The 12th Social Business Day, hosted by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, began on Monday with focus on healthcare, fighting unemployment, cross country collaboration in tackling climate change, 3Zero Clubs and all aspects of building a New Civilisation.

A series of African universities such as Catholic University of Zimbabwe along with Kampala International University and Makerere University Business School, Uganda, Tangaza University College, Kenya, Abomey Calavi of Benin, CAM School of Business from Central African Republic have arranged the hybrid (both online and in person) event  to showcase all regional social business practitioners, academics, promoters, and friends.

The four-day event will end on Thursday with a theme ‘Building a New Civilisation—Before the Current Civilisation Destroys Us,’ according to a press release issued by the Yunus Centre.

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The current civilisation which is based on profit maximisation has set us on a suicidal path. 

Global warming, wealth concentration, and unemployment caused by artificial intelligence are leading us to our ultimate extinction. 

"Our window of opportunity to put humanity on a new path towards a new direction is getting smaller and smaller. We must prepare the seed-bed of a new civilisation before the opportunity slips away,” said the media release.

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“The new civilisation has to be built on an economy based primarily on zero personal profit to solve the problems of the people and the planet. Social business presents this option. Social business aims at finding compassionate, practical, and long-lasting solutions to social issues while expanding opportunities for the people and the economy. The new civilisation will analyse the breakthroughs achieved while preparing for the next leg of our journey before our time runs out.”

There will be 150+ speakers, which includes 30 globally prominent speakers, 14 country forums, 16 plenary sessions during the four days. 

More than 700 registered participants from 66 countries are joining globally.

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There will be keynote speeches from President José Ramos-Horta, 1996 Nobel Peace Laureate and President of East Timor, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Chair, Nobel Women's Initiative, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE , founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace, Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, UNAIDS, Máiread Maguire, 1976 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Dr. Devi Shetty, Managing Director, Narayana Hrudayalaya.

The event included the annual convention of the ‘3ZERO Clubs,’ a global initiative for the youth aimed at realising a World of 3ZEROS: zero net carbon emission, zero wealth concentration for ending poverty, and zero unemployment through entrepreneurship.

This convention of the youths will give an opportunity to the members of senior generations to listen to the issues being discussed by the present day youth and catch any opportunity to build bridges among the generations.

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Besides, some sessions will be hosted in languages in Bengali, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, French and Portuguese; these sessions will be simultaneously presented during country-specific forums, the release added.

Country Forums for countries and regions where the social business concept is in practical use are planned to be held. 

Country Forums will be devoted to sharing experiences, exploring potential, and analysing the actual practice of social businesses within each country, or group of countries. 

The discussion will take place in the language of that country, and will be headed by practitioners of these different countries.

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Closing speeches will be presented by Marina Mahathir Writer, Human Rights Activist, Kerry Kennedy, President, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Andrea Jung, President and Chief Executive Officer, Grameen America, Dr. Antonella Mei-Pochtler, Special Advisor to the Federal Chancellor, Head of Strategy Unit – ThinkAustria, Forest Whitaker, UN SDG Advocate, Founder and CEO, Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Peace Laureate, Sharon Stone actor and activist and Zanele Mbeki Former First Lady of South Africa.

Every year, Social Business Day is organised to discuss and celebrate the groundbreaking idea of social business. 

This event also creates an opportunity for participants to engage in various interactive panel sessions and workshops to broaden their understanding in their specific areas of interest.

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Social Business Day is an annual event gathering that platforms the accumulated experiences of social business leaders and entrepreneurship to give shape to the future.