Developing a Context-Responsive Competence Profile for Social Innovation Entrepreneurs in East Africa: Evidence from Uganda and Tanzania

Social innovation and entrepreneurship (SIE) can address persistent development challenges in East Africa, yet existing entrepreneurship frameworks insufficiently reflect the region’s resource, institutional, and community realities. This study developed and translated a context-responsive competence profile for social entrepreneurs in Uganda and Tanzania. A sequential mixed-methods design combined a structured literature review, an online survey of 212 participants (Uganda, n = 101; Tanzania, n = 111), and six focus group discussions involving entrepreneurs, graduate students, community innovators, academics, and enterprise enablers. Survey items were mapped to EntreComp and refined through stakeholder consultation. The instrument showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .86), while qualitative data were analysed through open, axial, and selective coding. The resulting profile integrates opportunity recognition, ethical and sustainable thinking, financial literacy, resource mobilisation, self-efficacy, initiative, collaboration, and risk management. Both countries prioritised ethical thinking, resource mobilisation, and financial literacy; Tanzanian participants additionally stressed planning and perseverance, whereas Ugandan participants emphasised digital capability and interpersonal leadership. The profile informed a proposed 30-ECTS postgraduate diploma supported by experiential learning, mentorship, internships, competency rubrics, SIE Learning Centres, and ecosystem partnerships. The study extends EntreComp by specifying context-sensitive competencies and an implementation pathway for SIE education in East Africa