scholarly journals International Expansion of Social Enterprises as a Catalyst for Scaling up Social Impact across Borders

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignacio Bretos ◽  
Millán Díaz-Foncea ◽  
Carmen Marcuello
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Local Context ◽  
International Expansion ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
International Scale ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
National Boundaries

Scaling social impact and solutions beyond the local context is argued to embody a key mechanism for social enterprises (SEs) to contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and to generate welfare-enhancing systemic change. In light of this, this article explores the potential of SE international expansion as a catalyst for scaling social impact across borders. From our reading of the literature, we discern three major typologies of cross-border scaling: Control-based, altruism-based, and hybrid. Drawing on a multiple-case study of nine international SEs, we examine why and how SEs deploy these scaling strategies on an international scale; the challenges to maximize social impact across borders associated with each of the scaling strategies, and the resources and actions that SEs can mobilize to manage such challenges associated with international expansion. Contrary to conventional wisdom and mainstream theory depicting SEs as small-sized organizations that suffer from different limitations to expand beyond their traditional national boundaries, our findings illustrate how these organizations can successfully operate on an international scale and simultaneously generate financial, social, and environmental value.

scholarly journals Principios Sustentables y Parámetros Legislativos en una mina subterránea en México. Caso de Estudio

2019 ◽  
pp. 31-34
Author(s):  
Rosa Elia MARTINEZ-TORRES ◽  
Mariusz BEDNAREK ◽  
Patricia RIVERA-ACOSTA ◽  
Maricela OJEDA-GUTIERREZ
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Legislative Framework ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Development Goals

The United Nations Organization is in favor of Sustainable Development through Objectives, of which four are studied for their relationship with the environment; for its part, the Legislative Framework of Mexico, provides to the agencies of the Ministry of Economy, power over the environmental parameters that must be met for companies operating in the mining-metallurgical sector. With a case study methodology, which is part of an integrated multiple case study (Yin, 2013), the environmental practices of an analysis unit (underground metal ore mine in Mexico) were investigated, obtaining information on instruments designed and, describing with a qualitative approach, the participation of the four sustainable principles selected, which obey the Sustainable Development Goals: (1) Industry, innovation and infrastructure, (2) Sustainable cities and communities, (3) Production and consumption responsible and, (4) Life and terrestrial ecosystems Therefore, the objective is: Articulate compliance with the principles of sustainability with the legislative parameters of an underground metal ore mine, to contribute to a comprehensive proposal of best practices for the Environmental Management of the miningmetallurgical sector of Mexico.

scholarly journals Sustainable Financial Partnerships for the SDGs: The Case of Social Impact Bonds

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (13) ◽  
pp. 5362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Rizzello ◽  
Abdellah Kabli
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Social Impact Bonds ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Stakeholder Partnerships ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
Multi Stakeholder

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development brought the critical challenge of how private capital can support its new goals—the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—to the attention of finance, business and policy actors. Impact finance instruments, which aim to obtain both financial and positive social/environmental returns simultaneously, can serve as effective institutional mechanisms to support the financing of SDGs. Social impact bonds (SIBs) are part of this emerging field. SIBs represent multi-stakeholder partnerships, built on outcome-based contracts, designed to harness private impact-oriented investors, service providers and public entities to address social or environmental problems. SDG 17 considers partnerships priority instruments for the achievement of SDs targets. This paper provides an exploratory analysis into the field of Social Impact Bonds and aims to (i) understand how such instruments are suitable for involving sustainable economy actors in SDG-based partnerships; (ii) determine the interplay between SIBs and SDGs. In order to address these questions, the article presents a multiple case study that includes a cross case analysis of four SIBs experienced in different social policy areas and different countries. As secondary step, the study matches phases and activities of SDG-based financial partnerships derived from a literature review with those experienced by each SIB case study. The results show that SIBs are fully compliant with SDG-based financial partnership structures derived from the literature, and their architecture reveals a high degree of SDG investment readiness. The originality of the research consists of including SIBs in the analysis of the new financial tools for the achievement of the SDGs, and extending them into the field of partnerships for the Goals, at the center of SDG 17. The paper fills the significant gap in the current research related to the issues of financing sustainable development and financial sector instruments on sustainability.

scholarly journals Unpacking B Corps’ Impact on Sustainable Development: An Analysis from Structuration Theory

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13408
Author(s):  
Sabrina Tabares ◽  
Andrés Morales ◽  
Sara Calvo ◽  
Valentín Molina Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Structuration Theory ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Common Future ◽  
Hybrid Organisations

With Our Common Future and the United Nation’s global call to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2030, public policies increasingly emphasise the need for various actors to contribute to a global transformation and a more sustainable future. Despite growing research on hybrid organisations and their contributions to sustainable development, their impact on accelerating this transition might be faulty. Looking at a type of hybrid organisation, Certified B Corporations (B Corps), this article draws on a multiple case study of nine B Corps in a developing country in Latin America, Colombia. The study builds on the Structuration Theory to examine to what extent and how B Corps impact sustainable development. The article empirically shows that B Corps focus on four categories of sustainable development: considering future generations; enhancing human development; encouraging new mindsets, behaviours, and lifestyles; and promoting socio-political engagement. The findings suggest that B Corps develop communicative and narrative discourses and symbolic schemas as means of signification and follow norms and moral rules to exert legitimation and utilise authoritative resources to exercise power. The article contributes to research on hybrid organisations, sustainability transitions, and business models.

SOCIAL FINANCE TAXONOMY IN TRANSITION TOWARDS A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 542
Author(s):  
Iryna Vasylchuk ◽  
Kateryna Slyusarenko ◽  
Inta Kotane
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Social Investment ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The Social ◽  
Sustainable Economy ◽  
Theoretical Generalization ◽  
Development Goals

The successful development of a sustainable economy and society in together with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-2030) requires comprehensive and coordinated efforts of governments, businesses and civil society in order to establish unified and clear rules and regulations for economic activity. In order to reach this goal the European Union begun the development of EU sustainability taxonomy, which is to ensure an equal understanding of the content of activities of enterprises, projects and investments that meet sustainability criteria. So as to realize the potential of the market for social investments and loans, unification of approaches for understanding the main concepts of the social financing process is necessary. The purpose of the study is to develop proposals for the classification of subjects and objects of the subsystem of social finance consistent with sustainability taxonomy. The research applies methods of induction and deduction, scientific abstraction of theoretical generalization and comparative analysis while studying definitions, best practices of social investment and for developing the classification of social impact investments and social enterprises. The article provides coherent analysis of the formation of social entrepreneurship and finance in Ukraine. Based on the results of the study, the most relevant classification features of social enterprises and investments were developed and recommendations were made for integrating social finance taxonomy into sustainability taxonomy. The results of the research are of both theoretical and practical value. 

scholarly journals Seaports during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Terminal Operators’ Tactical Responses to Disruptions in Maritime Supply Chains

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 4339
Author(s):  
Marta Mańkowska ◽  
Michał Pluciński ◽  
Izabela Kotowska ◽  
Ludmiła Filina-Dawidowicz
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chains ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Inductive Reasoning ◽  
Main Function ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Tactical Decisions

The world-wide crisis caused by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a significant impact on the global economy functioning and the sustainable development of supply chains. The changes also affected seaports being the key links of maritime supply chains. The purpose of the research study described in this article was to identify the sources and kinds of disruptions observed in various maritime supply chains as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on the operations of various types of seaport terminals, namely those serving bulk (universal, specialised) and general cargoes (universal, specialised). An additional purpose was to identify the dependencies between the type of terminal and its main function, and the tactical decisions adopted by the particular terminals. The research was carried out using the multiple-case study method. The study covered some selected port terminals functioning in Polish seaports (Gdańsk, Szczecin, Świnoujście), applying direct, semi-structured in-depth interviews. The analysis of the results was carried out using the inductive reasoning method. The research study has shown that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic some maritime supply chains ceased to exist, some of them were operating with decreased cargo volumes, while in other cases the transshipment volumes actually rose during the pandemic. Among terminal operators’ tactical responses to disruptions in maritime supply chains, there were pro-active and adaptive measures. Pro-active (offensive) measures included actions taken by an enterprise in order to engage in new maritime supply chains, and even participating in establishing new maritime chains in response to limitations caused by the pandemic. Adaptive (defensive) measures covered actions taken by the port terminals as a consequence of changes in the existing maritime supply chains, caused by the pandemic in the port’s foreland or hinterland. The research study results revealed that the terminals extent of engagement and tactical decisions related to the pandemic were depended on the type of terminal (universal or specialised) and its main function played within a supply chain.

scholarly journals Towards Sustainable Mobility? The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Romanian Mobile Citizens in Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 4023
Author(s):  
Silvia Marcu
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Human Mobility ◽  
Sustainable Mobility ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
New Models ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Depth Interviews

Using the case study of Romanians in Spain, this article highlights how the COVID-19 crisis presents both challenges and opportunities when it comes to human mobility and sustainability. Drawing on in-depth interviews with mobile people during the period of lockdown and circulation restrictions, and in accordance with the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the paper advances and contributes to the relevance of sustainability and its impact on people’s mobility in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. I argue that even in the midst of the crisis, sustainable ways may be found to promote and protect human mobility. The paper raises the way sustainability acts as a driver, gains relevance and influence, and contributes to the creation of new models of resilient mobility in times of crisis. The conclusions defend the respect for the SDGs regarding human mobility and emphasise the role of people on the move as sustainable actors learning to overcome distance and the barriers to their mobility during the pandemic.

scholarly journals Using citizen science data to monitor the Sustainable Development Goals: a bottom-up analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Ballerini ◽  
Sylvia I. Bergh
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Science Data ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Development Goals

AbstractOfficial data are not sufficient for monitoring the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): they do not reach remote locations or marginalized populations and can be manipulated by governments. Citizen science data (CSD), defined as data that citizens voluntarily gather by employing a wide range of technologies and methodologies, could help to tackle these problems and ultimately improve SDG monitoring. However, the link between CSD and the SDGs is still understudied. This article aims to develop an empirical understanding of the CSD-SDG link by focusing on the perspective of projects which employ CSD. Specifically, the article presents primary and secondary qualitative data collected on 30 of these projects and an explorative comparative case study analysis. It finds that projects which use CSD recognize that the SDGs can provide a valuable framework and legitimacy, as well as attract funding, visibility, and partnerships. But, at the same time, the article reveals that these projects also encounter several barriers with respect to the SDGs: a widespread lack of knowledge of the goals, combined with frustration and political resistance towards the UN, may deter these projects from contributing their data to the SDG monitoring apparatus.

scholarly journals Integrating Sustainable Development and Children’s Rights: A Case Study on Wales

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Rhian Croke ◽  
Helen Dale ◽  
Ally Dunhill ◽  
Arwyn Roberts ◽  
Malvika Unnithan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Children's Rights ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Deliberative Processes

The global disconnect between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), has been described as ‘a missed opportunity’. Since devolution, the Welsh Government has actively pursued a ‘sustainable development’ and a ‘children’s rights’ agenda. However, until recently, these separate agendas also did not contribute to each other, although they culminated in two radical and innovative pieces of legislation; the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure (2013) and the Well-being and Future Generations (Wales) Act (2015). This article offers a case study that draws upon the SDGs and the CRC and considers how recent guidance to Welsh public bodies for implementation attempts to contribute to a more integrated approach. It suggests that successful integration requires recognition of the importance of including children in deliberative processes, using both formal mechanisms, such as local authority youth forums, pupil councils and a national youth parliament, and informal mechanisms, such as child-led research, that enable children to initiate and influence sustainable change.

Smart practices in HEIs and the contribution to the SDGs: implementation in Brazilian university

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liane Dalla Gasperina ◽  
Janaina Mazutti ◽  
Luciana Londero Brandli ◽  
Roberto dos Santos Rabello
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Waste Reduction ◽  
Infrastructure Management ◽  
University Campus ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainability Research ◽  
Development Goals

Purpose Smart campuses can be seen as the future of higher education efforts, especially for their contributions to sustainability and to encourage innovation. This paper aims to present the benefits of smart practices in a Higher Education Institutions and highlights its connections to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Design/methodology/approach The methodology is divided into three steps: first, an international search and assessment of smart practices at universities; second, the identification of smart practices in a university campus in southern Brazil; and third, the presentation of the benefits of smart practices and their relationship with the SDGs. Findings The results showed that globally, the area most covered by smart practices in universities is the environment and, specifically, focused on waste reduction. in the context of this case study, the benefits of implementing smart practices mainly reach SDGs 4 and SDG 9, especially due to aspects of teaching technologies for the new classroom models and the optimization of campus infrastructure management. Practical implications The study encourages other universities to implement smart practices in their campuses, to becoming smart campuses while they also collaborate in achieving the SDGs while raising the discussion on the importance of committed actions taken on a university campus with the UN SDGs, to leverage synergies on campus operations at universities. Originality/value This paper presents a set of smart practices that universities are applying both globally and locally (in southern Brazil). In addition, it contributes to sustainability research by showing how smart practices have the potential to promote SDGs in universities, especially through campus operations.

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