scholarly journals Reconstructive Social Innovation Cycles in Women-Led Initiatives in Rural Areas

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1231
Author(s):  
Simo Sarkki ◽  
Cristina Dalla Torre ◽  
Jasmiini Fransala ◽  
Ivana Živojinović ◽  
Alice Ludvig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Gender Equity ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Cognitive Frames ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Education And Employment ◽  
State Of Affairs ◽  
Innovation Processes

Social innovations can tackle various challenges related to gender equity in rural areas, especially when such innovations are initiated and developed by women themselves. We examine cases located in rural areas of Canada, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco, and Serbia, where women are marginalized by gender roles, patriarchal values, male dominated economy and policy, and lack of opportunities for education and employment. Our objective is to analyze five case studies on how women-led social innovation processes can tackle gender equity related challenges manifested at the levels of everyday practice, institutions, and cognitive frames. The analyses are based on interviews, workshops, literature screening, and are examined via the qualitative abductive method. Results summarize challenges that rural women are facing, explore social innovation initiatives as promising solutions, and analyze their implications on gender equity in the five case studies. Based on our results we propose a new concept: reconstructive social innovation cycle. It refers to is defined as cyclical innovation processes that engage women via civil society initiatives. These initiatives reconstruct the existing state of affairs, by questioning marginalizing and discriminative practices, institutions, and cognitive frames that are often perceived as normal. The new concept helps with to assessing the implications that women-led social innovations have for gender equity.

Local Social Innovation to Combat Poverty and Exclusion

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Social Policies ◽  
European Governance ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Reduction Strategies

Based on more than 30 case studies in eight different countries, this book explores the governance dynamics of local social innovations in the field of poverty reduction. The diverse team of contributors reflects on the trajectory of social innovation in European governance. They illustrate how different governance dynamics and welfare mixes enable or hinder poverty reduction strategies and analyse how such dynamics involve a diversity of actors, instruments and resources at different spatial scales. The contributions are based on research motivated by the standstill in the fight against poverty in Europe and the anxiety that conventional macro-social policies are insufficient to deal with the current challenges.

scholarly journals Scaling up social innovation: a meta-synthesis

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 134-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
RODRIGO LUIZ MORAIS-DA-SILVA ◽  
ADRIANA ROSELI WÜNSCH TAKAHASHI ◽  
ANDREA PAULA SEGATTO
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Expansion Phase ◽  
Inductive Research ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Number Of Publications ◽  
Synthesis Methodology ◽  
Methodological Aspects

ABSTRACT Purpose: This paper aims to analyze how features raised in the case studies in the field of social innovation, from the meta-synthesis methodology proposed by Hoon (2013), indicate factors that promote social innovation scalability Originality/gap/relevance/implications: The number of publications on SI, despite an increase perceived, is still limited. Consequently, researches dedicated to understand the scalability of the process of SI are still scarce, thus constituting a gap research. Key methodological aspects: To achieve the objective of this research, we followed the eight meta-synthesis steps proposed by Hoon (2013) which is an exploratory-inductive research design for synthesis of primary data collected through case studies whose primary purpose is to build theory. It was analyzed 66 articles identified in the Web of Science database, nine of them were selected to join this meta-synthesis. Summary of key results: The findings of this research can be summarized in the concept proposed "environment favourable to the scalability of a SI" with features of the internal environment, divided between aspects of the entrepreneur and the organization, and settings of the external environment, mediated (or not) by a bridge organization. Key considerations/conclusions: The findings of this study advance the SI literature in two main points: Concept proposition of "environment conducive to the scalability of a SI" and to draw attention to the field of study on the promoting factors of continuity and growth of a SI. As for the practical contributions, the results of the research can help social innovations managers in the expansion phase of its operations, suggesting some elements to consider.

scholarly journals Governance of Social Innovation in Forestry

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Ludvig ◽  
Todora Rogelja ◽  
Marelli Asamer-Handler ◽  
Gerhard Weiss ◽  
Maria Wilding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Comparative Research ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Forest Sector ◽  
Research Topics ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Insight Into

Over the last decade, the term social innovation has received increased attention as a potential solution to address complex global social problems and to add collective values to society. The forest sector has great potential for fostering employment, community development and reducing increased emigration from rural to urban areas. This potential is not always realised, especially in economically weak and remote rural areas. Hence, this paper tackles the question of how social innovations in forestry are able to succeed under adverse circumstances and contribute to respond to some of the before mentioned challenges? To answer this question, we first identified four very different cases across Europe that are compatible with the criteria of social innovation. Proceeding from this starting point, comparative research was undertaken with the aim to identify the cases´ specific features and key criteria for success. In the cases considered, it is evident that the sheer determination and voluntary investment of time and effort by key individuals, who were convinced of the value of the idea for the community, provided indispensable impetus to all four social innovations. In drawing its conclusions, this paper highlights the principal areas that need consideration and that hence have implications when developing supportive policies. Furthermore, we provide some insight into future research topics that would allow us to better understand the positive impacts of social innovation in the forest-based sector.

Gendered processes of agricultural innovation in the Northern uplands of Vietnam

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 210-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nozomi Kawarazuka ◽  
Gordon Prain
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Gender Equity ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Agricultural Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovation Processes

Purpose This paper aims to explore ethnic minority women’s gendered perceptions and processes of agricultural innovation in the Northern uplands of Vietnam. The key research question asks how women develop innovations and learn new agricultural practices within patriarchal family structures. Design/methodology/approach In-depth interviews including life histories were conducted with 17 female and 10 male farmers from different socio-economic groups; participant observation and key informant interviews were also carried out. Findings Women’s innovation processes are deeply embedded in their positions as wives and daughters-in-law. Their innovation tends to be incremental, small-scale and less technological, and they use innovation networks of women rather than those of the formal agricultural institutions, including bringing innovation knowledge from their birth family to the patrilocal household. Unlike men’s perceived innovation, women’s innovation is strongly linked to small-scale entrepreneurship, and it is a powerful approach in the sense that it strengthens the position of women in their families while improving the household economy. Research limitations/implications Identifying socially constructed innovation processes helps policymakers to rethink the introduction of ready-made innovation packages, both in terms of content and delivery, and to facilitate innovation for women, as well as men, in marginalized positions. Social implications Understanding the gendered processes of innovation instead of measuring gender gaps in innovation outcomes sheds light on women’s interests and preferences, which can inform policies for supporting women’s innovation and thereby lead to social change, including gender equity. Originality/value This paper contributes to the understanding of gendered innovation processes and entrepreneurship associated with agriculture in rural areas in non-Western ethnic-minority contexts, which is an area that past and current research on entrepreneurship has relatively ignored.

scholarly journals Social Innovation to Sustain Rural Communities: Overcoming Institutional Challenges in Serbia

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 7248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Živojinović ◽  
Alice Ludvig ◽  
Karl Hogl
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Institutional Voids ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Countries In Transition ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Legal Frameworks ◽  
Context Specific

Responding to a number of longstanding challenges such as poverty, wide-ranging inequalities, environmental problems, and migration, requires new and creative responses that are often not provided by traditional governments. Social innovations can offer socio-ecological and economic solutions by introducing new practices that reduce social inequalities, disproportionate resource use and foster sustainable development. Understanding the role of social innovations is especially complicated in unstable institutional environments, e.g. in developing countries and countries in transition. This paper analyses nine social innovations in rural areas in Serbia, based on in-depth interviews and document analysis. This analysis reveals factors that facilitate or constrain social innovations whilst simultaneously identifying related formal and informal institutional voids, for example, poor law enforcement, a lack of adequate infrastructure, lack of trust, as well as norms and values that bolster patriarchal systems. The results that emerged from this research show that social innovations are operating in spite of these challenges and are facilitating improvements in a number of the aforementioned challenging areas. Some innovators engage in social entrepreneurship activities because of subsistence-oriented goals, while others follow idealistic or life-style oriented goals, thus creating new social values. Moving beyond these observations, this paper also identifies means to overcome institutional voids, such as creation of context-specific organisational structures, improved legal frameworks, and innovative financial mechanisms.

scholarly journals Understanding social innovation processes in rural areas: empirical evidence from social enterprises in Germany

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Martens ◽  
Anke Wolff ◽  
Markus Hanisch
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Allocation Patterns ◽  
Private Actors ◽  
Innovation Processes

Purpose Against the background of increasing infrastructure loss in many rural areas, this study aims to contribute conceptually and empirically towards better understanding of rural innovation processes related to provision of public goods. Design/methodology/approach The nationally focused understanding of innovation processes leads the debate on rural development into a dilemma that this study seeks to sidestep via the concept of social innovation. Community cooperatives – a type of social enterprise that has increasingly emerged in rural areas of Germany in the past decade – offer the opportunity to examine social innovation processes. This cross-case study reveals the broad range of activities in which such cooperatives are active and analyses their social innovation processes. Findings The study shows that the social innovation governance framework enables examination of social innovation processes. Although macro-level policy has appeared to be an important instrument for financing social innovation, public actors at the micro-level seem barely able to initiate social innovation processes unless they are also private actors and, therefore, can pursue additional incentives. The social innovations studied here seem to differ in terms of their actor constellations and resource-allocation patterns, depending on whether they are concerned with the establishment or maintenance of local infrastructure. What they have in common, however, is the initiation of formalised collective-action processes that serve to legitimise social innovation. Originality/value By applying an analytical framework that is new to the literature on social innovation, the study provides insight into the activities and decision-making processes of actors involved in social innovation in rural areas. In this context, community cooperatives have rarely been studied as an interface between public, private and civil society actors or as a platform for mobilising human, social and financial capital.

scholarly journals Social Innovation: Integrating Micro, Meso, and Macro Level Insights From Institutional Theory

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 887-918 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakomijn van Wijk ◽  
Charlene Zietsma ◽  
Silvia Dorado ◽  
Frank G. A. de Bakker ◽  
Ignasi Martí
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Theory ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Cycle Model ◽  
Multiple Systems ◽  
Introductory Article ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Innovative Solutions ◽  
Innovation Processes

Social innovations are urgently needed as we confront complex social problems. As these social problems feature substantial interdependencies among multiple systems and actors, developing and implementing innovative solutions involve the re-negotiating of settled institutions or the building of new ones. In this introductory article, we introduce a stylized three-cycle model highlighting the institutional nature of social innovation efforts. The model conceptualizes social innovation processes as the product of agentic, relational, and situated dynamics in three interrelated cycles that operate at the micro, meso, and macro levels of analysis. The five papers included in this special issue address one or more of these cycles. We draw on these papers and the model to stimulate and offer guidance to future conversations on social innovations from an institutional theory perspective.

scholarly journals Social innovation i indsatsen for hjemløse kvinder – tilblivelsen af en natcafé

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 55-73
Author(s):  
Catharina Juul Kristensen
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Homeless Women ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Night Shelter ◽  
Innovation Processes

I forbindelse med de nationale strategiplaner ”Det fælles ansvar II” og ”Den nationale hjemløsestrategi” er der blevet iværksat flere aktiviteter i Københavns Kommune for at skabe øget viden og forbedre indsatsen i forhold til hjemløse og andre grupper af socialt udsatte kvinder. Flere af disse er sociale innovationer. De har som formål at imødekomme kvindernes behov og problemer på nye og bedre måder. I artiklen analyseres tilblivelsen af en af disse sociale innovationer, ”Café Klare – Natcaféen for kvinder”. Det undersøges således hvorledes ideen til natcaféen er fremkommet, og hvordan processen bag implementeringen af den er forløbet. Analysen viser bl.a., at der er tale om en længerevarende proces, hvor medarbejdere og ledere i Socialforvaltningen og i organisationer på hjemløseområdet, mere eller mindre strategisk har skabt, udnyttet og forhandlet muligheder for at skabe en forbedret indsats for de hjemløse kvinder, heriblandt natcaféen. Analysen er baseret på et længerevarende, kvalitativt casestudie. ENGELSK ABSTRACT: Catharina Juul Kristensen: Social Innovation in Services for Homeless Women – the Creation of a Night Shelter Within the framework of the Danish national action plans ”Our Common Responsibility II” and ”The National Homeless Strategy”, the municipality of Copenhagen launched a number of initiatives to improve social services for socially vulnerable and homeless women. Another goal of these initiatives was to increase awareness and knowledge of these women’s needs. Many of these efforts are social innovations that endeavor to meet the needs and problems of homeless women in new ways. This article analyzes the emergence of one of these social innovations, ”Café Klare – the night shelter for women”. It focuses on the process of idea generation and implementation of the night shelter. The analysis shows how employees and managers in both the municipal social administration and in organizations for homelessness created, used and negotiated the opportunity to improve the social services for homeless women more or less strategically. Among these services was ”Café Klare”. The analysis is based on an in depth case study. Key words: Social innovation, innovation processes, entrepreneurship, night shelters, homeless women.

The Extended Social Grid Model

2019 ◽  
pp. 3-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Nicholls ◽  
Rafael Ziegler
Keyword(s):  
Social Innovation ◽  
Interdisciplinary Collaboration ◽  
Capabilities Approach ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Social Force ◽  
Cultural Economic ◽  
Grid Model ◽  
Cognitive Frames ◽  
Michael Mann ◽  
Social Innovations

For the analysis of social innovation and marginalization processes, the Extended Social Grid Model (ESGM) proposes a plural focus on social sources of power—cultural, economic, security-related, political, natural, and artefactual—and how these congeal and entwine in the cognitive frames, social networks, and institutions of a time and place. Drawing especially from sociologists Jens Beckert and Michael Mann, the approach is committed to explanatory pluralism and with it a thesis that the explanation of social change is irreducible to a single source of power (Mann) or to a single social force (Beckert). Drawing on the capabilities approach, as pioneered by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum, a further, normative commitment is ethical individualism. It puts the evaluative focus on the effect of social innovations on individuals. Thus, the model requires an interdisciplinary collaboration between economics, philosophy, and sociology that is explored in the subsequent chapters of the book.

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