Page 162 - Social Enterprise A New Business Paradigm for Thailand

5.1.3 International Network of Grameen Bank

Muhammad Yunus demonstrated strong communication capabilities not only within Bangladesh
but also on the global stage. His international outreach attracted widespread cooperation in

finance, technology, and expertise, and helped to inspire a worldwide movement around social
business. As a result, Grameen Bank established a network of international entities to share
knowledge, data, and guidance on launching social businesses, most notably The Grameen
Creative Lab in Wiesbaden and the Yunus Social Business Center.

1) The Grameen Creative Lab in Wiesbaden (GCL)
Founded in 2009, the Grameen Creative Lab was established through a collaboration between
the CSR consultancy CINC – Responsibility and the Yunus Center in Bangladesh. Its mission is to
promote social business as a means of alleviating global poverty. For instance, GCL served as an

advisor in the joint venture between the German multinational BASF and the Grameen Health
Trust to develop a social business producing mosquito nets designed to prevent malaria. The Lab
is also committed to positioning Wiesbaden as a global hub for social business.

2) Yunus Social Business Center (YSB)
The Yunus Social Business Center is a nonprofit initiative launched in collaboration with
international universities to advance the social business model. It partners with leading
corporations and business leaders interested in building social enterprises. The center provides
educational programs, research, training, and acts as a knowledge-sharing platform for aspiring

social entrepreneurs. It also hosts an annual global conference every November.

At present, the Yunus Social Business Center has expanded its reach to eight countries: Haiti,
Albania, Brazil, Colombia, India, Tunisia, Uganda, and Thailand. The Center is supported by a
global advisory team of over 40 professionals from diverse backgrounds. One such advisor is
Saskia Bruysten, a former consultant at the Boston Consulting Group, who left her prestigious
corporate career to join the Yunus Social Business movement. Examples of enterprises developed
with support from the Yunus Social Business Center include:

(1) Golden Bees, a successful initiative in Uganda, began with YSB’s incubation support for a
network of local beekeepers. The program trained 1,200 farmers, whose products are now sold
in 80 supermarkets, through three member-run retail shops, and alongside sales of beekeeping
tools and equipment.
(2) Green Bio Energy manufactures fuel from agricultural waste such as banana peels, cassava
skins, rice husks, and coffee husks. This fuel produces cleaner combustion, reducing smoke and
odors, and is sold at prices accessible to low-income households. The company also produces
cookstoves for households and small-scale community enterprises.

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