Scale-up impact on social enterprises and communities in times of crisis

Purpose This study explores how social enterprises (SEs) in Lebanon scale their activities and sustain impact while serving migrants and refugees in a context marked by political instability, economic collapse, and institutional fragility. Design/methodology/approach Using Outcome Harvesting, the study retrospectively identifies and analyses behavioral, organizational, and systemic outcomes across nine SEs participating in the Scale Up for Impact program. Evidence was gathered through documentation review, interviews, participatory workshops, and expert validation. Findings SEs scale successfully by expanding geographically, introducing new services, forming strategic partnerships, and leveraging digital platforms. Sustainability emerges from hybrid financial models, staff and beneficiary retention, and long-term collaborations. SEs generate significant social impact by improving employment, education, healthcare access, and contributing to systemic shifts in perceptions and policy dialogues. Research limitations/implications The analysis focuses on a specific cohort of SEs and relies partly on self-reported outcomes, limiting generalizability. Future studies should include longitudinal and comparative designs. Practical implications The study identifies actionable scaling and sustainability strategies useful for SE leaders, incubators, and policymakers operating in fragile contexts. Social implications SEs enhance refugee inclusion, economic resilience, and community well-being despite severe structural constraints. Originality/value This study advances theory on social enterprise scaling in fragile environments by showing that scaling is ecosystem-driven, hybrid financial models support resilience under instability, and social enterprises act as institutional intermediaries addressing governance gaps.