Definition and models of social enterprise in Peru

This chapter provides a definition which based on a historical review of the roots of Peruvian Social Enterprises (SE). Some opinion leaders believe that, to deal with such a complex issue, deeper involvement is required from both the state and other social agents, specifically private enterprises and civil society. The chapter presents four SE models; they capture the variety and complexity of the social-enterprise field in terms of activities and of legal forms adopted by social entrepreneurs in the absence of a specific legal framework. These models are: the non-profit SE; the social cooperative; the social business; and the non-profit/social-business partnership. The organisational types that were promoted were mainly agricultural cooperatives of production, agricultural societies of social interest, industrial communities and socially owned enterprises. Non-profit organisations focused on strengthening community-based organisations’ capacities for popular education, social awareness and reporting the political situation.