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Box 7.1 Yunus Thailand (YT) and the Effort to Build a Social Procurement Network in Thailand

Yunus Thailand (YT) is a non-profit organization that has operated for five years, working in
collaboration with universities in Thailand and engaging in community development initiatives. As
part of its role in strengthening the country’s social enterprise ecosystem, YT has been leading efforts
to establish a social procurement network in Thailand. This initiative is being implemented in three
phases, two of which have already been completed, with the third beginning in 2025. Indirect
procurement refers to all corporate expenditures not directly related to core products, such as
facilities, waste management, corporate gifts, catering, IT services, and uniforms. These expenditures
represent massive budgets, and if such funding channels could be opened to social enterprises and
community-based providers, it would mark a significant shift in the financial ecosystem supporting
social impact. YT’s initiative is structured as follows: The first phase involved collaboration with Ducati,
the motorcycle manufacturer. YT began by offering consultancy services to help Ducati explore how
to redirect its indirect procurement spending to social enterprises. This included identifying suitable
products and services and presenting opportunities for corporate support. YT also facilitated site visits
and meetings with social enterprises, helped strengthen their operational capacity, and coordinated
matchmaking between corporate partners and potential social enterprise suppliers. In the second
phase, YT conducted research into the demand for social procurement in Thailand’s business-to-
business landscape. This involved interviews with approximately 85 social enterprises about their
needs and experiences in selling to institutional buyers. The findings were presented at the World
Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year, with support from one of the Forum’s strategic partners.
The third phase, set to begin next month, will focus on mapping the procurement needs of private-
sector purchasing teams. The goal is to understand whether they have previously attempted to source
goods and services from community enterprises, what types of support they are interested in
providing, and what obstacles they face. Based on these findings, activities will be organized to
connect buyers and suppliers and facilitate actual procurement. This phase aims to bridge the gap
between supply and demand. Altogether, these efforts reflect the Yunus Center’s broader initiative to
develop a social procurement network in Thailand.

Source: Based on insights from the interview.

Looking ahead, these organizations also plan to establish a Grameen Bank-style microfinance
institution in Thailand. On the academic side, YCA offers a Master of Business Administration
(MBA) program, but only 3 out of 65 enrolled students have successfully graduated. While
admission requirements are relatively simple, candidates must hold a recognized bachelor’s
degree and meet English language proficiency, the graduation criteria are intentionally

demanding. To complete the program, students must design and launch their own social
enterprise. The final examination involves pitching their business plan to a panel, which
includes private-sector representatives interested in funding promising ventures. Failure to
secure funding results in failure to graduate. Despite this challenge, all three graduates have
gone on to launch initiatives that create lasting social value. One now serves as CEO of a
prominent international organization. Another is actively raising funds to establish a nonprofit
focused on sustainable housing. The third is building a business that produces fuel from
agricultural waste. These outcomes illustrate that YCA graduates are not merely finding jobs,
they are creating employment opportunities for others. This reinforces the notion that YCA is
not just an academic institution, but a hands-on, impact-driven center committed to real-world

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