Social Innovation: Time to Get it Right!
For a few weeks now, I’ve been pondering some questions - and I’d love your help answering them.
Last month, I spent two wonderful days in Oxford for the renowned Skoll World Forum for Social Innovation. Spread over multiple coffee chats, speaking to some of the world’s most inspiring social entrepreneurs about their approaches to solving the most pressing challenges of our time left me inspired and feeling like we wouldn’t be doomed after all.
Take BeGirl, for example. This social enterprise provides hygiene products and education to girls in Mozambique, Angola, Ghana, reducing school absenteeism with tried-and-tested new products co-designed by local girls. Or consider The Global Good Fund, which identifies leaders and organisations from around the world to equip them with funding, coaching, and other resources to accelerate their social innovations for lasting impact. And then there's Marmalade, for whom Caitlin and I facilitated a learning session in Oxford. Marmalade connects local stakeholders to collaboratively design creative solutions for making Oxford a better city for all.
The Big Buzzword
These examples, among many others, show just how important social innovation is for making our world a better place. With big issues like climate change, inequality, and health emergencies getting worse, we can't keep relying on the same old methods. We need fresh, creative solutions - now more than ever - to tackle today’s major challenges.
However, while merrily chatting away at Skoll, something else became clear. Amidst all the excitement and urgent need for new ideas that could change the world, the term 'social innovation' has turned into a buzzword. It is being used so much that its meaning has become fuzzy. This confusion not only makes it hard for people to wrap their heads around the social innovation space and its potential (believe me…), but it also puts an additional strain on everyone involved in social innovation funding - both those giving and receiving financial support.
Demystifying the Social Innovation Funding System
Trying to secure funding for social innovation can feel like navigating a maze. Fundraisers often spend hours decoding each funder's expectations: ‘What exactly do they mean by 'innovative practices?’; ‘Who counts as an eligible innovator?’; ‘Are we innovative enough?’ ‘ Do we have to use technology and/or AI for it to count?’. Meanwhile, funders have their own struggles. They grapple with defining and evaluating innovation in grantee projects, trying to craft clear guidelines without stifling creativity. They also wrestle with the balance between supporting bold ideas and managing risk. Despite all this confusion, the need for fresh, creative solutions is stronger than ever. So, how can we demystify the social innovation funding system?
To make things clearer and more accessible, we need to answer two key questions:
What is the Definition of Social Innovation?
Not all that glitters is gold, and not every new idea is genuinely innovative. To avoid wasting time and resources on ideas that don't work, we need to be clear about what we mean by social innovation. This means setting specific criteria for what counts as innovative. By doing this, we can focus on ideas that truly have the potential to make a difference.
Who are the Innovators?
Innovation is often seen as something reserved for the Steve Jobs and Bill Gates of the world - usually driven by the Global North addressing challenges in the Global South. But the reality is, local communities often know best about what they need and how to bring about change. As Diana Sierra, Colombian designer and founder of BeGirl, points out, ‘The Global North has hijacked the meaning of innovation, but in order to innovate, you just need to be on the ground.’ By recognizing that innovators can come in all shapes and sizes, and empowering the voices at the heart of a social challenge, we can find solutions that are effective, inclusive, and sustainable.
Let’s Get Social Innovation Right!
In the coming months, I will explore these questions and more as I aim to detangle the concept of social innovation and its complexity, sharing my learnings, insights, and questions with you. If you’d like to add to the discussion and share your perspective, whether you’re a social entrepreneur, a fundraiser, or a grantmaker, let’s connect! I’d love to hear from you and chat soon. Together, let’s get social innovation right!
