Transforming the Role of Women Farmers and of Refugees: Two Italian Experiences of Social Innovation in Mountain Areas

Abstract

Transforming the Role of Women Farmers and of Refugees: Two Italian Experienc...

Can Social Innovation Make a Change in European and Mediterranean Marginalized Areas? Social Innovation Impact Assessment in Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, and Rural Development

“…Our empirical results corroborate the literature on the effects of innovations in existing relationships, community ties, and new forms of collaboration to have positive effects on the modernization of public administration, on the reduction of bureaucracy, and on the level of efficiency in the delivery of services in the public sector (governance domains). Our results agree with the literature reporting that SI initiatives that make services available to communities and to specific vulnerable groups (social domain) can generate effects on the economic domain in different ways (e.g., increase employment opportunities, provide resources for generating other activities, and the development of human capital potential) [16,46,58,88,96]. Finally, the economic impacts may have effects on the social domains in terms of a reduction of inequalities and in the improvement of wellbeing, such as improving community relationships (e.g., intergenerational relationships, integration of vulnerable groups) [62,73].…”

“…In two out of nine cases, the effects of the SI initiatives have become visible even if the initiatives are quite recent, and in one case, the impacts are expected in the future, thus providing directions for planning and policy making. These empirical data are consistent with studies showing that promoting SI in rural and marginalized areas is important, as it has positive effects mainly on the society, economy, and governance (e.g., [17,19,58,76,[82][83][84][85][86][87][88]). By taking the forms of social cooperatives, associations, social enterprises and private-public partnerships, SI proposes innovative solutions, models, services and approaches that tackle different complex social issues (e.g., labor market integration, social exclusion and poverty, discrimination, social service delivery, and disproportionate resource uses).…”

A Conceptual Framework for the Evaluation of Social Agriculture: An Application to a Project Aimed at the Employability of Young People NEET

“…In this context, Italy enacted the 141/2015 law, which defines social agriculture as an aspect of the multifunctionality of agricultural enterprises, aimed at the development of social and socio-sanitary services, educational, and sociooccupational placement. The aim is to facilitate plain and proper access to basic services to disadvantaged individuals, families, and local communities in all of the national territory, particularly in rural or lagging behind regions [4][5][6][7][8][9]. In order to generate a valuable social service, a multi-actor approach is required, where local authorities may establish a clear and flexible regulatory framework promoting an active collaboration among public institutions, non-profit organizations, and private firms.…”

“…The indicator is expressed on a Likert Scale, from 1 (not at all) to 10 (to a great extent), based on the perception of Innovator(s), Follower(s) and Transformer(s). Average score for option Members of the network" Range of values:[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]; Acquisition data Tools: 3, 4Ea5. Female inclusion in the SI network Q: "To what extent have female members been included in the Social Innovation network?"…”

“…The higher the level of satisfaction of the actors with respect to the territorial needs, the greater the relevance of the Social Innovation initiative. The respondent must specify whether the products or services provided by the SI initiative were aimed at satisfying the territorial needs Average of the score expressing the level of satisfaction, within range 1-10 Range of values:[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]; Acquisition data Tools: 3, 4, 5 R6. Shared needs within the SI initiative Q: "To what extent were the needs of the actors of the Social Innovation initiative consistent with those identified by the beneficiaries?"…”