Economic empowerment through local capability and enterprise

MB Foundation’s economic pillar focuses on local value creation. The strategy identifies sectors such as solar energy, agriculture, and tourism as practical areas where enterprise support, entrepreneurship, and local manufacturing or service development can contribute to more sustainable growth. The intent is not simply to encourage business activity in general, but to help strengthen ventures and partnerships that can respond to real needs and build local capability over time.

This focus area is especially relevant where small and medium enterprises, applied innovation, and sector partnerships can come together. In practice, that may mean supporting pipelines for technical talent, creating stronger links between local producers and buyers, enabling partner-led incubation or advisory support, and helping smaller enterprises participate in higher-value ecosystems. It also means approaching economic empowerment in a way that is grounded, selective, and partnership-driven.

The Foundation’s role in this area should be clear and credible: convening, enabling, piloting, and partnering where it can add value, rather than making broad claims about enterprise creation without the right conditions in place. Done well, this work can strengthen local opportunity while also reinforcing broader goals around sustainability, employability, and community resilience.