Connecting isolated enterprises to unlock development: the Rural Social Enterprise Gathering 2025

Poor quality infrastructure, ageing and depopulating communities, and limited access to finance — these are just some of the distinct challenges faced by social entrepreneurs based in rural areas across the world. 

But one challenge they face — reduced connectivity to support networks — will be combated next month, when hundreds of social entrepreneurs and changemakers meet in the Malaysian state of Sabah, in northern Borneo, for the first Rural Social Enterprise Gathering to be held in Asia.

From 31 October to 4 November delegates from across the world will visit social enterprises in Sabah’s tropical rainforest, share experiences and explore innovative solutions for rural development. 

Famous for orangutans, the iconic Mount Kinabalu and world class scuba diving, around half of Sabah’s population lives in rural areas. Export of natural resources (oil, gas, timber and palm oil), agriculture and ecotourism are the state’s largest industries.

The Rural Social Enterprise Gathering is being co-hosted by Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (SCENIC) and the Social Enterprise World Forum, the organisation that runs the annual Social Enterprise World Forum event, through its Rural Social Enterprise Network initiative.

SCENIC was established in 2019 by the state of Sabah’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to promote sustainable business activity in the state via three focus areas: technology, innovation and the creative industries.

Larainn Jaminih (pictured), acting CEO of SCENIC, believes the event will empower the social enterprise community in Sabah while showcasing the state’s businesses’ unique solutions to social and environmental challenges.

She said: “We hope we can create long-term collaborations and foster knowledge exchange so that we can inspire more inclusive and sustainable economic growth across rural communities.”

Unlocking the power of rural social enterprise

The Rural Social Enterprise Gathering in Malaysia will be the third event of its kind. In 2018 a Social Enterprise Rural Symposium took place in the Isles of Lewis and Harris, Scotland, co-hosted by Scottish Government Agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise. In 2022 the inaugural Rural Social Enterprise Gathering was held in North East Victoria, Australia, co-hosted by the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE).

Gerry Higgins, founder and managing director of Social Enterprise World Forum, said the Rural Social Enterprise Gathering was an exciting opportunity for rural social enterprises from every continent to enhance their understanding of the approaches and solutions delivered by rural communities in Sabah and around the world.

Rural communities often have more in common with their counterparts in other countries than with their urban neighbours

He said: “Rural communities often have more in common with their counterparts in other countries than with their urban neighbours, so Social Enterprise World Forum is proud to support the innovation and commitment of SCENIC to create this opportunity for exchange of best practice and learning.”

Higgins is confident that international participants will be inspired and informed by the rural social enterprise creativity and excellence in Sabah, and by its supportive policy and capacity building systems.

In hosting this year’s Rural Social Enterprise Gathering, SCENIC is building on the success of a Social Enterprise World Forum Community Hub event it hosted in Sabah in 2023. Community Hubs are local events held at the same time as the global Social Enterprise World Forum, featuring content from the main forum, (either livestreamed or on demand), alongside their own programme of activities.

Around 200 delegates from across Malaysia attended the 2023 Community Hub. This year, SCENIC expects 300 delegates — from countries ranging from Australia to Canada — to attend the Rural Social Enterprise Gathering. Around 100 delegates will join the event directly after taking part in the Social Enterprise World Forum, which takes place during the previous week in Taiwan. 

• Read more: From Scotland to Taiwan, and back again? How SEWF 2025 can be an ‘engine for change’ in delegates’ home countries

The Rural Social Enterprise Gathering will also expand on Unlocking the Power of Rural Social Enterprise, a manifesto launched in October 2024 by SEWF and ACRE, which outlines what social enterprises need to support the development of sustainable and enterprising rural communities around the world.

The manifesto calls on policymakers to adopt appropriate models of social financing and democratise access to technology. It was developed in collaboration with more than 100 rural organisations across six continents and led to the formation of SEWF’s Rural Social Enterprise Network.

• Read more: Manifesto outlines 11 ways to unlock the power of rural social enterprise at SEWF Policy Forum 2024

A space to share ‘like a family’

The state of Sabah recorded the highest rate of poverty in the country in 2024, according to the Malaysian government. This is a challenge faced by many other similar communities, with UN statistics showing 80% of people in poverty globally live in rural areas. 

Jaminih explained that most social enterprises in Sabah are based on business activities rooted in rural settings, including agriculture, Indigenous crafts and tourism. 

One such social enterprise is Rustic Borneo Craft. Founded by Melissa Alut Lim (pictured), who is also one of the speakers at the Rural Social Enterprise Gathering, Rustic Borneo Craft sources, produces and sells eco-friendly, locally made products, including handwoven bags, soaps and lemongrass insect repellent. 

Rustic Borneo Craft focuses on investing in and supporting Indigenous women and people with disabilities. It also offers consultation services to support Indigenous or local community entrepreneurs or start-ups with product development, research and development. 

If you put us in a corporate social enterprise forum or summit, we may have a little bit of culture shock

Alut Lim explained her experience working as a tour guide in Sabah, where she was born, led to her founding a business with the aim of empowering Indigenous communities. 

She said: “I saw many challenges and much inequality, especially for women. There is much poverty in rural communities and scarcity in the quality of education.”

Alut Lim believes the event will give delegates the opportunity to see how Sabah’s Indigenous communities are using business to address social challenges, but she’s also looking forward to learning from the successes of rural social enterprises elsewhere in the world.

“I want to know how it happens in your community, despite scarcity, lack of education, such basic infrastructure in the rural settings. How did you make it?” she asked.

The event is necessary, explains Alut Lim, because broader social enterprise network events aren’t geared towards the distinct needs of rural-based social entrepreneurs. She said: “We are grassroots people. If you put us in a corporate social enterprise forum or summit, we may have a little bit of culture shock. With this specific space we can share like a family.” 

Top image: Rustic Borneo Craft supports Indigenous and local groups by producing and selling eco-friendly products (courtesy of Rustic Borneo Craft).

Pioneers Post is a media partner to the Rural Social Enterprise Gathering 2025 and the Social Enterprise World Forum 2025. David Lyons will be reporting from both events – stay tuned for more. Tickets for the Rural Social Enterprise Gathering Forum on 3 November are available through the event website. Tickets for the Learning Visits on 1 and 2 November are sold out, and the Rural Social Enterprise Network discussions on 4 November are by invitation only.