IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, IKEA Mexico and New Ventures announced an alliance to support 20 social and environmental entrepreneurs in Mexico. This alliance will last 2 years, and will benefit projects of high social impact for vulnerable communities in the country, as a way of bringing people closer to sources of formal employment.
The selection process for these social projects will begin in the coming weeks.
We know that Mexico faces very great challenges, so IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, IKEA Mexico and New Ventures have teamed up to support vulnerable communities in the country, through a platform in which we will support 20 social and environmental entrepreneurs. We want to do our bit by accelerating and promoting initiatives with social impact.
Despite constant economic growth, Mexico remains one of the most unequal countries in the world. 57% of the employed population works in the informal sector and there is scarce access to financial services, higher education, and quality job and income opportunities. This has led to both high levels of poverty and inequality. In Mexico, over 40% of the population lives under the poverty line.
The two-year partnership will support a total of 20 social entrepreneurs that create livelihood opportunities and access to affordable goods and services for Mexico’s underserved communities and that solve some of Mexico City’s most pressing environmental challenges. Through an accelerator programme, entrepreneurs will receive personalized support to optimize their strategies and improve their short and long-term viability and impact. Additionally, they will be linked to key potential allies and explore the viability of becoming part of corporate value chains.
“Our vision is to improve the everyday life for the many people. For this reason, through this alliance with New Ventures, we want to support companies that make a real difference in marginalized communities. We are interested in projects that dare to imagine a change in Mexico and the world, that seek to solve some of the greatest social and environmental challenges in Mexico City, such as the recycling of solid waste and access to drinking water, “said Malcolm Pruys , Country Manager of IKEA México. “In the last few months everything has changed, and we believe that if we face the situation helping each other, we can get out of this by building a better world.”
By providing business support, networking opportunities and access to funding to enable social entrepreneurs to scale and unleashing the impact potential of large corporates, , we aim to generate further employment opportunities and entry to markets and to increase affordable access to sustainable basic goods and services for underserved populations. Together, we believe we can improve the levels of livelihood for those who need it most. Throughout the process, the strongest projects could be integrated into the IKEA Mexico value chain, as service providers
Through this alliance with New Ventures, we hope to give a hand to those seeking more and better opportunities. We want to build a better world together.
Read more about New Ventures
About IKEA
IKEA offers excellent design, functional, accessible and high-quality furniture and accessories for the home, made with special attention to people and the environment, all under the vision of creating a better everyday life for the many people. It has 422 stores in more than 50 markets around the world. More information at ikea.mx
