This article aims to bring together the latest knowledge and practices of stakeholders in social innovation and promote partnerships and collaborations between different agents to generate greater impact and efficiency results.
Social entrepreneurship and social enterprise have become popular and positive rallying points for those trying to improve the world, but social innovation is a better vehicle for understanding and creating social change in all of its manifestations.
In governance, its main role is to enhance and maximize the trust of citizens through active involvement in society, whether in the public or private sphere. Social innovation's role in curbing corruption is carried out through two main mediums. Firstly, it is institutionalized through actors (in the public and the private sectors), and secondly, it is executed with new tools available, specifically ICTs.
“Social Innovation” is a concept which integrates various innovative solutions to address the most pressing problems that society faces, issues such as poverty, unemployment or the environment.
Less than a decade the term was unknown. However, is currently on the agendas of political, young entrepreneurs, big business and the most renowned universities, and strategies of investors and all interested citizens to seek answers to the major challenges facing our planet.
Social innovations are dependent on history and the change in institutions. The ten recent social innovations reflecting current change include:
- Charter Schools: Charter schools are a social innovation that provides an alternative avenue for students to continue to develop and build upon their educational foundation without many of the issues prominent in the public school system. These primary and secondary schools are publicly funded and operate independently, which allows the teachers and parents to collaboratively develop alternative teaching methods for their students as related regulations are less stringent for Charter Schools.
- Community-Centred Planning: This social innovation allows communities to plan and develop systems that cater solutions to their specific local needs by using their historical knowledge and other local resources.
- Emissions Trading: The Emissions Trading program was designed to address issues associated with the continuous increase in pollution. The program provides solutions such as setting a cap on the amount that certain pollutants can be emitted, and implementing a permit system to control the amount of pollution produced by each participating business. If a business needs to use more pollution than permitted, it can purchase credits from a business that has not emitted its maximum permitted amount. The goal of the Emissions Trading program is that, over time and with increased awareness, society will limit the types and the numbers of pollutants emitted to what is only necessary.
- Fair Trade: Products including coffee, sugar, and chocolate are currently being traded without high standards that result in tough conditions for farmers and a less sustainable environment. Fair trade is a movement that certifies traders to exchange with the farmers that produce these products. The idea behind this movement is that by being paid a living-wage, being able to meet social and environmental standards and promoting "environmental sustainability, the lives of these farmers will be improved.
- Habitat Conservation Plans: Habitat Conservation Plans is an effort by the US Fish and Wild Life Service and the Environmental Protection Agency to protect species and their endangerment by providing economical incentives to conserve their habitats and protect these species from endangerment.
- Individual Development Accounts: This social innovation is made to support the working poor with saving decisions that they have made to better enhance their lives. This initiative will give $2 per every $1 saved by the working poor for College tuition, purchasing a home, starting a business, and other similar and productive initiatives. This is made possible by philanthropic, government and corporate sponsors that donate to this cause.
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Software developer creates an app to help prevent GBV and keep users of e-hailing services safe
In light of 16 Days of Activism against the violence of women and children and to prevent GBV, James Baloyi and Derik Sadiki have created a mobile app called DCHECK which seeks to create a safer experience for users of e-hailing services.
An e-hailing service is a form of transportation pick up requested with a virtual device such as a cellphone. The app allows users to file reports about their trips, which other users of the app can then view. “I have always wanted to build software that benefits people,” said Baloyi.
DCHECK users can give reports about the driver by using the number plate of the vehicle. The app also contains a panic button in case users finds themselves in a dangerous situation.“The user stores two contacts as emergency contacts. When they press the panic button, the live location and number plate of the vehicle will be shared to the contacts,” explained Baloyi.
He was good at Maths and Science in school, and initially wanted to study civil engineering, but he got bored with it quickly. “This is when I decided that maybe I should start exploring software and app development. I went to WeThinkCode and did their Bootcamp, and then started figuring things out a bit on my own, researching and practising coding. I freelanced for a while and then landed my first job,” said Baloyi.
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