Mapping and Typology of Stakeholders of Social Enterprises in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba: A Territorialized Analysis of Influence, Power and Dependency Relationships

Abstract

This article examines the relationships between stakeholders in social enterprises in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba and their effects on governance, strategic autonomy, and social value creation. The study adopts an interpretative paradigm and a qualitative, inductive, comparative, and phenomenological approach. The empirical design focuses on 21 social enterprises and 79 participants. Data, collected through semi-structured interviews, participatory mapping, observations, and document analysis, were processed using thematic coding and case comparisons. The results distinguish four categories of stakeholders: holders of economic resources, public institutions, community networks, and beneficiaries. Mining companies and donors wield significant power when they control resources with few substitutes. Public authorities provide regulatory legitimacy, while churches, NGOs, and community groups strengthen social acceptability. Despite their legitimacy and the urgency of their needs, beneficiaries remain only weakly involved in strategic decisions. This asymmetry limits strategic autonomy of social enterprises, thereby constraining the fulfillment of their social mission. The territorial comparison reveals a stronger integration of mining value chains in Lualaba, while Haut-Katanga presents a more pluralistic configuration. Four patterns emerge: domination by resource owners, institutional dependence, community legitimation, and partnership interdependence. The study recommends resource diversification, balanced partnerships, territorial coalitions, and the effective participation of beneficiaries.