scholarly journals Sustainable Development in Portuguese Social Economy Entities: The Environmental Responsibility of Private Social Solidarity Institutions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graça Azevedo ◽  
Denise Curi ◽  
Alberto J. Costa ◽  
Ana Maria Bandeira ◽  
Augusta Ferreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Environmental Management Systems ◽  
Environmental Responsibility ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Environmental Behaviour ◽  
The Social

Social Economy institutions seek to provide answers to social problems, given that they naturally have a socially responsible mission. This study aims to answer the research question: how sustainable practices, namely environmental behaviour, have been adopted by Portuguese Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS) with the purpose of contributing to Sustainable Development? To achieve this objective, qualitative research was carried out in 31 IPSS, which was framed within the scope of the TFA project (Theoretical framework for promotion of accountability in the social economy sector: the IPSS case). Semi-structured interviews were conducted, with a script based on the literature review, from May to July 2019, with those responsible for the management of these entities. A content analysis was conducted, using the NVivo12 Version 12.6.0 software, which enables data to be coded and categorised, reducing any researcher bias. The results indicate that most entities carry out activities of an environmental nature, related to the reuse of materials, the recycling of waste, the sale of materials for recycling, and user awareness. Several entities expressed financial limitations to the implementation of Environmental Management Systems and their accomplishment. However, the objections presented are not impossible to overcome, according to studies presented in other countries.

scholarly journals Framework for the Promotion of Accountability in the Social Economy: The Specific Case of Private Social Solidarity Institutions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Augusta Ferreira ◽  
Carlos Santos ◽  
Helena Inácio ◽  
Alberto J. Costa ◽  
Ana Maria Bandeira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
Pilot Test ◽  
Legal Compliance ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Hard Law ◽  
The Social

Given the extreme importance of improving the accountability of Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS), both for reasons of legal compliance (hard law) and for reasons of improving legitimacy and notoriety among their stakeholders (soft law), this paper aims to present a framework designed under a more comprehensive research project, for the assessment of IPSS accountability and, consequently, its improvement. This study also present results of the indicators conceived, identifying the main trends of the framework dimensions and sub-dimensions from a pilot test for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020 in Portugal. Given the results, we believe that the framework designed answers the research question: How to promote accountability (social, financial and economic) in the social economy sector, in particular: the case of the IPSS?, however, as this is an exploratory article, it incorporates the limitation that this is a pilot test with only 7 entities.

scholarly journals Social Solidarity Economy and Village-centric Development in North-West Cameroon

2021 ◽  
pp. 251660262110154
Author(s):  
Charles Fonchingong Che ◽  
Marcellus Mbah
Keyword(s):  
Community Development ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Community Relations ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Solidarity Economy ◽  
North West ◽  
Secondary Sources

Amidst shrinking budgets for community development in most of sub-Saharan Africa, the social solidarity economy is touted as a model in local development. This article situates solidarity initiatives and capability-focused outcomes that deliver enhanced livelihoods, social security and community development. The conceptual framing of social theory, social capital and social economy informs this case study with focus on the Ndong Awing Cultural and Development Association, North-West region, Cameroon. The analysis of semi-structured interviews and secondary sources suggests that solidarity networks such as njangis, cooperatives, quarter development unions and diaspora networks promote village-centric development. These overlapping networks generate scarce financial and human resources–essential packages for livelihoods and welfare. Emerging state policy is yet to calibrate these mechanisms of ground-up, mutual development drives. Galvanising these solidarity assets require meaningful co-productionand revamped state−community relations. This article offers a paradigm shift in how village groups mobilise income, capital and financing of village projects, nurtured through human development and agency.

scholarly journals Managing corporate identities of non-profit organisations in the social welfare sector

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lida Holtzhausen
Keyword(s):  
Social Welfare ◽  
Identity Management ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Corporate Identity ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Government

Present-day South Africa is characterised by many societal and developmental issues, such as HIV awareness and prevention, child-headed households, environmental protection, poverty alleviation, violence and victim aid. However, it is widely acknowledged that government alone cannot address these issues effectively. The role of non-profit organisations (NPOs) in addressing social and development issues is increasingly emphasised. NPOs work at grass-roots level and they can therefore, on the whole, identify societal vulnerabilities and risks earlier than the government sector. However, due to the economic recession, NPOs operate in a competitive environment where an increasing number of NPOs rely on a small number of donors and other resources. NPOs should therefore differentiate themselves from the competition in order to obtain public legitimacy and funding. Corporate identity management is important for NPOs to fulfil their role in social welfare and thus contribute to disaster risk reduction. The exploratory nature of this study dictates a qualitative research approach. Semi-structured interviews with management of five NPOs in the social welfare sector were conducted in order to provide an answer to the study’s research question: ‘To what extent do NPOs in the social welfare sector practise corporate identity management, in order to prevent and address social welfare risks?’ The research found that NPOs do not realise the full potential of managing their corporate identities. NPOs therefore do not take advantage of a strong and distinct corporate identity which would allow them to ensure their ability to assess, address, reduce and/or alleviate vulnerabilities and disaster risks.

scholarly journals The emergence of a Social Innovation Ecosystem in Portugal: An exploratory approach based on the perspective of strategic stakeholders

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-34
Author(s):  
Hugo Pinto ◽  
◽  
Sílvia Ferreira ◽  
Jorge André Guerreiro ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Innovation ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Hybrid Structure ◽  
Interesting Case ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Innovation Ecosystem ◽  
Exploratory Approach ◽  
Innovation Dynamics ◽  
The Social

The concept of ecosystem has been used to describe a dynamic set of relationships, services and interdependencies that potentiate the creation, renewal and growth of organizations. Social innovation is largely influenced by ecosystem conditions. The Portuguese social innovation ecosystem is a particularly interesting case study, as it assumes a hybrid structure that expresses a variety of policy schemes, networks and support structures. This article debates the concept of social innovation ecosystem and presents an exploratory approach to its mapping. Based on interviews with strategic stakeholders in the social and solidarity economy and social enterprises, the study elaborates on the specificities of the social innovation ecosystem. The Portuguese ecosystem is comprised of three sub-ecosystems that show different weights, limited connections and overlapping: social economy, social business, and the social solidarity ecosystem. The article concludes with an overview of the current state of social innovation, emphasizing the perspectives of stakeholders on recent experiences that the Portuguese state has developed in establishing dialogue within organizations integrating social innovation dynamics.

scholarly journals The social impact of the ‘Social solidarity income’ in Greece: A qualitative interpretation

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Theodoros Sakellaropoulos ◽  
Varvara Lalioti ◽  
Nikos Kourachanis
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Survival Strategies ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Minimum Income ◽  
Positive Elements ◽  
The Social ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

The present article sheds light on the implementation of the ‘Social Solidarity Income’ (SSI) in Greece, an example of a guaranteed minimum income (GMI). Drawing on the findings of 40 semi-structured interviews carried out in five selected municipalities, the article focuses on the ‘social impact’ of the SSI. More specifically, it investigates two inter-related themes: a) the social situation of beneficiaries and the survival strategies they used before and after receiving the SSI; and b) aspects of the SSI that should be improved at the implementation stage. It is argued that, despite certain positive elements of the SSI, such as the monetary allowance, which is a key component of the SSI and assists beneficiaries in covering their basic needs, the impact of the SSI on the lives of individuals is relatively small and a large proportion of the beneficiaries continue to rely on the survival strategies they used before implementation of the SSI

scholarly journals To Find Own Path

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Turar Koychuev
Keyword(s):  
Free Market ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Structure Transition ◽  
Legal Structure ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Social ◽  
Demographic Processes ◽  
Search And Selection ◽  
Knowledge Intensive

The report reviews the search and selection of ideology, concept and models of economic development in the post-Soviet space with account of historical peculiarities, demographic processes, natural resources, scales of country and its economy, new political and legal structure, transition to open and free market economy. It evaluates the current state, defines objectives of development and ways of their implementation for a full-fledged establishment of the social economy, taking a rightful place in the world economy, which is appropriate to its own possibilities and needs, knowledge-intensive and receptive to innovations and in-demand within the international geo-economical space. In the end, must be approved by the inter-state peaceful coexistence, political tolerance, social solidarity, mutually beneficial economic cooperation that ensures a prosperous development of societies and States that Man lived happily ever after.

The Potential Role of Social Reporting in the Decision-Making Process of Cooperatives

2019 ◽  
pp. 115-131
Author(s):  
Fabio De Matteis ◽  
Daniela Preite
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Social Reporting ◽  
Social Report ◽  
The Social ◽  
Decision Making Processes

Accountability in the social economy sector is very important because it is inherent in the nature of the organizations of this sector. The literature on the topic of social accounting and accountability is abundant and highlights the benefits and the criticisms of social reporting. The objective of the chapter arises from the literature review that highlights how more in-depth studies are needed on the characters and role of social accountability in decision-making processes. In order to answer the research question (How is social reporting performed and how does social information influence the decision making of the management in a cooperative?), the single case study methodology has been adopted, considering embedded units of analysis and focusing on the social report of an Italian retail cooperative (COOP Lombardia). Thanks to the analyzed case study, it is possible to conclude that the social report can represent a tool of accountability that also informs future decisions, realizing a circular relationship between results achieved and decisions to be taken.

CSR Strategies in Emerging Markets

2017 ◽  
pp. 1702-1725
Author(s):  
Claudia Ogrean ◽  
Mihaela Herciu
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Business Models ◽  
The Other ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Csr Strategies ◽  
Development Tool ◽  
The Social ◽  
Decision Making Processes

The purpose of the chapter is to emphasize on the roles of businesses – as an effective (sustainable) development agent in emerging markets, on one hand, and of their CSR strategies – as an efficient sustainable development tool, on the other hand, in order to identify valuable business practices able to lead the emerging markets towards sustainability – through socially responsible decision making processes at business level. Having in the fore-ground the ideas of sustainability (which basically is a macro-economic concern) and responsibility (and especially its micro-economic correspondent that usually embraces the form of CSR), it will try to discover the general and specific features of the business models that capitalize the best the synergy between the social responsibility of business and the ensuring of sustainability in emerging markets.

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