As our world grapples with increasingly complex challenges such as climate change, poverty, hunger, and inequality, it is clear that traditional problem-solving methods are no longer enough. We must now develop innovative and socially sustainable systemic solutions to effectively tackle these issues. This is where social innovators come in, providing us with new ideas and approaches that create positive social change.
Social innovators are aligned with the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and have been contributing to achieving them even before they were published. Their work extends beyond the SDGs to tackle issues not covered by them, and the collective impact of their efforts serves as a set of proven models to build an inclusive and sustainable economy. They establish successful cross-sector partnerships that enable the growth, diversification, and funding of large-scale efforts focused on social and environmental impact. Their approaches deal with the complexity of our time and have the potential to expand across different markets and contexts.
The impact of innovation can already be seen in the fight against hunger. The United Nations World Food Programme's Innovation Accelerator, for example, has launched pilot programs that use blockchain technology to offer refugees residing in the Azraq camp in Jordan a more secure and efficient way to receive electronic cash transfers. By eliminating intermediaries, the initiative has freed up funds that the organization can redirect towards humanitarian relief. The success of the pilot program has prompted the WFP to expand it, now supporting over 100,000 refugees residing in camps across Jordan. The WFP and UN Women are also partnering to use the same platform to aid food-insecure Syrian women in Jordan.
In addition to hunger, innovation can also address other critical issues, such as sanitation. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has funded innovators of various new, low-cost sanitation technologies, including dry combustion, which converts waste into small blocks of fuel rather than flushing it away with water. These technologies has the potential to be commercialized and seize part of a global market that is expected to reach $6 billion by 2030.
It is no secret that the world needs innovative and sustainable solutions to address the interconnected and systemic challenges facing humanity. Social innovators have a significant role to play in integrating local, sustainable solutions into the global economy. The private sector has a unique capacity to drive innovation and must be proactive in partnering with social innovators to create a better future for all. For it is only then, we’ll be able to bring about impact that can be felt.
Written by Kovinda Perera