Abstract:
Social entrepreneurship has emerged as a crucial socio-economic phenomenon, offering innovative and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges such as social inequalities and climate change. Distinct from traditional, profit-maximizing entrepreneurship, it prioritizes generating social and environmental value. While well-established in the European Union, contributing significantly to GDP and employment, in the Republic of Moldova, the sector is in an early development stage. This study aims to analyze the role of social entrepreneurship as a pillar for sustainable and inclusive development, diagnose the current situation in Moldova, identify key gaps, and formulate policy recommendations.