Following the thought-provoking talks at our Youth for the Tropics webinar on 12 August, here we explore one of the vehicles for change in the Tropics: social entrepreneurship.

Populations affected by disasters experience loss of lives, economic loss and other long-term effects. Such effects have wide-ranging consequences on the ability of affected communities to recover from the impact of disasters and undermine their capacity to cope with future events. This situation is expected to worsen as disasters due to extreme weather become more common as a result of climate change.

There is growing evidence of the importance of the role of social entrepreneurship (SE) for long-term community resilience through reduction of poverty, vulnerability and disaster risk in the communities that are moving toward recovery and reconstruction. The participation of youths and young professionals in SE will spur actions which are critical in building community resilience.

This Regional Workshop will serve as a platform for young social entrepreneurs to (1) understand funders requirements, (2) share experience and knowledge in building community resilience to disasters and climate change and (3) be spotlighted in the Register of Disaster Risk Reduction Social Entrepreneurs.