This research stems from my interest in the intersection between international
development intervention, technical solutions, entrepreneurship and human rights. The
inequity between ‘developing’ and ‘developed’ areas is a product of centuries of
exploitation, corruption, false promises and well-intentioned but misguided interventions
that have dehumany certain groups while privileging others. I seek to explore one way
in which a promising new model for development might harness the language of human
rights to effect social-structural change in an unequal world. Just as development
intervention can exacerbate historical inequalities, there may be ways in which to engage
in a development process that is not oppressive. Social enterprise seeks to tackle large
and intractable social problems with business methods. However, they do not singlemindedly
chase profit or power. Instead they use the market to simultaneously achieve
social impact and financial sustainability.