Organized by: SAWAB (Social Agency for Welfare and Advancement in Bangladesh)
Co-Organize by: BIIT, Krishibid Group, Muslim Aid Bangladesh, Biopharma
Theme: NGO Leadership for the Three Zeros in the Muslim World
📅 Date: July 5, 2025
📍 Venue: Hotel Bengal Blubbery, Gulshan-2, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Introduction
The Social Business Summit 2025 is a high-impact international gathering that seeks to reposition civil society as a central actor in driving inclusive and sustainable development across the Muslim world. Organized by SAWAB in collaboration with prominent partners such as the Bangladesh Institute of Islamic Thought (BIIT Trust), Krishibid Group, Muslim Aid Bangladesh, and Biopharma, this year’s summit convenes global leaders in social entrepreneurship, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia, and policymaking from over a dozen countries.
The summit is organized in strategic partnership with the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World (UNIW), recognizing Bangladesh’s global leadership in social business innovation and its pivotal role in grassroots-led democratic transformation, particularly following the youth-driven July Movement of 2024.
As the world navigates multiple crises—economic inequality, unemployment, climate degradation, and governance challenges—the summit highlights social business as a practical and values-driven model for systemic change. It aligns with the vision of Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Laureate and architect of the “Three Zeros”: zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions. These ambitious yet achievable goals form the foundation of the summit’s agenda.
Background and Context
More than 25% of the global population lives in Muslim-majority countries. While many of these nations have made strides in infrastructure and economic growth, deep-rooted challenges such as youth unemployment, persistent poverty, inequality, environmental vulnerability, and governance instability continue to hinder progress. These structural issues are exacerbated by limited institutional capacity, fragile democratic transitions, and inconsistent international cooperation.
At the same time, the Islamic tradition offers a rich framework for ethical development. Core values such as compassion (rahmah), justice (‘adl), and collective responsibility (mas’uliyyah) resonate deeply with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in the 2030 Agenda. When integrated with innovation and entrepreneurship, these principles can catalyze transformative social change.
Social business—an entrepreneurial model that reinvests profits to solve social problems—has gained global attention for its measurable, self-sustaining impact. From health and education to clean energy and agriculture, social businesses are demonstrating how market mechanisms can be reoriented to serve human needs. In countries like Bangladesh, this model has proven effective in empowering marginalized communities while supporting economic resilience and democratic participation.
Recognizing the urgency to scale such models across the Muslim world, SAWAB has taken the lead in convening this summit to explore how NGOs can play a more strategic, entrepreneurial, and collaborative role in this transformation.
Summit Objectives
The Social Business Summit 2025 is designed around three core objectives:
- a) Strengthen Global Dialogue and Strategic Partnerships
To foster dialogue among NGOs, social entrepreneurs, scholars, and policymakers from more than 50 countries, facilitating mutual learning and long-term alliances. Through plenaries, panels, and working sessions, the summit will address best practices, policy frameworks, and collaborative tools to scale the impact of social business models.
- b) Advance the “Three Zeros” Vision in the Muslim World
To articulate a shared vision among civil society actors to collectively address zero unemployment, zero net carbon emissions, and zero poverty, using the principles of social business and ethical innovation as foundational tools.
- c) Support Democratic Transitions and Institutional Resilience
To explore how civil society, particularly NGOs, can play a constructive role in post-crisis recovery, state-building, and democratic renewal. The recent experience of Bangladesh serves as a powerful example of how civic movements and social enterprises can drive positive political and institutional change.
Key Themes
Several cross-cutting themes will be explored throughout the summit:
- Social Business as a Catalyst for SDGs: Understanding how social enterprises can be strategically positioned to address key development targets, especially in underserved communities.
- Islamic Ethics and Innovation: Exploring the synergy between Islamic values and contemporary models of sustainable enterprise and ethical investment.
- Youth Empowerment and Job Creation: Emphasizing youth-led initiatives, skills development, and inclusive labor markets across the Muslim world.
- Climate Justice and Resilience: Addressing the environmental challenges facing Muslim-majority countries, and promoting green entrepreneurship and climate-smart development.
- Technology for Social Impact: Showcasing digital solutions, AI, and fintech innovations that advance inclusion and sustainability.
Expected Outcomes
The summit aspires to deliver several key outcomes that extend beyond dialogue:
- Alignment of Civil Society Agendas
Creating a unified civil society platform committed to advancing the Three Zeros in practical, measurable ways across Muslim-majority countries.
- Regional Cooperation and Policy Innovation
Strengthening South-South cooperation through shared initiatives, with Bangladesh as a regional hub for social business development.
- The Dhaka Declaration
Formal launch of the Dhaka Declaration, a collective commitment to promote social business, deepen ethical development practices, and foster collaborative mechanisms to achieve the SDG 2030 targets.
- Strategic Alliances and Resource Mobilization
Facilitating partnerships between NGOs, development agencies, academic institutions, and government stakeholders to scale impact-driven solutions and attract sustainable funding.
Why Bangladesh? Why Now?
Bangladesh is a global pioneer in social business and inclusive development. From the Grameen model to mobile financial inclusion, Bangladesh has consistently demonstrated how locally-driven innovation can address global challenges. In the wake of the July Movement of 2024, the country has entered a new phase of civic engagement and democratic momentum, making it an ideal location for this timely global summit.
Dhaka, as the host city, symbolizes a bridge between legacy and leadership—where grassroots solutions meet global ambition.
Conclusion
The Social Business Summit 2025 is not just an event—it is a movement to redefine how development is imagined and implemented across the Muslim world. It is a space where ideas meet action, where NGOs shift from service delivery to systems change, and where social entrepreneurs connect across borders to co-create a better future.
Under the leadership of SAWAB, and with the support of dedicated partners, this summit aims to ignite a new chapter in global civil society—one grounded in ethical purpose, entrepreneurial spirit, and collective resolve.
Together, let us work toward a world with zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero carbon emissions—a world led by values, powered by innovation, and shaped by justice.
