Mapping the Discursive Positioning of Social Enterprises Across the SDGs: Evidence From International Development Cooperation

ABSTRACT This study examines how social enterprises (SEs) are discursively positioned within international development cooperation in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using computational text analysis, it analyses 949 SE‐related projects retrieved from the open‐source d‐portal platform, which aggregates development cooperation data reported under the International Aid Transparency Initiative standard. The findings indicate that 63.9% of the retrieved projects were initiated during the SDG implementation period beginning in 2016. This temporal concentration is consistent with greater policy and reporting visibility of SE‐related narratives during the implementation of the SDGs, although it does not establish a causal increase in actual SE activities. SEs are most frequently associated with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Period‐specific comparisons further show broader discursive associations with gender equality, sustainable cities, responsible consumption and production and reduced inequalities during the SDG implementation period. These findings suggest that SEs are represented in development project narratives through terminology related to economic inclusion, social equity and collaborative governance, whereas their verified field‐level contributions require further empirical assessment.