In an era marked by dynamic challenges and evolving community needs, the sector of social entrepreneurship and social enterprise emerges as a promising avenue for driving sustainable change, finding a great balance between financial sustainability and a social mission. 

Since its creation in 1863, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement is known for being on the frontline of humanitarian crises. Yet, for decades, National Societies (NS) have also been exploring social entrepreneurship to amplify their capacity to empower communities and bolster resilience, building bridges with external actors like governments, businesses, or social entrepreneurs. Indeed, National Societies are uniquely positioned to catalyse local development and fortify community resilience. By nurturing a culture of social entrepreneurship, NS can harness local talents, resources, and aspirations to effect positive change from within. These income-generating initiatives mitigate National Societies’ reliance on external funding and partners and foster social impact and empowerment at the grassroots level, positioning beneficiaries and volunteers as architects of their own resilience. By embracing social entrepreneurship as a catalyst for community empowerment, sustainable organisational development, and financial resilience, National Societies can chart a course towards more inclusive, self-reliant, and resilient communities.

Therefore, we wanted to highlight some Income Generating Activities within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement that aren’t related to the health sector

Interested in learning more about non-health-related impactful Red Cross Red Crescent businesses from around the world? On September 10th, at 2pm CET, the French Red Cross, the Austrian Red Cross, and the IFRC are organising a 45 minutes webinar on Income Generating Activities within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. You will hear about the Yunus Social Business organisation, the second-hand shops of the Danish Red Cross and the Tailor Workshop for Red Cross Uniforms of the Hungarian Red Cross.