Community forest enterprises (CFEs) as Social Enterprises: Empirical evidence from Cameroon

Community forest enterprises (CFEs) trade to meet the economic, social, and environmental challenges of their community, just as Social Enterprises (SE) do. The question is if CFEs also could should be understood in terms SEs. To explore this question, study determines extent which can classified SEs, using Cameroon a case study. Based on three-dimensional EMES framework combination with typology SEs Alter, are along continuum purely non-profits, non-profits income-generating activities, Document review, interviews, focus group discussions CFE management, youths, women, indigenous groups 38 communities were used for data collection subsequently analyzed. Of investigated, only 11% defined 63% non-profit organizations activities 26% operate traditional organizations. majority (63%) engage commercial revenue generation but lack skills organizational setup employ full business approaches coupled financial discipline community ownership, core values Operating would permit financially environmentally sustainable thus they easily contribute development. However, moving from “non-profits income generation” requires (i) change mindset, (ii) evaluation building capacity development, (iii) proper research tensions paradoxes actionable solutions, (iv) sectorial coordination support, creation incubation centers.