A social innovation approach to SDGs: role of small and local third sector organizations

Nadeen Purna and Lauren Tuckerman

Chapter 22 in The Elgar Companion to Social Innovation and the Sustainable Development Goals, 2026, pp 458-473 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Social innovation is often described as a means to address complex and wicked social problems like poverty, homelessness, environmental degradation, etc. which are central to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, despite policy and practice focusing on unlocking social change through social innovation, these complex and wicked problems have remained obstinate to change. This chapter discusses the varying levels of social change using the work of Erik Olin Wright, to highlight the level at which small and local TSOs contribute towards the SDGs in the UK. The chapter uses lessons from a qualitative study which explored local social innovation processes by third sector organizations. By recognising the level of social transformation acted on, the purpose of the chapter is to establish a small and local social economy with third sector organizations as conduits of social change and social innovation as the mechanism of attaining so.

Keywords: Third sector organizations; Social innovation; Sustainable development goals; Social change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035326037
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