Afghanistanhasalwaysbeenaplaceofextremepoverty,
terrorism,andthemeccaofheroinproduction.Ofcourse,likeany
placeonEarth,Irealizethatsnottheendallbeallofwhatthe
countryhastooffer.However,likemanyofusIdonthavetimeto
takeadeepplungeintoAfghanistansdaytodayeconomic
progress,politicaldiscourse,oraspiringterrorgroups,soIamleft
withrandomstories,oneoffdocumentaries,andpresidential
debaterhetorictoeducatemeonthecountriespresentandfuture.

Theonethingyoudonthearmuchaboutwhentalkingabout
Afghanistanissocialinnovationandsocialenterprise.Whatbetter
placeintheworldtobuildahubofinnovationandstartupsthenin
theveryplaceincangarnerthemostgrowth.Now,inthewestern
worldgrowthinstartupsmeansusers,unicorns,potentialmarket
capture,andreachingthathockeystickmomentwhenyour
companybecomesunstoppable.Allamazingthingstostrivefor
andiswhathasmadeAmericaninnovationandentrepreneurship
topnotch.Butwhataboutadifferentkindofgrowth?Thegrowth
thatbringsyoungpeopleoutofpoverty,intothemodernbusiness
world,intothedigitalworld,intotheincubatorworldofinnovation
andeducation.

Weinthewesternworldtendtotryandbringdemocracyvia
politicalchange,buttherealchangeinacountriesfuturecomes
frominnovationineconomics,business,andeducation.Thatis
whencitizensareintroducedtotheworldofopportunityanda
futureneverknownbefore.Politicsandwararetheleastmost
innovativewaystodemocracytheworldhaseverseen.Itsbuilton
destructionandredtapethatdestroysinnovationandcrushes
entrepreneurship.


IamthrilledandinspiredbymyopportunitytospeakwithAzadeh
Tajdar,Cofounder/Director,ofShetabCenterforBusiness&
SocialInnovationinKabul,Afghanistan.Shedeliversgreatinsight
onthethirstforsocialinnovationinthecountryledbytheyoung
generationthatwantstotransformAfghanistanintothesocial
entrepreneurialhuboftheentireregion.TheSHETAB(meaning
accelerateinPersian/Dari)Labisacenterforbusinessandsocial
innovationinAfghanistan.Theirmissionistofacilitatetheprocess
ofcreatingsuccessfulandimpactdrivensocialventuresacross
AfghanistanandenablethenextgenerationofAfghan
entrepreneursandcivicleaders.Theyprovidesocialinnovation
LabsinpartnershipwithUnreasonableInstitute,aswellas
mentoringandbusinesscoaching.

Mostoftheviewfromwesternculturalabout
Afghanistanisveryskewed.Howwouldyou
describeAfghanistaninyoureyes?Whatshould
peoplefromtheWestknowaboutAfghanistan
thatpeoplecanbeoptimisticabout?

Afghanistanistransformingsocially,politicallyandeconomically
atunprecedentedlevels.Thecountryhasanuntappedandgrowing
educatedyouth.Thedemandforhighereducationisstrong,and
exceedsthesupplyavailableinacountrywithoneofthehighest
unemploymentratesintheregion.Nowherearetheopportunities
tocreatesystemicshiftsovertimethroughentrepreneurshipand
socialinnovationmoreprominentthanamongAfghanyouth(18
35yearold),whohaveunprecedentedlevelsofaccessto
broadband/fiberopticinternet,mobiletechnologyandsocial
media.

Todayscellularnetworkreach75%ofAfghansand3/4Gis
rapidlyexpandingacrossthecountry.Aggregatingfromvarious
privatesectorandhighereducationreports,Afghanistanalsohasa
nascentstartupscenewithanestimated2025,000startupsacross
thecountry.Manyofwhichareexploringtheuseoftechnologyfor
socialgoodtoimprovehealth,education,accesstoenergyand
providingotherserviceswithsocial,economicorenvironmental
impact.

Thepotentialforscalinginnovative
solutionsinAfghanistanareimmense.

ContrarytowhatmanymayperceiveaboutAfghanistan,young
entrepreneursareoutwardlookingwithathirsttoconnectand
accessregionalandinternationalnetworksforknowledgesharing,
resourcesandpartnerships.

TheentrepreneursthatShetabhasworkedwithandarepartofour
networkallhaveonethingincommon:theycaredeeplyabouta
betterAfghanistan;andtheyareequallycommittedtosocial
impactandshapingpositivenarrativesaboutAfghanistanbasedon
collaborationbetweenrelevantpartiesinsideandoutsideofthe
country.Wearepioneeringarealshiftinthemindset,whichis
fundamentaltowhatrelevantparties,includingalsodonors,cando
inshapingthecountrysfuture.Itsthemostexcitingtimein
Afghanistan.

Howdidyoudiscoversocialenterpriseinyour
ownlife?

Mycolleagueandmyselfhavebeenactiveinthefieldofsocial
innovationandsocialentrepreneurshipforyearsandwebelieve
inconnectingregionalecosystemsforsocialimpact.Internallywe
sometimestalkaboutrevampingSilkRoute2.0.Webothhave
extensivedevelopment,philanthropicandprivatesector
backgrounds.

Wealsostronglybelievethattraditionaldevelopmentmodelsbe
thattraditionaldonormodels,publicsectormodelsoreventhe
traditionaldivisionsbetweenforandnonprofitsectorsare
goingthroughtransformation,mostlyforthebetter.Perhapsthe
spiritofourgenerationisbestsummedupbytransformation;
andwebelievethistransformationisalsotakingplacein
Afghanistanandwiderregions,wherethefutureofbusiness
particularlyisonegrowingwiththevaluesofsocial
entrepreneurship.

Weliveinatimeofextraordinarychallengeswhichcannotbe
solvedthroughtraditional(mainlyinwardlooking)solutions,
hierarchiesandmarkets;theoldparadigmssimplydontwork
anymore.Technologyanddataparticularlyarerevealingthe
complexitiesofoursocial,economicandenvironmental
challenges.Therealquestioniswhetherourgenerationwillhave
thecourageandstrengthtotapintothecapabilitiesandresources
atitsdisposaltotransformexistingmodelsandbuildnewonesto
shapeandevolvehumanityforward.

PhotofromasocialinnovationeventthatAzadehhostedinTehranlastAprilata
privateaccelerator(Avatech)

Whataresomeofthewaysyoubelievethat
socialenterpriseandsocialinnovationcanhelp
Afghanistan?

Theworkofentrepreneursandsocialinnovatorsstrengthens
establishedandemergingdemocracies.SocialEntrepreneurship
isessentiallyaprocessbywhichanindividualorgroupof
individualsproactivelybuildortransformpoliticalandeconomic
institutionstoadvanceinnovativesolutionstosocial,economicor
environmentalproblems.Socialentrepreneursandsocial
innovatorsbuildandcontinuallyadaptinstitutionsdesignedto
meetsocietyspressingneedsusingentrepreneurialandinnovative
thinking.

IntheAfghanistancontextsupportingyoungsocialentrepreneurs
andsocialinnovatorswhohavenewhighimpactandgrowthideas,
caninstillconfidenceandhopeamongyouththattheycanaccessa
supportiveplatformthatleadstonewenterprisesandcivic
organizations,aswellascreatingjobs.Withthissupporttheycan
realizetheirabilitytoshapesocialandeconomicchange,which
reinforcestheirpowerascitizenstostayandrebuildtheircountry.

Democraciesflourishwhenlargenumbers
ofcitizensacquirethecapacitytoshape
civicandeconomiclife.Social
entrepreneurshipisaprocessthatenables
citizenstodothat.

Oneofthebestwaystodothisistoensurethesocialand
economicparticipationofvulnerablegroups,includingyoungmen
andwomenwithnewdisruptingideastobecomemeaningful
contributorstosociety.Inaddition,oneofthemostexciting
aspectsofourworkinAfghanistanishowweareconnectinglocal
entrepreneurstoregionalandinternationalnetworksforresources,
knowledgeandpartnerships.Thesenetworksarefundamentalto
connectingAfghanentrepreneurstoinnovativethinkingand
solutions,andarealsointrinsicallylinkedtoreshapingAfghan
societythepowerofnetworkstrulyistransformative.

Tellusaboutthesocialinnovationlabthatyou
arestartinginKabul,Afghanistan.Whatare
sometheapproachesandtechniquesthatwillbe
taughtinthesocialimpactlab?

Thereisactuallyaveryimportantcontexttowhywebelievethese
Labsareafundamentalbuildingblocktosupportingstartup
entrepreneursandbuildingamorethrivingstartupcommunityand
ecosysteminAfghanistan.Afghanistanhasanuntappedpoolof
youngcitizensthisisbestreflectedinenrollmentnumbersin
highereducation,whichhasexperiencedexplosivegrowth.

AfghanUniversityinstructionatthemomenthoweverisheavily
teachercentered,andthereisrelativelylittleuseofstudent
centeredparticipatorylearning,ortheuseoftechnologyand
practicalwork.Manyyoungentrepreneursknowentrepreneurship
fromthebookwithoutactualpractice.Manyalsoworkinsilo
andhavelittleroomtoconnect,prototype,learn,fail,cross
pollinatewithotherinitiativesandgrow.

OurLabfocusesontheseunderlyingchallengesandfocuseson
creatinganinclusiveandopenhandsonandexperientiallearning
opportunityfortheseyoungentrepreneurs.TheLabswillhelp
youngAfghanentrepreneursandsocialinnovatorswiththeir
startupideasandconceptsandshapethemintoviablesocial
ventures(forprofitandnonprofits).

TheLabisahandson5dayacceleratorforyoungentrepreneurs
andsocialinnovatorsseekingtoaddressaspecificchallengein
theirventure.Duringthe5days,highpotentialentrepreneurswill
cometogetherwithworldclassmentors.InthefirstLabstartups
(710)willgetguidanceintestingthecoreassumptionsoftheir
socialventures.Theyllgetadvicefrom710localmentors,talkto
customers,buildprototypes,andbuildoutastrategicplan.

PitchatanUnreasonableInstituteAccelerator

PartneringwithUnreasonableLabisabigstep
inmakingShetabAfghanistanareality.Howdid
thatpartnershipcomeaboutandhowhavethey
helpedyouinyourjournaltostartthis
innovativelabinAfghanistan.

WeheardaboutUnreasonableLabsfromoneofourboard
memberswhosentusthelink.Onceweresearchedit,the
synergieswereimmediate.AtShetabAfghanistanwefacilitatethe
processofcreatingsuccessfulinnovativeandimpactdrivensocial
venturesacrossAfghanistan,andsupportyoungentrepreneursand
socialinnovatorstofullyunlockthepotentialoftheirstartup/idea
stagesocialventureswithpotentialforimpactandgrowth.

UnreasonableInstituteisbranchingouttheirsocialinnovationlabs
acrossothercountries,andAfghanistanisaveryunique
opportunity.Theunderlyingchallengesthatstartupsfacein
Afghanistanhoweveraresimilartowhatentrepreneursinother
emerging/frontiermarkettypesettingsface.Entrepreneursneedto
refuteandvalidatetheirideas,needmentors,needtoolsand
knowledgetogettheirideassolidlyofftheground;needto
prototype,failandrebuildagain;needcofounders,developingan
operationalstrategy,aswellasaccesstocapital.

ThecurriculumandnetworkofsupportfromUnreasonable
InstituteandinparticulartheteamatBeUnreasonablehasbeen
fantastic.Theyhavebeeninstrumentalinalsoguidingusthrough
thedifferentimplementationstages,andconnectinguswithMercy
CorpAfghanistanwhichisactiveinentrepreneurshipandsocial
innovationandtheyhaveagreedtomakeafinancialcontribution
toourLab.Wearesuperexcitedabouttheirsponsoring!

YourhopeistohavethelablaunchedinJulyof
2016.Whataresomeoftheinitialgoalsofthe
lab?Howmanystudentsormembersdoyou
hopetohelpinthefirstyear?

IntheimmediateshorttermwewanttolaunchtwoLabsin2016,
support15startupsandtrainourlocalpoolofmentors(20
individuals).BasedontheresultsandevaluationofthesetwoLabs,
wewanttoscaletheLabsandlocalmentorpooltoothercitiesin
Afghanistan,includingHerat,MazarISharifandJalalabadwith
ourlocal,regionalandinternationalpartners.

TheseacceleratorLabsareourentrypointandprocessthrough
whichweengageentrepreneursandsocialinnovatorstosetupnew
andinclusiveenterprisesorcivilsocietyorganizations,andstart
buildingamorevibrantandthrivingstartupcommunityand
networksinAfghanistan.Mostimportantly,wewanttoincrease
theconfidencelevelsaboutthefoundationalassumptions
underpinningtheirventure,andfosteraninclusive,transparentand
openlearningenvironmentforstartupsinAfghanistan.Thereisa
reasonwhyourvisionistoenablethenextgenerationofmindful
Afghanleadersandentrepreneurs!

WhathasbeenthereactioninKabulaboutthis
socialimpactlabbeingintheircity?Haveyou
seenanexcitementamongyoungentrepreneurs
andsocialentrepreneurs?

Absolutelyandthesupportthatwereceiveistestimonytothe
demandforourLabs!Thisisalsoreflectedinourgrowingsocial
mediapresenceandfollowing.Almosteverydaywereceive
inquiriesaboutwhatthisprogramisabout,whoitwilltarget,and
whenitwilllaunch.Weareatthemomentdoingmoreoutreach,
awarenessraisingandmobilizationinEnglish,DariandPashtu
whichisnecessary.

Fundamentaltobuildingathrivingstartupsceneisbuildingan
engagedcommunity;wearemobilizingandconnectingtolike
mindedpipelinepartnerswhoareequallyexcitedinour
collaborativeapproachandthelaunchoftheLabs.Nottoforget,in
acontextsuchasthatofAfghanistanwherecaution,suspicionand
competitionarethenorm,Shetabispioneeringanewmindset
whichisbasedonopenness,transparencyandcollaboration.

Itwilltaketimeforpeopletoshifttheirmindsets,andwearevery
tenacious!Perhapsequallyexcitingishowwearetryingtoconnect
toAfghandiasporaandidentifyingwaystobetterengagethemand
connectthemtosocialenterprisesinAfghanistan.

Ifyouwouldliketosponsorordonatetoourevent,orcontribute
asamentor,beaspeaker,amoderator,orliketohelpinanyother
way,pleasegetintouchwithazadeh@shetabafghanistanandlets
talk!