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Social franchise chains operating in African countries: are their social goals aligned with the 2030 United Nations sustainable development goals?

Rozenn Perrigot (Rennes University, CNRS, CREM – UMR 6211, Rennes, France) (Rennes School of Business, Rennes, France)
Komlanvi Elom Gbetchi (Rennes University, CNRS, CREM – UMR 6211, Rennes, France)

International Journal of Emerging Markets

ISSN: 1746-8809

Article publication date: 3 June 2022

Issue publication date: 12 December 2023

204

Abstract

Purpose

Social franchise chains have social goals rather than – or in addition to – commercial or profit-making goals. But are these social goals, disclosed by social franchisors, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and, if so, which ones?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine the disclosure of SDG-related information on websites of 69 social franchise chains operating in Africa.

Findings

The authors' main findings show that social goals disclosed by social franchisors are aligned with certain SDGs that are general in nature and not just sector-dependent, except in the case of education.

Practical implications

The authors' paper contributes to the practice by providing examples of the types and varieties of social goals social franchisors can pursue. Moreover, entrepreneurs might be encouraged to launch their franchise concept as franchisors who contribute to SDGs at an international, national or regional level or to join franchise chains as franchisees who contribute to SDGs at the local level.

Social implications

The authors' findings show the potential for social franchise chains in developing countries to target and contribute to achieving SDGs.

Originality/value

The authors' paper adds to the limited literature on SDGs and, more specifically, on the role of the private sector, in particular social franchisors, in targeting and achieving SDGs.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Huong Ngoc Lan Nguyen for the assistance with data collection during Huong Ngoc Lan Nguyen's internship at the Center in Franchising, Retail & Service Chains – Graduate School of Management (IGR-IAE Rennes) – University of Rennes 1.

Citation

Perrigot, R. and Elom Gbetchi, K. (2023), "Social franchise chains operating in African countries: are their social goals aligned with the 2030 United Nations sustainable development goals?", International Journal of Emerging Markets, Vol. 18 No. 12, pp. 6214-6233. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-10-2021-1640

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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