Learning and Questioning About Data Ethics in Riga
On 6 and 7 November, Riga became the meeting point for social economy support organisations from across Europe. The Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia (SEAL) hosted the third Transnational Workshop of the DO Impact Capacity Building Programme — two full days dedicated to data ethics.
Sounds heavy? Actually, it wasn’t. Between deep discussions, hands-on workshops, and coffee breaks full of conversations and laughter, it turned out that talking about data privacy, AI, and consent can actually be inspiring — even fun.
The first day was all about data principles in practice. Instead of long lectures, participants jumped straight into real-life situations — figuring out how to make data collection more human-centred, how to get consent from the data owners, and how to design forms that don’t ask for too much information.
As one participant put it: “Data ethics isn’t a policy you print once a year — it’s a conversation you keep having.”
Most problems don’t come from complicated laws — they come from simple everyday things. For example:
● Leaving documents on a printer.
● Posting photos of children without parental consent.
● Keeping old data “just in case”.
Simple habits can make a big difference. Every organisation should know how long they store data, why they need it, and who has access. And yes — every organisation should have a privacy policy ready to show anyone who asks.
The data ethics workshops received enthusiastic feedback — participants appreciated not just learning what’s right, but actually practicing how to do it. Learning didn’t stop at the session doors.
Many participants said their favourite part was simply meeting people, sharing experiences, and building connections. The World Café session and project presentations helped everyone discover what others are working on — and many new collaboration ideas were born right there in the room.
Lessons We’ll Remember:
● Non-material harm is real. GDPR also covers emotional and reputational damage, not just financial losses.
● Consent must be clear. Especially when publishing photos — always ask for explicit permission, ideally with a two-part sign-up sheet: one for event participation, one for consent to use images.
● Big companies still get it wrong. Participants shared stories of getting sales calls they never agreed to — proof that some data still gets sold around. No consent? Then it’s illegal.
● Data controllers need curiosity. Ask the right questions, limit what you collect, and delete what you don’t need.
Huge thanks to everyone who filled those two days with ideas and energy and especially to the lectors: Prof. Dr. Aleksandrs Potaičuks, Kristofers Kalniņš-Liberis and Wojtek Wilk!
What’s Next?
We’re not done yet! The next workshop will take place online on 29 January 2026, online. This time, we’ll be diving into measuring social impact through digitalisation and data use. Two days, dozens of conversations, and one big reminder: ethics starts with people. And when those people are curious, kind, and ambitious — like this group — even GDPR can feel like an adventure.
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The event was organized within the framework of the DO Impact project, co-financed by the European Union.
“Impact Quest”: a game to understand social entrepreneurship!
“IMPACT QUEST” is an interactive and educational two-part game that helps players explore what social entrepreneurship is. It demonstrates how social enterprises can address various social issues — for example, in the fields of employment, culture, or the environment — while maintaining a balance between social goals and profit. The purpose of social entrepreneurship is to create real change in the world, rejecting the idea of maximizing profits for business owners personally. In this game, participants tackle global challenges and transform them into inspiring business ideas.
In the first part of the game, players explore common social problems, generate different ideas and solutions, and develop a viable concept that could foster real change in society. In the second part, the vision of the idea is turned into a concrete action plan, developing a social enterprise that drives transformation.
The creators of “IMPACT QUEST” drew inspiration from real tools used by social entrepreneurs to build their businesses. For instance, social impact mapping helps to understand key problems and their effects; theory of change allows step-by-step planning of how an idea can create real impact; and the business model canvas helps design a company that balances mission and profit.
The board game is designed to be played in groups — each group consisting of 4 to 6 players. Although the main target audience is young people aged 16 to 25, anyone interested in learning more about social entrepreneurship or using the game as a tool to develop their own social business idea is welcome to play!
The game materials include:
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Game board “Social Entrepreneurship Road”;
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Information cards;
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Social issue cards;
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Business model cards;
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Lucky cards;
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Empty cards;
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Six main element cards — Climate, Culture, Poverty, Education, Unemployment, and Discrimination;
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“Impact Quest” game rules;
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Player’s handbook.
You can find the printing sizes and required quantities for each material HERE.
All game materials are free to print and use, but by writing to e-mail address , you can also order a printed version of the game, covering only the printing costs.
We are already using the game in practice in educational institutions across Latvia — conducting classes on social entrepreneurship for high school and university students. We invite teachers, youth workers, and young people themselves to print and play “IMPACT QUEST”!
Click on the game board below to access all the materials!
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The project “ImpactED – Gamified Social Entrepreneurship Educational Approach” is co-funded by the European Union. This publication reflects only the author’s views, and not necessarily those of the European Union, the European Commission, or the National Agency (the Agency for International Programs for Youth). Neither of these institutions can be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.
Event: "From idea to impact: How to teach social entrepreneurship?"
How can we help students and young people to see that entrepreneurship can be not only a source of profit but also a solution to societal problems? We invite you to join an event about useful resources and current opportunities to learn and explore social entrepreneurship.
During the event:
1. We will present new teaching and methodological materials for primary and high school educators on social entrepreneurship.
2. We will share opportunities to book lessons offered through the SEAL program “STEM and Civic Engagement for Broader Educational Experience and Career Choices.”
3. Participants will also get to explore the social entrepreneurship game “Impact Quest.”
To complement theory with practice, we will try out the social entrepreneurship game – an interactive tool that helps students step by step create and develop their own ideas to solve meaningful societal problems. We will also engage together in a practical session of playing the game!
In the first, informative part of the event, participants can join online. In the second, practical part, group work will be conducted only with participants attending in person. We encourage everyone to attend in person to fully experience and understand the essence of the game.
Event date and time: September 26, 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Event location: Alberta Street 13, Riga, DOTS Foundation premises
Register until: September 24, 12:00 PM, filling out this form: https://ej.uz/noidejaslidzietekmei
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The event is organized within the project “ImpactED: Gamified Social Entrepreneurship Educational Approach,” co-financed by the European Union.
Current Opportunities for Social Enterprises and NGOs in Digitalization
The beginning of autumn was marked by a webinar for social entrepreneurs and organizations about current growth opportunities in the field of digitalization—whether by improving their own and their employees’ skills and knowledge, entrusting their website to professionals, or developing new plans and strategies together with mentors.
Among the presenters were representatives from Accenture, RTU Design Factory, Riga Municipality Business Support Contact Point, and Riga Business School. During the webinar, participants could get answers to their questions about the opportunities and programs offered by these organizations, which could later be applied in their own digitalization processes.
Accenture representatives introduced the FutureTech Internship project, organized in cooperation with Riga Technical University (RTU). Experienced IT specialists from Accenture act as mentors, and under their guidance RTU students look for solutions to clients’ digitalization challenges. For the second year in a row, Accenture has successfully collaborated with SEAL, giving association members exclusive access to this opportunity by submitting their needs—which can range from improving website accessibility to creating a recipe AI generator, a digital game, and more. For SEAL members, this service is free of charge.
Following last year’s successful collaboration, where digital solutions were developed for six SEAL members, the partnership between SEAL and Accenture continues. With this webinar, new clients were sought for the project’s second season.
“I can share our experience of working with Accenture and RTU. We are very pleased and grateful for such an opportunity, and we value the effort that has been invested. The young people are highly motivated, and their work capacity is impressive,” said social entrepreneur Oskars Grīslis, social enterprise “Intelligence Development Center”.
RTU Design Factory, in collaboration with SEB Bank, has created a Growth Program that offers development opportunities aimed specifically at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. The program is divided into three levels, depending on the entrepreneur’s previous experience and knowledge. In practical workshops led by professional mentors, participants can gain new knowledge, improve internal processes, implement digital solutions, or even develop new products and enter new markets. Read more here.
Meanwhile, Riga Municipality offers a grant program for social enterprises to improve accessibility in both physical and digital environments. The total funding for this program is 60 000 euros, and one company can receive a grant of up to 15 000 euros, covering 90% of eligible costs. Accessibility improvements include construction elements and related documentation, expert accessibility assessments, adapting premises, as well as improving a company’s website accessibility.
At the end of the webinar, Riga Business School presented the learning platform LIFT, which offers practical courses on a wide variety of current topics that affect companies today. The offered course topics include digital marketing, artificial intelligence for business growth, presentation skills, project management, and more. Thanks to support from the EU Recovery Fund, companies can receive full financial support for any course, meaning they only need to pay the VAT part. Read more here.
Digitalization is often a decisive factor in determining a company’s long-term competitiveness. An aesthetically appealing appearance, modern and engaging communication with audiences, and efficient management of internal processes are vital aspects that cannot be neglected when thinking about business growth. Organizations that provide growth opportunities are interested in cooperating with the non-governmental sector and social enterprises, so that they can also reflect social responsibility in their public communication.
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The event was organized within the framework of the DO Impact project, co-financed by the European Union.
Citizen Science for Social Innovation
Over the past year, Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia together with Riga Technical University and Cyprus Technical University brought together students, NGOs, community leaders, social entrepreneurs, and researchers to explore some of today’s most pressing societal challenges through the Citizen Science approach. By engaging people from diverse backgrounds in dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, the project ValuEU “Hybrid Value Chain enhancement in Europe through Citizen” aimed to co-create practical solutions, empower communities to take action, as well as to test the Citizen Science approach.
Citizen Lab Workshops: Five Themes, Five Perspectives
There were five Citizen Lab workshops hosted, each dedicated to a theme relevant both locally and globally:
- Mental Health Awareness and Burnout Risks: Participants discussed how healthy routines, digital balance, and people-centred organisational cultures are key to preventing burnout and promoting wellbeing.
- Safety and Protection in Times of Geopolitical Instability: Discussions highlighted the need for trusted local networks, practical guidelines, and active involvement of schools, NGOs, and municipalities.
- Social Economy: The workshop focused on possibilities of rebranding the social economy as innovative and financially viable, while strengthening collaboration between NGOs, academia, enterprises, and policymakers.
- Digital Fairness: Cyber Risks, AI, and Social Justice: Participants explored how accessible tools, education, and cross-sector collaboration can make the digital transition safer and more inclusive.
- Sustainable Future: Innovative Solutions for Everyday Change: The final workshop emphasised everyday behaviour change, waste reduction, and grassroots initiatives as key drivers of a just green transition.
Each session followed a structured methodology of Action Design research (ADR) method: issue exploration, lived experiences, Disney method – dreamers, critics, realists, and collaborative design thinking. This approach not only allowed participants to analyse problems from multiple angles but also encouraged them to propose actionable solutions.
Key Learnings
Through the workshops, several cross-cutting lessons emerged:
- Complex challenges require diverse perspectives – bringing together civil society, academia, public institutions, and citizens led to richer discussions and more innovative solutions.
- People engage when they see real impact – participation grows when individuals understand how their voices contribute to practical outcomes.
- Safe, inclusive spaces matter – a constructive environment encourages participants to share personal experiences and propose bold ideas.
- Solutions need a pathway forward – beyond discussion, participants want clear next steps and opportunities to continue their involvement.
Final Symposium: Sharing Results and Looking Ahead
The project culminated in a final symposium that took place on August 28, 2025 and gathered stakeholders, policymakers, and community representatives to reflect on results and lessons learned.
- The event opened with Imants Lipskis, Director of the Labor Market Policy Department at the Ministry of Welfare of the Republic of Latvia, who presented Latvia’s Social Economy Action Plan and its vision for strengthening the ecosystem.
- The representatives from the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia and Cyprus Technical University shared insights on the implementation of the Citizen Science approach and lessons learned from the workshops.
- An interactive panel discussion brought together experts and practitioners to discuss the applicability of citizen science in different contexts, the value of participatory methodologies, and the usability of the results for future policy and community actions.
Why It Matters
For the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia (SEAL) and social economy field in general, the project demonstrated how citizen science can be a powerful tool for tackling complex social problems. Top-down solutions alone are not enough – real change requires collaboration, trust-building, and ownership by citizens themselves.
The ValuEU project has shown that when communities, NGOs, policymakers, and academics come together, they can co-create solutions that are both innovative and sustainable. From rethinking workplace wellbeing to designing fairer digital tools and promoting everyday sustainability practices, the outcomes of this initiative highlight the potential of participatory approaches in driving social innovation.
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The project ValuEU “Hybrid Value Chain enhancement in Europe through Citizen” is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or The State Education Development Agency (hereinafter – VIAA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority (VIAA) can be held responsible for them.
Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia in cooperation with Luminor bank keeps their tradition and organises the Social Entrepreneurship pitch or presentation competition ”Let the good ideas grow 2025”. The aim of the competition is to promote the development of existing social enterprises and new social entrepreneurship ideas as well as to share the ideas across Latvia. This year the total prize fund – funding to implement a social business idea or develop an organisation – is €8 000. The participation in the competition is free of charge and the application is open until 19 September.
The competition is open to existing and emerging social entrepreneurs from all over Latvia. They can be companies with or without social enterprise status, associations and foundations that need funding to implement a new idea or an existing project. In addition individuals who are still cherishing their social entrepreneurship idea and looking for start-up funding can also apply. The main aspect for eligibility is that an organisation or business idea fits the essence and definition of social entrepreneurship – producing goods or services to solve a social problem and benefit society.
“The cash prize is not the only benefit of the competition – every year participants confirm how valuable it has been to learn presentation and public speaking skills, gain strong public visibility, and most importantly – join the social entrepreneurship community, where they can connect and build business collaborations with other social entrepreneurs. This year the competition also has thematic focuses – in the finals, special prizes will be awarded to existing and aspiring social enterprises whose products or services represent social innovation, or address sustainability challenges,” says Regita Zeiļa, Director of the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia.
“Ideas and good deeds never stop – we are delighted to support this important social entrepreneurship initiative for several years in a row. The pitch competition not only helps the wider society, but also allows entrepreneurs themselves to look at their business ideas from a broader perspective, with significant added value. Every year we see pressing social issues that these entrepreneurs and idea authors are ready to address and improve. We are proud of the determined people of Latvia who want to set in motion processes that may not have previously received the attention they deserve,” emphasizes Gita Juršāne, Deputy Head of Luminor Bank’s Latvian Branch.
The competition takes place in three rounds. To apply, participants must read the regulations and complete the electronic application form. The 25 strongest ideas will be selected for the second round, where their authors will take part in training sessions and learn the art of pitching. The competition final will be held on October 16 in Riga, where ten finalists will take the stage and present their ideas in five minutes to the jury and to live-stream viewers across Latvia, who will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite. The live broadcast will be available on the news portal Delfi.lv.
In the finals two participants will each receive a cash prize of EUR 4,000. The winners will be determined by the jury and the live-stream audience vote.
This year, one initiative in the competition final will also receive a special award from Latvia’s leading news media “Delfi”. This means not only recognition but also the opportunity to share their story more widely through Delfi’s channels.
The “Let the Good Things Ideas Grow” pitch competition is taking place for the eighth year. Last year it received 92 applications, and the winner of the final was the association “Tavi draugi”, with an idea to refurbish unusable donated items and rent them out as equipment. The audience vote winner was the creative sustainability platform “Bourzma”, with the idea to establish a textile upcycling workshop for sustainable clothing production.
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The goal of the “Let the Good Things Ideas Grow” competition is to promote the development of existing social enterprises and new social entrepreneurship ideas, as well as to showcase these ideas to the whole of Latvia. The main partner of the competition is Luminor Bank. The event is supported by the charity shop network Otrā elpa, the news media Delfi, and the Development Finance Institution Altum, co-financing the competition from European Union funds – European Social Fund Plus project No. 4.3.3.3/1/24/I/001 “Support for Social Entrepreneurship.”
For additional information:
Līga Ivanova
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📞 +371 26464686
Methodology for Developing a Municipal Action Plan in the Field of Social Entrepreneurship
The municipality plays an important role in the development of social entrepreneurship by providing a favorable environment, supporting organizations, and scaling up solutions. It can also foster partnerships between entrepreneurs, non-governmental organizations, and communities; delegate local government administrative tasks; implement socially responsible public procurement; provide financial support (for example, through targeted grant programs or special criteria within existing targeted funding programs); ensure access to infrastructure; and carry out informational support activities (for example, annual awards or participation in municipality-organized events), thereby strengthening the growth of the social impact of enterprises. By integrating social entrepreneurship into its development strategy, the municipality promotes sustainable and innovative solutions to address socially relevant issues.
The purpose of the methodology is to provide all municipalities in Latvia with a structured and practical tool for developing an action plan for the development of social entrepreneurship in their territory.
Tasks of the methodology:
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Promote municipal involvement in the development of social entrepreneurship and its integration into local development strategies;
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Provide a clear planning framework using fillable forms and checklists that help identify the current situation, set objectives, and implement appropriate activities;
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Facilitate cooperation between municipalities and social enterprises by providing clear guidelines for building partnerships and informing the public;
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Obtain specific measurable indicators and a monitoring system to evaluate the progress of social entrepreneurship development;
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Ensure a methodological and unified approach that can be adapted to the needs of each municipality and used in the long term.
The methodology document is a practical guide for municipalities in planning the development of social entrepreneurship. It contains 11 fillable forms to help responsible municipal specialists structure and implement the action plan.
The forms can be used flexibly – it is not mandatory to complete all of them, but rather to select and combine those that best suit the specific needs and situation of the municipality. The most important thing is to arrive at a practical and applicable result!
Click on the image below to explore the methodology plan!
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Project No. LL-00020 “Improving the Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Zemgale and Northern Lithuania”(“Re:Impact”)— is being implemented under the Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania Programme 2021–2027. The total project budget is EUR 595,286.00, of which the European Regional Development Fund co-financing amounts to EUR 476,228.80.
More information about the project: https://www.zemgale.lv/lv/projekts/socialas-uznemejdarbibas-ekosistemas-uzlabosana-zemgale-un-ziemellietuva
ESEM: Social Enterprises in Europe Are Becoming More Innovative
Social enterprises continue to play an increasingly important role in the European economy by creating solutions to societal challenges, strengthening local communities, and promoting sustainable development. The latest European Social Enterprise Monitor (ESEM) 2023–2024 report provides a unique insight into the operations of more than 1,800 social enterprises across 30 European countries. Its results were revealed on January 23 of this year in Davos during the World Economic Forum, but the data is now publicly available. The aim of the study is to provide decision-makers, social entrepreneurs and their employees, academia, and civil society with data on social entrepreneurship, social enterprises, and the ecosystem.
Key Trends in the Development of Social Enterprises in Europe
Sustainability, Innovation, and Inclusion – Core Elements of Social Enterprises
Key Areas of Activity – Public Health and Education
Inclusive Employment and Volunteering
Main Challenges of Social Enterprises
Social impact is essential – but measuring it remains a challenge
Insufficient Political Support and Ecosystem Development
About the ESEM Report
ESEM is a study aimed at collecting data on the social entrepreneurship sector across Europe to promote evidence-based policymaking and support mechanisms. At the European level, ESEM is led by the Euclid Network, while national surveys are organized by social economy support organizations in each country.
In Latvia, the study was implemented by the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Welfare, Reach for Change, and the EKA University of Applied Sciences.
Every two years, a joint European ESEM report is produced, while country-specific data and analysis are available in national reports. The compiled ESEM data includes insights based on responses from 1,807 social entrepreneurs in 30 European countries. These responses were collected during 2023 and 2024.
Click on the image below to read the full report!
Meanwhile, the ESEM report on the situation in Latvia is available HERE (in latvian).
SEAL Lookback at Achievements in 2024
Looking back at the achievements of 2024, we, the team of the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia, conclude that this year has been a year of surprises, changes and innovations! We have met new partners who offer attractive benefits to SEAL members, started working on a record number of projects, started new traditions such as the two-day members retreat in the summer and the networking event for large and social enterprises, implemented the long cherished idea of a catalogue of social enterprise products/services and a photo exhibition with stories of social entrepreneurs, as well as changes in the team composition – two new colleagues have joined the Association’s team.
However, the many changes do not change the fact that SEAL continues to develop social entrepreneurship for long-term change in Latvia, working in three main directions – public awareness, capacity building of members and advocacy of interests. The annual report is also divided according to the Association’s areas of activity. Here is a look back at the key milestones for 2024!
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MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN 2024
Social Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition “Let The Good Ideas Grow”
The Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia for the sixth time organised the social entrepreneurship pitch competition “Let The Good Ideas Grow”, which has become a tradition. The competition was held in cooperation with Luminor Bank, Development Finance Institution ALTUM and charity shop network “Otrā Elpa”. The two winners each received a cash prize of €4,000! Each year, the competition is open to existing and emerging social entrepreneurs from all over Latvia who need funding to implement a new social entrepreneurship idea or an existing project. The final of “Let The Good Ideas Grow” was broadcast live on internet news media Delfi.lv.
Winners:
🏆 Jury’s Choice – Association “Tavi draugi” with the idea to refurbish and rent out donated items as inventory.
🏆In the live audience vote – Creative Sustainability Platform Bourzma with the idea to create a textile upcycling workshop for the production of sustainable clothing.
Sympathy Awards:
🏆”Luminor bank” Sympathy Award winner – initiative of Elīna Zandere “Health in Every Bite”, which offers specialised food production for people after oncological and other diseases.
🏆”ALTUM” Sympathy Award winner – association “Krapes muiža” with an idea for environmental improvement to promote rural tourism and the creation of a fishing spot for people in wheelchairs.
🏆 “Otrā Elpa” Sympathy Award – went to “Mombee.lv” – a platform for information, emotional and practical support for expectant and new parents, especially mothers with postnatal depression.
🏆The “Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia” Sympathy prize went to Izipizi.lv with the idea to develop a network of food lockers to promote the sale of local food.
PHOTO EXHIBITION “SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN LATVIA”
The colourful photo exhibition “Social Entrepreneurship in Latvia” introduced the public with 10 Latvian social enterprises and their creators working in different fields. The exhibition happened thanks to the support of Luminor Bank and ALTUM.
The exhibition was not only open to Riga residents and visitors, but also travelled to other cities in Latvia – Liepāja, Valmiera, Lūznava, Jelgava and Balvi!
Heroes of the exhibition: Visi Var; Ramala; Atbalsta māja “Brīvupes”; Visas Iespējas; RB Cafe; Dzīves oāze; Sonido; Difftravel; Barboleta; Neredzamā pasaule/ Sensorium
The exhibition is also available in digital version
NETWORKING EVENT FOR LARGE AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISES
At the beginning of September, a long-cherished dream of bringing social enterprises and large enterprises together came true! Under the leadership of SEAL, 15 social entrepreneurs and 15 representatives of big business gathered in the bustling premises of Āgenskalns Market to get to know each other, understand each other’s offer and needs, talk face to face and build new socially responsible business partnerships.
Participants – social enterprises:
| Visi Var | RaMaLa | Dabas Zirgi | Dspc Laipa | Neredzamā Pasaule | Tuvu | Esi/ | RB Cafe |BlindArt | Ziedoņa klase | GLASS POINT | tiptip.lv | Visas Iespējas | Sonido | Zvaigznājs
Participants – large companies:
| Rīgas meži | SCHWENK Latvija | Lidosta Rīga | Eco Baltia VIDE | SAF Tehnika | Valsts nekustamie īpašumi | Rīgas satiksme | Getliņi EKO | Omniva Latvija | DHL Express Latvia | ZAAO | Latvijas valsts meži | Rīgas ūdens | Latvijas Mobilais Telefons
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PROTECTION OF INTERESTS
NATIONAL LEVEL
In 2024, we would like to highlight:
🟣Work with the Ministry of Welfare on the Social Economy Plan. Active participation of the SEAL and various recommendations in the development of the plan.
🟠ALTUM grant launch event at Āgenskalns Market. The available funding is 7 million euros and will support around 120 social entrepreneurship business ideas.
🟢Evaluation of the “Augšup” grant programme. 21 applications were received from companies and idea developers from the municipalities of the Pierīga region, who competed for a total amount of 52 thousand euros. SEAL Director Regita Zeiļa was among the jury members who evaluated the applications. 9 social entrepreneurship ideas were funded, two of which are also our members: the Privātā Glūdas pamatskola/mājskola un Laimes bļoda! Watch the event report HERE!
🟣Meeting the European Parliament election candidates. These meetings were important for the Association to understand to what extent the parties are interested in the development of the social economy and what should be done in this field at European level. 5 parties responded to the meeting. Click HERE to view the galleries!
🟠Meeting of social entrepreneurs with Riga City Council representatives. This event was a great opportunity not only to raise awareness about the social economy ecosystem and the role of social enterprises in it, but also to share real stories of social entrepreneurs; experiences, as well as to work practically on various topics relevant to social entrepreneurs. View the gallery HERE!
🟢Following the recommendation and opinion of SEAL , changes have been made to the Public Procurement Law, including the possibility to reserve the possibility to participate in procurement procedures only for candidates or tenderers with SE status and employing target groups (at least 30%). Previously, the law only covered people with disabilities, but now there is a much broader view.
PROTECTION OF INTERESTS
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
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REPRESENTATION
Members elect the SEAL Council at the General Meeting for a two-year term. It acts as the strategic advisory body of the Association, defining the main directions of the SEAL’s activities and voting on the admission of new SEAL members.
The day-to-day duties of the Association are carried out by its Director Regita Zeiļa, Project Manager Līva Švarce and Event Coordinator Līga Ivanova. The team has grown bigger this year with the addition of new colleagues – Project Coordinator Annija Krūmiņa and Project Manager Anete Urka.
This year also marked an expansion of the SEAL’s capacity to participate in the various discussions where important decisions are made. SEAL representation is ensured:
- Ministry of Welfare Social Enterprise Commission (Inga Muižniece, SEAL Council Chair)
- The Council of the Society Integration Foundation (Liene Reine-Miteva, SEAL Council Member)
- EU Funds Monitoring Sub-Committee “A More Social Europe” (Regita Zeiļa, SEAL Director)
The Association is a member of several international networks – ENSIE (European Network of Social Integration Enterprises) and DIESIS Network – one of the largest networks specialising in supporting the social economy, social entrepreneurship and social innovation. Since 2021, SEAL is also a member of the Latvian Civic Alliance, the largest umbrella organisation for the non-governmental sector.
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS
SEAL is a non-governmental membership organisation whose members are not only social enterprises, but also individuals and associations, companies, foundations that participate in the development of the social entrepreneurship ecosystem. At the end of 2024, there were 140 members in the Association.
Special benefits for SEAL members:
🟢Useful contacts and new cooperation opportunities;
🟢”Member-to-member” discount offers;
🟢First to know in an aggregated form about various funding opportunities, current events in the field;
🟢Participation in networking events, trainings, visits to other social enterprises in Latvia and abroad organised by SEAL;
🟢Participation in discussions with representatives of local governments and ministries and other related organisations and institutions;
🟢Special offers for SEAL members only, such as the opportunity to apply for a Christmas donation worth 400 euros, to apply for health insurance, to upgrade/create your website or other digital solution for free, to be featured in a catalogue with your service/product;
🟢Additional visibility and recognition – on SEAL social media, in the traditional media, at local and international conferences and discussion panels.
2024 events for members: 1.training event “How to communicate to reach your customer?”, 2.inspiration and experience afternoon “Do you need your own podcast?” 3.SEAL General Assembly, 4.Members networking event in Sigulda city at the social enterprise “Visi Var”, 5.Two-day summer holiday event at “Upeslīči Atpūtai”, 6.SEAL members networking and training event at “Atver Durvis Betānijā”, 7.International Social Entrepreneurship Day and SEAL Birthday – experience stories, 8.Christmas event – gingerbread baking at Āgenskalns market.
There was also a meeting with the Riga City Council on support opportunities for social entrepreneurs in Riga, as well as two members meetings with the Ministry of Welfare. In cooperation with “VAIRO”, we organised a seminar for members on financial wellness, as well as an informative webinar on the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme, participated in an event on mentoring skills development, etc.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS
EXPERIENCE EXCHANGE ABROAD
International exchanges also marked 2024. During this year, members worked with colleagues abroad on topics such as social impact assessment, adult and public education, sustainability and green living, representation of the enterprise and international networking.
In May, three SEAL members travelled to cities in the northern region of Poland to visit social enterprises there. Read more about the trip HERE! In September we hosted the Social Entrepreneurship Association from Poland and the social enterprise KNOF from Slovenia here in Latvia. During three days we introduced the foreign guests to different Latvian social enterprises and organisations that include adult and public education in their activities. In total, 9 SEAL member organisations were involved in hosting the guests. Find out more about the visit HERE!
For the second year in a row, the Baltic Sea Impact Network brings together more than 50 social entrepreneurs from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark and Ukraine, creating a space to gain useful contacts and knowledge for the development of their business. Latvia is represented by 10 social entrepreneurs. In October, 30 members of the network gathered in Tallinn to meet in person and participate in the Impact Day Sustainability Festival. A recap of the event is available HERE!
We hosted Danijela Paska, a researcher representing ACT Grupa, the leading social economy promoters in Croatia, for a two-day exchange visit. Both theoretically and practically, members had the opportunity to learn more about social impact assessment methods. The Croatian researcher also visited SEAL members – “Latvian Samaritan Association” and “Free Riga”. Find out more about the visit HERE!
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INFORMING SOCIETY
In 2024 we would like to highlight:
🟣Participation in the discussion and social experiment on employment opportunities for people with mental disabilities at the “Lampa” discussion festival together with the Latvian Samaritan Association.
🟠Opening of the photo exhibition “Social Entrepreneurship in Latvia”. In cooperation with Luminor Bank and ALTUM, SEAL invited the public to get acquainted with 10 Latvian social enterprises and their creators working in different fields. The exhibition toured several Latvian cities and was featured in more than 20 media publications. View the digital version of the exhibition HERE!
🟢Information event in cooperation with the Ministry of Welfare on European Union funding opportunities for social entrepreneurs. 42 participants attended the event.
🟣Presentation at the conference “Opportunities and Challenges of the Social Economy” within the Social Entrepreneurship Week. The final conference was well attended by sector related organisations, politicians, social entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.
🟠Leading a panel discussion on youth entrepreneurship at the Baltic Sustainability Awards event.
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INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
In 2024, we worked on a record number of projects – 13 – many of which started in that year.
In 2024, we started work on:
The Interreg project aims to improve the social entrepreneurship environment at regional level – in the case of this project focusing specifically on Zemgale and Northern Lithuania. The project will: develop practical educational materials on social entrepreneurship for schools and business centres, strengthen the skills of social entrepreneurs and organise experience exchange trips, improve the capacity of the public sector to develop social entrepreneurship.
SICC – Social Innovation Competence Centre. Conventional solutions to many challenges are no longer effective, which is the main reason why Social Innovation Competence Centres are being set up across Europe. In the long term, such a centre will be established in Latvia by the Centre for Social Integration and SEAL will have the opportunity to contribute to its creation.
DO Impact project will provide various opportunities for SMEs to learn digital technologies and data management to address social challenges more effectively.
Scaling Catalyst – 91% of social entrepreneurs across Europe want to scale their businesses and the Scaling Catalyst project aims to provide social entrepreneurs and their supporting organisations with the tools they need to scale.
ValuEU project aims to bring together higher education institutions and social innovation actors, as these groups play a key role in the innovation landscape and often university students/graduates become agents of innovation and change in society. New problem-solving models based on the experience of the target audiences will be developed in cooperation with both parties.
ThinkGoal offers Latvian social entrepreneurs the opportunity to exchange experiences with Polish and Slovenian social entrepreneurs and support organisations on sustainability, adult and community education.
ImpactED is developing an educational game on social entrepreneurship that can be used as a teaching tool in schools to make learning about social entrepreneurship more engaging.
In 2024, we continued our work on:
BSIN – Baltic Sea Impact Network aims to build international cooperation and exchange of experience among social entrepreneurs. The network has 50 members from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Denmark and Sweden.
EU Fund Guardians provide the SEAL with the opportunity to participate in the Monitoring Sub-Committee “A More Social Europe” of the European Union Funds 2021- 2027 programming period and to work together with different ministries, to take part in discussions on investments.
BuySocial – the cooperation of many European countries in this project significantly raises awareness and cooperation opportunities between social and traditional enterprises. This means more successful and socially responsible partnerships.
B-Wise project ended in November 2024. For four years, European countries collected and analysed data on social entrepreneurs for labour integration and looked for ways to support them. During the project, the Latvian Samaritan Association obtained licences for three training programmes.
PODIMP project ended in April 2024. Its main objective was to use the podcast as a tool to create communication materials on the social impact of social entrepreneurs.
THANK YOU TO OUR MEMBERS, PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS! MAY 2025 BRING NEW OPPORTUNITIES!
ESEM: Lack of social entrepreneurship’s understanding hinders its growth
European Social Enterprise Monitor (ESEM) is a biennial survey-based study of social entrepreneurship across Europe. It aims to provide decision-makers, social entrepreneurs and their staff, academia and civil society with data on social entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurs and the ecosystem. The latest report reveals important facts not only European, but also the development and trends of the Latvian social entrepreneurship sector in 2023 and 2024. The report offers insights into the sector’s impact, innovations, barriers and future opportunities. The results of the ESEM 2023/2024 were launched on 23 January at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Essential aspects of social entrepreneurship in Latvia
Currently there are 242 active social enterprises in Latvia – based on the 3rd of February 2025 data of the register of Social Enterprises of the Ministry of Welfare. A social enterprise is a limited liability company (SIA) that carries out economic activities and generates positive and significant social impact in one of three ways: by employing target groups, by improving the quality of life of groups whose lives are affected by problems of major importance (e.g. by producing specialised goods or services for them), or by carrying out other activities of importance to society that generate lasting positive social impact (e.g. supporting science, protecting and preserving the environment).
On 1 April 2018, the Social Enterprise Law entered into force, providing a legal framework, both in terms of the criteria for becoming a social enterprise and elaborating the support for this type of business.
The ESEM report provides a comprehensive analysis of trends in the activities of social entrepreneurship organisations, including social enterprises, NGOs and foundations.
Key trends in social entrepreneurship
Focus on promoting public well-being. Latvian social entrepreneurs are active in healthcare (30.5%), education (28%) and reducing social inequalities. The strategic priorities of the companies are mainly based on social impact, and 66.7% of the respondents consider social impact to be important in decision-making.
There is a growing interest in environmental sustainability. Social entrepreneurs have a consistent focus on social objectives, but in recent years there has been a growing interest in environmental sustainability, in particular the integration of circular economy principles into business operations. Many companies are seeking to integrate more responsible processes into their internal operations, such as material recycling and waste reduction.
Innovation and adaptation. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies implemented digital transformation processes, developed new products and expanded target groups, thereby increasing the sector’s resilience and level of innovation.
“ESEM report shows that while the sector faces a number of challenges, it continues to evolve and contribute to significant societal change. This study is an essential tool for policy makers and entrepreneurs to develop targeted support and promote sustainable growth,”
says Regita Zeiļa, Director of the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia.
Key challenges for social entrepreneurs
Economic and political conditions. Inflation, the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine are the main challenges that have an impact on the stability of the sector. 33.3% of respondents indicated that these factors were a major obstacle to their companies’ operations.
Lack of financial stability. 51% of companies noted that the stability of their financial planning is temporary – up to six months. This reflects the need for sustainable support mechanisms and new sources of income.
Lack of awareness among the public and support organisations. 22.2% of enterprises indicated that the lack of understanding of social entrepreneurship by the private sector – banks, investors and public institutions makes it difficult for them to operate and develop.
The report also provides recommendations on how to mitigate these challenges. The main proposal highlighted is the creation of a special tax incentive system for social enterprises, supported by 74.1% of respondents. It also recommends the creation of specific state and local government funding mechanisms and the promotion of cooperation with the private sector.
About ESEM
ESEM is a study that aims to collect data on the social entrepreneurship sector across Europe in order to promote evidence-based policy and support mechanisms. ESEM is managed at European level by the Euclid Network and national surveys are organised by European social economy support organisations. In Latvia, the survey was implemented by the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia in cooperation with the Ministry of Welfare, Reach for Change and the EKA University of Applied Sciences. Every two years there is a joint ESEM Europe report, while individual country data and analysis are available in national reports. The data collected by ESEM includes observations analysing 1807 social entrepreneurs’ responses from 30 European countries. These responses were collected in 2023 and 2024.
The ESEM report about whole Europe will be published soon HERE. At the moment there is available an informative material about the most important facts from the report.
Read the summary of the report on the situation in Latvia
Read the full report (in English) on the social entrepreneurship environment in Latvia