Impact Policy Tracker Policy

Office of Social Enterprise Promotion (OSEP)



Established under the Social Enterprise Promotion Act B.E. 2562 (2019), the Office of Social Enterprise Promotion (OSEP) is Thailand’s central agency for advancing the social enterprise sector. Operating under the Prime Minister’s Office, OSEP is responsible for registering social enterprises, coordinating national promotional strategies, and administering support mechanisms that contribute to fair and sustainable development through social innovation.



Highlights

  • Evolution from the Thai Social Enterprise Office (TSEO): The Thai Social Enterprise Office (TSEO) was established in 2011 under the Government’s Social Enterprise Promotion Blueprint 2010–2014. Its mission was to raise awareness of social enterprises, enhance their capacity, and facilitate access to capital and resources. TSEO played a crucial role in pushing for the draft Social Enterprise Promotion Act and encouraged the first wave of around 200 organisations to apply for social enterprise registration before its closure in 2016. The enactment of the Social Enterprise Promotion Act in 2019 led to the establishment of three key governmental mechanisms: the National Social Enterprise Promotion Committee, the Office of Social Enterprise Promotion (OSEP), and the Social Enterprise Promotion Fund. Among these, OSEP serves as the central agency responsible for registering social enterprises and implementing promotional plans and related measures.

  • Social Enterprise Promotion Fund: OSEP administers the Social Enterprise Promotion Fund, a crucial financial instrument designed to support the development and sustainability of social enterprises in Thailand. The fund provides loans to registered social enterprises, offers grants to early-stage enterprises, and assists supporting agencies in delivering services aligned with the national promotional plan.

Government’s Role:
Market Facilitator


Country:
Thailand

Policy Type:
Dedicated Government Agencies and Offices

Year: 2019

Responsible Institution:
Prime Minister’s Office

Additional information:
State of Social Enterprise in Thailand

Dedicated Government Agencies and Offices

What are Dedicated Government Agencies Supporting the Impact Economy?

Governments seeking to foster impact economies -whether through social investment, support for social enterprises, or broader ecosystem development- have established dedicated agencies or units with a clear and sustained mandate. These bodies are typically responsible for implementing and overseeing programmes that drive impact investment and support the wider development of the impact economy.

While their specific focus may vary from country to country -from promoting social enterprises and cooperatives in South Korea to strengthening the social investment markets in the UK and New Zealand- these units enable coordination across different government offices. Beyond their operational roles, these agencies serve as policy anchors, ensuring continuity of the impact economy agenda beyond electoral cycles and enabling long-term public–private collaboration. They also act as conveners and knowledge hubs, facilitating cross-sector learning and coordination between government, civil society, and the private sector.