The annual global gathering of social enterprises gets underway in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Wednesday.

The 2019 Social Enterprise World Forum will be a historic occasion as it is the first time the event will be held in an emerging market economy.

More than 1,200 delegates from around the world are expected to attend in order to learn, share and network with each other.

The full programme for this year blends traditional African social enterprise perspectives with future technological trends.

Speakers at the event include senior social enterprise figures from Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Malawi, the Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

Politicians set to attend include Aileen Campbell, the Scottish Government‘s Communities Minister and the UK’s Baroness Glenys Thornton.

Discussion events will explore using technology for good, how social enterprises can tackle poverty and how a successful future for business and planet go hand in hand.

The Rooftop will be reporting every day from the Social Enterprise World Forum thanks to support from the British Council in Ethiopia. You can read the latest online or by following us on Twitter.