Social entrepreneurship scaling in Africa: Mapping intellectual structures and research trends through bibliometric analysis

Abstract

This article aims to explore the research evolution of social entrepreneurship scaling in Africa by reviewing the publication trends, leading contributors, and thematic orientations between the years 1995 and 2023. Through a bibliometric review, research performance analysis, co-authorship mapping, keywords co-occurrence analysis, and thematic mapping were conducted using the Biblioshiny R tool. Analyzing 353 publications extracted from Scopus and Web of Science, this study identifies critical themes and collaborations that shape the field. Research has turned increasingly toward social capital, strategic partnerships, innovation, and hybrid models of sustainability as the critical constituent elements in scaling social enterprises through vastly different African contexts. The important findings discuss major contributions from South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, with an upward trend in international collaborations (e.g. USA, UK, Canada …). The analysis shows the importance of flexible business models, local partnerships, and resource mobilization mechanisms for advancing scalable solutions tailored to African needs. These insights highlight the future research orientations, hence serving as a roadmap for academics, practitioners, and policymakers interested in scaling impactful social enterprises across Africa.