“Consequences” is a British parlour game. The game is very simple – everyone begins with a piece of paper and a pen. On the piece of paper is the following list: man’s name, woman’s name, place name, he said to her, she said to him, the consequence was (a description of what happened after), an ... SIX – A global game of consequences
By Louise Pulford
February 7, 2022
We are facing immense societal challenges globally, which cannot be solved through technological innovations alone. We need sustainable and socially oriented solutions, that is innovations with and for society. Such social innovations need adequate financial support. Over the last decade, there have been various approaches to financing and supporting social innovations, from accelerator grants to ... Insights on financing social innovation in Europe
By SIX
January 26, 2022
The Labs for System Change report is our humble attempt to capture the overwhelming richness of the conversations that took place both within the conference and online via Twitter (we captured over 2,000 tweets over the few days of the event). We hope that the report will also surface some of the most pertinent questions and challenges ... Labs for System Change
By MaRs
January 18, 2022
The power of young people, activism and the role of government have been the focus of our team discussions at SIX over the last month. This month, the team have been to Cape Town and Bangkok for our work challenging universities to experiment and co-create social innovation, Canada and Australia for our work encouraging the ... What’s the role of young people in social innovation?
By SIX
November 1, 2021
We are living in turbulent times. Poverty, inequality, youth unemployment and climate change are among the challenges we are facing. Business for good is becoming the new norm in this new era. Over 2019/2020, a global consulting team came together to produce a new piece of research: Business for Good: Understanding the Motivations for Business to ... From social innovation to business for good – a global dialogue
May 25, 2021
By Louise Pulford SIX is known for our face to face gatherings bringing people together from across the globe. Like many organisations, we were forced to pivot to online activities in 2020 and we learnt a lot. Whilst we of course pay attention to the technical basics that make for a productive online meeting – getting ... New ways to create connection in challenging times
By Louise Pulford
April 28, 2021
Introduction Over the coming months, SIX will be sharing our tracking and interrogation of how the discourse around philanthropy has shifted, or not, after the profoundly impactful events of 2020. We are looking for themes that have been lost in the noise, and trends that have become louder; we are searching for signals about what has ... How has the discourse around philanthropy shifted after the events of 2020?
February 15, 2021
Introduction In partnership with the International Forum for Social Innovation 2020 (ISIF), which was organised in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, SIX brought together a group of speakers and panellists from ISIF to discuss what is needed to build more support for social innovation in the future. Participants represented 11 countries across the Arab region and ... The Future of Social Innovation in the Arab Region
By Josaine Smith
February 10, 2021
Motivating shared value creation in Hong Kong Context The coronavirus pandemic triggered the biggest global economic, health care and social crisis in centuries. Post-pandemic, the business landscape is complex and uncertain. With technological advancements, the widening gap between rich and poor, the rise in populism, and an increasingly crowded marketplace, Hong Kong businesses were under ... Business for Good
By Hong Kong Social Entrepreneurship Forum, Ernst & Young and InnoFoco Limited, Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund)
January 31, 2021
Introduction Foundations all over the world are grappling with their role in the emerging field of data and artificial intelligence. The field is fraught with potential controversy but also with possibility. Data has the ability to help us work at a larger scale than ever before, be more efficient, and solve problems more effectively. Despite ... Philanthropy and data: How to better use, work with and fund data and emerging technologies
January 21, 2021
The coronavirus outbreak has triggered the biggest global economic, health care and social crisis in centuries. This is a time for all sectors to reflect on their approaches and develop new ways of doing things. And it includes the private sector. In the post-pandemic world, the new business landscape is complex and uncertain. Amongst technological ... Report: Motivations for Business to Create Shared Value in Hong Kong
January 8, 2021
Practising radical change in philanthropy: why we’re looking at it and what it means On 3 November 2020, Ariadne and SIX invited 23 philanthropic organisations from Europe, North America, Africa and Asia to exchange practical examples, lessons and tensions in their work funding radical, structural and deep change, and to uncover practical, concrete examples that benchmark ... Philanthropy, Power and Radical Change – in collaboration with Ariadne network
By Josiane Smith, Kelsey Spitz and Louise Pulford
December 11, 2020
CEO of SIX, Louise Pulford, joined Geoff Mulgan, Siyad Abdullahi and Lujain AlUbaid in a session on The future of social innovation in the post-COVID-19 world at The ISIF conference. The ISIF conference addressed several pillars, most notably: educational programs specialised in social innovation, the role of educational institutions and methodologies of systemic thinking. ISIF 2020 is organized by the ... The future of social innovation in the post-COVID-19 world
By SIX
December 2, 2020
As part of Seoul Innovation Week 2020 organised by Seoul Metropolitan Government, we are hosted a special session sharing the story of Seoul’s journey to becoming a people-powered city on 25 November 2020 at 8-9:30 am GMT. Seoul City’s global advisors on social innovation – Ada Wong, Anil Gupta, Ezio Manzini, Gabriella Gomez-Mont, Geoff Mulgan, Louise Pulford and Peter Ramsden – ... Seoul: Social innovation lessons for global cities
By SIX
November 25, 2020
This is the fourth article in a global series about philanthropic responses to COVID-19 and its effects, which was produced in partnership with The Alliance Magazine. This was part of the SIX Funders Node Year on Power programme. This article has been written by Djurdja Trajković and Galina Maksimović, from the Reconstruction Women’s Fund in Serbia. Anyone who ... False binaries: A cautionary tale
By Djurdja Trajkovic and Galina Maksimovic
October 5, 2020
The Robin Murray Living Library has been created by the Trellis Foundation, set up in memory of Robin to continue his life’s work in social and environmental innovation. As part of this project we have digitised and made available hundreds of unpublished papers, as well as articles, reports and other publications, dating from the 1960s to ... The Robin Murray Living Library is now live
By SIX
September 28, 2020
Philanthropy, Power and New Challenges: Insights from a global call between WINGS and SIX networks On 25 June, WINGS and SIX brought together 17 philanthropic leaders from around the world in a reflective conversation to explore which methods and models philanthropy should be engaging with in order to shift power, and to uncover the ways ... Philanthropy, Power and New Challenges
By SIX
September 27, 2020
This is the third article in a global series about philanthropic responses to COVID-19 and its effects, which was produced in partnership with The Alliance Magazine. This was part of the SIX Funders Node Year on Power programme. Sue McCabe, the Executive Director of Philanthropy New Zealand, adds important context from Aotearoa New Zealand. At the ... The Aotearoa COVID-19 experience
By Sue McCabe
September 20, 2020
As COVID-19 started to take hold of countries and regions around the world, we began a comprehensive global scan exploring the most innovative ways in which philanthropic organisations around the world have been pivoting in order to support grantees and communities now and in the future. These provocations are rooted in the insights and perspectives of over ... Provocations: Living in turbulent times and re–centring the conversation
By Dame Julia Unwin
September 11, 2020
This is the second article in a global series about philanthropic responses to COVID-19 and its effects, which was produced in partnership with The Alliance Magazine. This was part of the SIX Funders Node Year on Power programme. Marie-Rose Romain Murphy, the Co-founder of Haiti Community Foundation, continues the series. ‘We do not learn from experience…We learn ... You call it Philanthropy, we call it ‘Devlopman Tèt Ansanm’
By Marie-Rose Romain Murphy
September 2, 2020
This article summarises highlights from the first SIX Dialogue Series: Social innovation for Resilience – the Taiwan Approach, between Audrey Tang and Geoff Mulgan. When we see “internet of things”, let’s make it an internet of beings. When we see “virtual reality”, let’s make it a shared reality. When we see “machine learning”, let’s make it ... 5 things we should learn from Taiwan to build a resilient society
By So Jung Rim
July 28, 2020
On Tuesday 21st July, Social Innovation Exchange held our first Global Dialogue. Speaking with Audrey Tang, Digital Minister of the Taiwan government and Geoff Mulgan, Professor at UCL on Collective Intelligence and Social Innovation, Marco Shek, Asia Lead- Partnerships, Capacity Building and Development at SIX, spoke about how collective intelligence and trust-building has enabled Taiwan to be resilient. The hour-long discussion ... WATCH: Social Innovation for Resilience – the Taiwan Approach
By SIX
July 23, 2020
13 July 2020 On 10 July 2020, the SIX community lost both an inspiration, but also a friend. Mayor Park Won-soon’s body was found on Bukak mountain in Seoul’s Seongbuk-gu neighbourhood, just after midnight on Friday local time. Mayor Park has been a key part in SIX and the global social innovation movement for over ... SIX’s Memory of Mayor Won Soon Park of Seoul
July 14, 2020
Unlocking the power of people in Seoul Context Since 2011 the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s citizen-centred policy has transformed the city. Seoul has become a world-leading example of a city truly designed around its citizens. The policy has touched many parts of the city and the story of Seoul’s transformation holds valuable insights for cities around ... Cities of the future – Seoul as a people-powered city
By Global Social innovation Advisory Committee for Seoul City, Edited by Geoff Mulgan, Julie Simon, Louise Pulford and SoJung Rim
June 30, 2020
Earlier in April, SIX wrapped up our second of two trainings with one of the largest independent grant making foundations in England. Over six months, we worked with two cohorts of individuals to explore what social innovation and systems thinking looks like in context and in practice. What were we designing for? We believe that funders and ... Systems principles for a pandemic
May 14, 2020
Questions for the social sector in Hong Kong With the rapid development of East Asia in recent years, individuals and corporates are accumulating wealth. This is leading to the establishment of new foundations and making both public and private funds widely available. We have worked in East Asia for several years, our SIX colleague and ... Making the case for foundations in East Asia to embrace systems thinking
April 30, 2020
Listen as Louise, Sophie and Liz engage in a conversation about the changing role and impact of philanthropy and explore how our work influences funders and community change leaders globally. Philanthropy plays a pivotal role in the community and social change supporting organizations and networks in tackling complex and urgent challenges that communities are facing. ... Listen to Tamarack Institute The Changing Role of Philanthropy webinar now
By SIX
April 27, 2020
By Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State, South Africa. Our world has changed. The aspects that we have accepted as daily occurrences, and those that we have taken for granted, are no longer possible. Anxiety and uncertainty have filled our lives. After the first infections in China at the end of 2019, the ... How do universities manage COVID-19?
By Francis Petersen, University of the Free State
April 17, 2020
Last week, the WHO officially declared Coronavirus a pandemic. Since then, a feeling of being out of control is spreading around the world. One by one, governments declare national emergencies and implement lockdown policies. The streets of London were quiet this morning, and for those who are not socially isolating themselves, ‘social distancing’ is becoming ... Global exchange in the age of Coronavirus
By SIX
March 17, 2020
By Fábio Deboni, Executive Manager at the Sabin Institute. While Social Innovation seems to continue to be on the rise, there is also some disagreement as to what it actually means. This issue has been previously discussed, and the purpose of this article is to discuss the need for the approaches of/for/about social innovation to also be able to innovate ... It’s time to innovate social innovation
By Fabio Deboni, Sabin Insitute
March 12, 2020
‘Taking collaborative action to reduce inequalities’ was an event hosted by the Health Foundation at the People’s History Museum in Manchester on the 22nd and 23rd January 2020. This two-day conference provided a space and a framework to explore how working across multiple determinants of health can improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities in the ... Taking Collaborative Action to Reduce Inequalities
By Josiane Smith & So Jung Rim
March 11, 2020
As coronavirus is challenging global markets, and shining a light on many of our structural inequalities (most prominent is lack of access to wifi and resources for e-learning for many children when schools close), the power of ordinary citizens is coming to the fore once again. At SIX, we believe in looking beyond our borders ... Coronavirus and social innovation – Why we need to keep learning globally
By Louise Pulford & Marco Shek
March 6, 2020
Many of the conversations taking place within philanthropy at the moment centre around legitimacy, transparency, equity, diversity, inclusion…the list goes on. These topics skirt around what really needs to be addressed: the unbalanced power dynamics entrenched throughout the sector. This is why at SIX we are focus on decentralising power within philanthropy this year. For this to ... Three ways in which funders can disperse power in philanthropy this year
By Sophie Monaghan-Coombs
February 3, 2020
This year, we at the Social Innovation Exchange (SIX) hosted a Winter School for Hallym University. The 5-day programme in London tackled pressing social issues and started students on their journey to become changemakers. Focusing on the theme of ‘Community Spaces in the 21st Century’, we explored how place and social innovation interact to create thriving ... 5 ways community spaces are using social innovation to #ReimagineSpace
By Darren Mew & Sophie Monaghan-Coombs
January 29, 2020
I’ve spent a lot of time this year listening to funders; on the phone; at roundtables and during the three retreats we’ve held this year on Wasan Island as part of the SIX Funders Node. This programme supports philanthropic foundations from around the world to work more effectively and authentically, and in 2019 we held ... Three reflections after a year spent with funders
By Sophie Monaghan-Coombs
January 18, 2020
During a work trip to South Africa, to participate in the final symposium of the Erasmus+ funded Common Good First project, I arranged a meeting with Sonja Giese to learn about the work of Innovation Edge. I had heard about them from a former colleague who participated in a funders roundtable several years earlier and I had ... Think Future Reflections- Designing Events for Innovation
By Josiane Smith
November 26, 2019
In October 2019, Lizzy Robinson, the Senior Program Manager and the Afghanistan portfolio lead at MAGENTA, and Josiane from SIX in the UK, shared their experiences of working in social change organisations. The conversation was documented here in two parts. The first article emphasises the role of behavioural science and social innovation to instigate meaningful social change. ... Three insights from an exchange between the UK and Afghanistan
November 19, 2019
This is the transcript of a panel facilitated by Josiane Smith, our Partnerships and Growth Manager, during the final symposium of the Common Good First (CGF) project in October 2019 in South Africa.
By Josiane Smith
November 14, 2019
Lizzy Robinson is a Senior Program Manager and the Afghanistan portfolio lead at MAGENTA, a social and behavioural change research and communications firm. Josiane Smith manages Strategic Partnerships and Growth at the Social Innovation Exchange (SIX), a global, cross-sector network of institutions and individuals committed to social and systems change. Josiane and Lizzy connected in ... Systems Change vs. Behaviour Change (part two)
October 31, 2019
This is Part One of a Two Part Series exploring different approaches to tackling social issues in development work and the public sector. It is held in conversation between Lizzy Robinson and Josiane Smith, who connected in Amman over their mutual fascination with social development, behaviour change and the bigger forces in society that help or hinder ... Between the institution and the individual: What works for systems change (part one)
October 24, 2019
Systems Innovation hosted their second conference in London at the start of September, following their kick off in Barcelona in Spring 2019. The conference brought together almost 200 researchers and practitioners who are applying complexity science and systems thinking in their work, and enabling systems innovation and change throughout the realms of economy, society, technology ... SIX Summary of the Systems Innovation Conference 2019
By Josiane Smith
September 18, 2019
Author: Josiane Smith In the summer of 2019, I moved back to London to take on a new role as the Partnerships and Growth Manager for SIX. I had just returned from six years abroad, exploring what social and economic development looks like in different cultural contexts around the world. I moved between the Middle East, London and New York ... Climate of crisis and what this means for the social sector
September 6, 2019
Fábio Deboni is the Executive Manager at the Sabin Institute. He currently is a co-manager of the Social Enterprise Theme Network of GIFE (Group of Institutes, Foundations and Companies) with the ICE. Member of GIFE’s Board of Directors. Author of “Reflexões contemporâneas sobre Investimento Social Privado” (Contemporary reflections on private social investment). Contact him here: fabio@institutosabin.org.br As ... Challenges of Social Innovation in Brazil
By Fabio Deboni
May 16, 2019
One of the reasons why I decided to run for Mayor was to pursue social innovation. Seoul has a population of 10 million, it’s a big metropolitan city and changing the lives of Seoul citizens is only possible not in front of a desk, but within the lives of the citizens. I am moving the Mayor’s ... Future trend for innovative cities
By SIX
May 14, 2019
As cities grow in size and significance, they can become sites of complex social problems – but also hubs for exploring possible solutions. While every city faces distinct problems, they all share a need for innovative approaches to tackle today’s challenges. This essay is one in a series on future trends for innovative cities, written ... Cities for the imagination
By Gabriella Gomez-Mont
April 30, 2019
Author: Louise Pulford & Cat Tully All philanthropic organisations exist to change the world, or at least a part of it. They are distinguished by their level of ambition – and by their optimism. But that makes them particularly susceptible to the radical uncertainties of our fast-changing world. To be considered transformational, any philanthropic organisation should ... Future-fit philanthropy: why philanthropic organisations will need foresight to leave lasting legacies of change
April 26, 2019
As cities grow in size and significance, they can become sites of complex social problems – but also hubs for exploring possible solutions. While every city faces distinct problems, they all share a need for innovative approaches to tackle today’s challenges. This essay is one in a series on future trends for innovative cities, written by the leading thinkers of the Mayor of Seoul’s ... Next for city innovation: creating backbones for enabling multi-stakeholder solutions
By Tim Draimin
April 16, 2019
As cities grow in size and significance, they can become sites of complex social problems – but also hubs for exploring possible solutions. While every city faces distinct problems, they all share a need for innovative approaches to tackle today’s challenges. This essay is one in a series on Future trends for innovative cities, written by the leading thinkers of the Mayor of Seoul’s ... Inclusive cities of the future: creative commons, compassionate connectivity
By Anil Gupta
April 1, 2019
On 22nd February, SIX and Global Council partners Nesta and the McConnell Foundation hosted a breakfast on corporate social innovation in London. There are a multitude of ways that corporations are contributing to social change, but these initiatives can often feel piecemeal with varying motivations. For this first breakfast, we invited key thinkers to highlight ... Breakfast on corporate social innovation with SIX, Nesta and McConnell
By SIX
March 19, 2019
Stories can conquer fear, you know. They can make the heart bigger. Ben Okri In the small actions of how you eat or what kind of energy you use or how you study or how you work, there are big ideas implicit in these very small things, and that’s what gives them so much meaning ... Making the heart bigger: The stories of the Unusual Suspects Festival
By Duncan Collins-Adams & So Jung Rim
March 19, 2019
In this Lab Exchange Series, Chelsea (Public Policy Lab, NYC), Stephane (La 27e Région, Paris) and Carolyn (TACSI, Adelaide) talk with Rachel (Social Lab, Hong Kong) and Marco (SIX, London) about participatory approaches and what kind of mindset they bring when working with the community. This conversation was part of Social Lab Symposium in Hong Kong. Working ... Co-creation and peer research Lab Exchange PART IV
March 18, 2019
In this Lab Exchange Series, Chelsea (Public Policy Lab, NYC), Stephane (La 27e Région, Paris) and Carolyn (TACSI, Adelaide) talk with Rachel (Social Lab, Hong Kong) and Marco (SIX, London) about building new narratives and capabilities needed to work as a lab practitioner. This conversation was part of Social Lab Symposium in Hong Kong. The terrible bureaucracy ... Lab Exchange PART II: The “terrible” bureaucracy and saying “no”
March 18, 2019
In this Lab Exchange Series, Chelsea (Public Policy Lab, NYC), Stephane (La 27e Région, Paris) and Carolyn (TACSI, Adelaide) talk with Rachel (Social Lab, Hong Kong) and Marco (SIX, London) about the emergence of social and public labs and what it means to work as a lab practitioner. This conversation was part of Social Lab Symposium in ... What is a social lab? Why now? – Lab Exchange PART I
March 18, 2019
Lab. A word from the science field, that refers to the controlled conditions in which scientific or technological research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The idea has since been applied in the social and public sector. There has been a lab movement in Europe and the US for the last ten years, both inside ... The Lab Exchange Series
March 18, 2019
As cities grow in size and significance, they can become sites of complex social problems – but also hubs for exploring possible solutions. While every city faces distinct problems, they all share a need for innovative approaches to tackle today’s challenges. This essay is one in a series on future trends for innovative cities, written by the leading thinkers of the Mayor of Seoul’s ... Snakes and ladders in participation
By Peter Ramsden
March 17, 2019
The Social Innovation Community (SIC) project aimed to develop an enabling environment for social innovation by connecting social innovators from Europe and beyond. The global challenges that we face are diverse and resistant to solution. Issues like inequality, climate change, housing shortages, and migration require new thinking. They require an environment in which we appreciate that ... Social Innovation Community launch their yearbook summary
By SIX
March 8, 2019
The Social Innovation Community (SIC) project aimed to develop an enabling environment for social innovation by connecting social innovators from Europe and beyond. The global challenges that we face are diverse and resistant to solution. Issues like inequality, climate change, housing shortages, and migration require new thinking. They require an environment in which we appreciate that ... What did we learn from Social Innovation Community Project?
By SIC & SIX
March 8, 2019
As cities grow in size and significance, they can become sites of complex social problems – but also hubs for exploring possible solutions. While every city faces distinct problems, they all share a need for innovative approaches to tackle today’s challenges. This essay is one in a series on future trends for innovative cities, written by the leading thinkers of the Mayor of Seoul’s ... Collaborative cities: what social innovation teaches us
By Ezio Manzini
March 4, 2019
As cities grow in size and significance, they can become sites of complex social problems – but also hubs for exploring possible solutions. While every city faces distinct problems, they all share a need for innovative approaches to tackle today’s challenges. This essay is one in a series on future trends for innovative cities, written by the leading thinkers of the Mayor of Seoul’s ... Why public servants need to get out of the office more
By Louise Pulford
February 14, 2019
Insights from the Social Lab Symposium 2019 in Hong Kong In this article, we summarise we provide some highlights from the Social Lab Symposium 2019, an event that explored the social labs movement in Asia and what it means to change a system. The social challenges we are facing nowadays are complex. They can no ... Insights on the lab movement in Asia
January 31, 2019
As cities grow in size and significance, they can become sites of complex social problems – but also hubs for exploring possible solutions. While every city faces distinct problems, they all share a need for innovative approaches to tackle today’s challenges. This essay is one in a series on future trends for innovative cities, written by the leading thinkers of the Mayor of Seoul’s ... The city as collective intelligence
By Geoff Mulgan
January 30, 2019
Over the last 10 years, SIX has developed a broad view of what social innovation looks like in different parts of the world. We’ve seen how social innovation ecosystems have developed in response to the individual contexts of different countries, as well as the patterns that have emerged locally, regionally and globally. Here, SIX Executive ... The state of social innovation in 2019
By SIX
January 22, 2019
Funding is essential for social innovation to grow and thrive. This is why SIX has an entire programme dedicated to philanthropy. The SIX Funders Node challenges, enables, and inspires funders to be more systemic and innovative in their thinking and practice. Our aim is to increase the flow of funding to social innovation and systemic change. We ... Funding – A Practice Guide
By Jordan Junge
January 21, 2019
As cities grow in size and significance, they can become sites of complex social problems – but also hubs for exploring possible solutions. While every city faces distinct problems, they all share a need for innovative approaches to tackle today’s challenges. This essay is one in a series on future trends for innovative cities, written by the leading thinkers of the Mayor of Seoul’s ... How can a city empower its youth to create their own global future?
By Sunit Shrestha
January 21, 2019
As cities grow in size and significance, they can become sites of complex social problems – but also hubs for exploring possible solutions. While every city faces distinct problems, they all share a need for innovative approaches to tackle today’s challenges. This essay is one in a series on future trends for innovative cities, written by the leading thinkers of the Mayor of Seoul’s ... Social Labs: enabling citizens to co-create and co-design innovations
By Ada Wong
January 11, 2019
Surmounting daunting social challenges such as ending malaria or achieving marriage equality can require the help of an intermediary organization—a field catalyst—that amplifies the efforts of others. Open access to this article is made possible by The Bridgespan Group. When looking across the major social-change efforts of our time, the parabola of success sometimes arcs suddenly ... How Field Catalysts Galvanise Social Change
By Taz Hussein, Matt Plummer & Bill Breen
December 26, 2018
As SIX Global Council member Social Innovation Generation (SiG) draws to a close after ten years, the organisation have created this book to chart and track their learning journey from the past decade. Social Innovation Generation (SiG) was a coming together of unusual allies — a private family foundation, an innovation hub, a non-profit social enterprise and a ... Fostering a Canadian ecosystem for systems change – the SiG story
By SiG
December 18, 2018
On the 19th of November, SIX hosted an intimate dinner with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in London to explore the opportunity for philanthropy to engage in strategic foresight, ahead of a workshop to follow up from a retreat we hosted on the topic in the summer. Foundations are uniquely placed to be ahead of the ... Strategic foresight and philanthropy – a conversation over dinner
By Jordan Junge
November 27, 2018
Having worked for an international exchange for almost 5 years, I can attest firsthand to the power of networks. Networks help us to navigate our daily life (whether in the workplace or at home), providing much needed inspiration and success stories, new connections and personal relationships, whilst expanding our learning and horizons. I’ve thought ... What is the power of networks in philanthropy? Reflections from SIX
By Jordan Junge
November 27, 2018
Social Innovation: Comparative Perspectives investigates socioeconomic impact. Since it is hard to establish causality and to measure social properties when investigating impact, especially at the level of society, the book narrows down impact to one priority aspect: social innovation—understood as organisations’ capacity to generate novel ideas, ways and means of doing things, and of addressing public ... Social Innovation: Comparative Perspectives
By Helmut K. Anheier, Gorgi Krlev & Georg Mildenberger
November 27, 2018
Socially focused innovators across Europe have called on the European Union to put innovation at the heart of its strategy to achieve a ‘social triple A rating’– an ambition set out by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in 2014 to give greater prominence to the bloc’s social priorities. Carlos Moedas, the European Commissioner for Research, ... Carlos Moedas: The EU will fund more social innovation because it’s the future of innovation
By Joanna Roberts
November 8, 2018
Last week, as part of the European Commission funded project – SEASIN – we brought together practitioners and researchers from South East Asia and beyond at SI-LIVE ASIA in Kuala Lumpur. Over two days, the event explored three major challenges faced by universities today in helping prepare for the future: Rethinking research and practice: how do we ... What actions are needed to shift the way that universities behave?
By SIX
October 17, 2018
Corporate social innovation (CSI) describes corporations who integrate social innovation into their corporate activities. Although a relatively new term, shared value companies are not new, although the recent influx in CSI is a sign of the growing strength of this field. Corporations play a significant opportunity in 2018 and the next decade to be part ... What is corporate social innovation?
September 26, 2018
Movements with a mission can change social norms, make markets and flips systems Lessons from Charlie Leadbeater The things that really bring change in society are movements with missions. We have to understand when they bring real change; when they’re nor just a hashtag to framed up by a marketing company. Charlie Leadbeater When do movements ... Movements Change Systems
September 26, 2018
In 2017, a Co-Creation Steering Group, appointed by the Government of Canada, engaged stakeholders from across sectors and regions to provide recommendations for a pan-Canadian Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy. In 2018, the Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy Co-Creation Steering Group released its report, Inclusive Innovation: New Ideas and New Partnerships for Stronger Communities. ... Government of Canada releases recommendations for comprehensive social innovation and social finance strategy
By Government of Canada
September 10, 2018
It’s time for a Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy for Canada. Canadians should be optimistic about the future. That said, serious challenges remain—poverty, homelessness, climate change—to name a few. And complex challenges demand new kinds of thinking to generate transformative solutions. Fortunately, Canada is a diverse nation of innovators. There is a need to draw on ... Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy for Canada
By SISFS
August 30, 2018
Funding systems change initiatives and innovations is inevitably risky. A growing number of foundations globally are interested in funding from a systems change perspective – yet there is a simultaneous trend toward metrics-driven grantmaking and quantitative evaluation of outcomes based on technical measurement. This has translated into risk-averse grantmaking that channels funds toward ‘guaranteed outcomes.’ ... The role of risk in funding systems change and how to manage it
August 15, 2018
Funding systems change initiatives and innovations is inevitably risky. A growing number of foundations globally are interested in funding from a systems change perspective – yet there is a simultaneous trend toward metrics-driven grantmaking and quantitative evaluation of outcomes based on technical measurement. This has translated into risk-averse grantmaking that channels funds toward ‘guaranteed outcomes.’ ... The role of risk in funding systems change and how to manage it
By SIX
August 15, 2018
This article was originally published by Alliance Magazine. How philanthropy can support the growth of data for social good We often hear about the potential (and actual) perils of big data and emerging technologies – large privacy breaches, public opinion manipulation, and algorithmic bias – but there are also many positive ways it can influence society. Data has ... Blog: How philanthropy can support the growth of data for social good
By Kendra Schreiner and Jordan Junge
August 15, 2018
What do we mean by strategic foresight? Strategic foresight, in general, is the systematic exploration of possible futures to help inform present-day decision making. It looks beyond 3- and 5-year strategic plans to 20, 30, or even 50 years into the future. Strategic foresight does not mean predicting the future. We are not futurists or ... How funders can contribute to a better future: Strategic Foresight
By Louise Pulford
August 6, 2018
In our rapidly changing and volatile world, funders need to build more capacity to better deal with the new challenges that come their way. This August, SIX is hosting a retreat with our Funders Node to explore how they can fund strategically with future foresight and adaptive capacity for emergent change. Below is a selection of readings ... Top 11 Things to Read on Strategic Foresight and Philanthropy
By SIX
August 1, 2018
Please share this infographic freely with your organisation and network. This infographic is part of a larger project on the role of philanthropy in using data to solve complex problems. A global scan highlights many initiatives using data for good, the main methods, how philanthropy is engaging, and the challenges faced. —————— Want to read more great content ... 7 Ways Philanthropy Can Engage Data for Social Good
By Kendra Schreiner
July 9, 2018
Author: Kendra Schreiner Please share this infographic freely with your organisation and network. This infographic is part of a larger project on the role of philanthropy in using data to solve complex problems. A global scan highlights many initiatives using data for good, the main methods, how philanthropy is engaging, and the challenges faced. Want to read more great ... Infographic to match report
July 9, 2018
Please share this infographic freely with your organisation and network. This infographic is part of a larger project on the role of philanthropy in using data to solve complex problems. A global scan highlights many initiatives using data for good, the main methods, how philanthropy is engaging, and the challenges faced. —————— Want to read more great content ... Building Cross-Sector Data for Good Partnerships
By Kendra Schreiner
July 9, 2018
Please share this infographic freely with your organisation and network. This infographic is part of a larger project on the role of philanthropy in using data to solve complex problems. A global scan highlights many initiatives using data for good, the main methods, how philanthropy is engaging, and the challenges faced. —————— Want to read more great content ... Using Big Data for Social Good: 5 Steps to Keep in Mind
By Kendra Schreiner
July 9, 2018
Please share this infographic freely with your organisation and network. This infographic is part of a larger project on the role of philanthropy in using data to solve complex problems. A global scan highlights many initiatives using data for good, the main methods, how philanthropy is engaging, and the challenges faced. Want to read more great content like ... How is Data being used for Social Good and Systematic Change?
By Kendra Schreiner
July 9, 2018
As part of a series of articles from A Better Way’s new book Insights for a Better Way, So Jung Rim, looks at why mass participation is better than centralised power. I started working in this field known as ‘social innovation’ at the Hope Institute, a think-and-do tank in South Korea, with the motto “I ... Why we should engage diverse voices in mass participation
By So Jung Rim
July 4, 2018
Over five million Syrian refugees have fled the war to neighbouring countries (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey). Refugees now account for 30% of Lebanon’s population, the highest concentration in the world, and over 70% of these are destitute and living in vulnerable conditions according to the UNHCR. In Jordan, over 90% are living below the poverty line. Many ... Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Refugees in MENA
By Kendra Schreiner
July 2, 2018
The conversation at the City Data conference hosted by Nesta on 24 May 2018 ranged from the ethics of algorithms to using avatars to help guide planning applications. The content was aimed at local authorities but the conversations were applicable to all sectors. I was one of the few attending from a social innovation background, with the ... The future of data – from cities to philanthropy
By Jordan Junge
June 4, 2018
Author: Jordan Junge & Kendra Schreiner & Louise Pulford Foundations all over the world are grappling with their role in the emerging field of data and artificial intelligence. The field is fraught with potential controversy but also with possibility. Data has the potential to help us work at a larger scale than ever before, be more ... The role of philanthropy in using data to address complex challenges: A global scan
May 31, 2018
Abstract Social innovation, as both a field and conversation point, is burgeoning within Latin America. Yet, at the same time, there are discrepancies between what is meant by social innovation, and little shared understanding of its definition. The social innovation dialogue in Latin America, and especially in Brazil, hinges around two narratives. One centres on ... Social Innovation: what’s under this umbrella? A Brazilian perspective
By Fabio Deboni, Sabin Institute
May 24, 2018
The purpose of this insight report is to mainly document the landscape of social innovation in Turkey by hearing the perspectives, approaches and future direction of the social innovation field from the key actors of the field. As outlined by Social Innovation Exchange (SIX), although the term social innovation is still relatively new in Turkey, it is ... Social Innovation Ecosystem in Turkey: An Insight Report
By SIX
May 10, 2018
Ahead of our upcoming Wayfinder in Istanbul on the future of social innovation, we explored how social innovation is empowering women in the region of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Challenges and opportunities for women in MENA Historically, women face marginalisation and discrimination in much of MENA. This has resulted in the lowest female labor ... How is social innovation empowering women in the Middle East and North Africa?
By Kendra Schreiner
May 4, 2018
Exploring the challenges and opportunities for data use in philanthropy Context The emerging fields of data and artificial intelligence offer many exciting possibilities. Data could help us work at a larger scale than ever before, improve efficiency, and problem solve more effectively. But the potential for controversy means foundations across world are grappling with their ... Optimising foundations’ use of data
By SIX
May 1, 2018
In conversation with Nowon Park, Jun Hyung Shim, Sooyeon Lee. Interviewed by So Jung RimPhotographs by Kwansoo Ahn This month, we connected with a delegation from the Social Innovation Taskforce from the South Korean government, representing four different departments, Ministry of Interior and Safety, Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Ministry of Science and ICT, and ... Conversation with Social Innovation Task Force from the Government of South Korea
By So Jung Rim
April 24, 2018
The gap in information Improving public welfare requires an in-depth understanding of needs and issues among different groups in society. Some mechanisms exist already to measure this information, such as the Genuine Progress Indicator, the Human Development Index, and the World Happiness Report. However, all of these are based on various datasets such as household consumption surveys, nutrition, health ... How is big data providing better insights into public welfare?
By Kendra Schreiner
April 23, 2018
SI LIVE ASIA took place on 8-9 October 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The two-day event was part of the European Commission funded project – SEASIN – and brought together practitioners and researchers from South East Asia and beyond. With participants from over 15 countries and a range of backgrounds, the event explored three major challenges faced ... SI-Live Asia
By SIX
April 14, 2018
There is no people power in this country Participant during the social innovation workshop in Myanmar The above quote is rather representative of our recent experience of running social innovation training workshops and meeting young students in South East Asia. Another participant in Myanmar used an analogy to express the frustration he felt. “We are ... How does the agency for social innovation arise? Enabling social innovation capacity in Thailand and Myanmar
By SIX
April 10, 2018
Prepared by Kendra Schreiner and Jordan Junge, SIX May 2018 The field of social innovation has grown rapidly over the past 10 years, gaining traction across the world and in different sectors. The values of co-creation and collectively working toward impact resonates across sectors and countries, from public servants, politicians, academics, businesses, and nonprofits to ... An overview of social innovation in the Middle East and North Africa
By SIX
April 8, 2018
The rise of emerging technologies are disrupting the current models of living, influencing the way we expose, share and communicate our daily lives. Currently, discussion around the future seems to take two distinct avenues; for some, it’s utopic, while for others, it’s dystopic. Koreo is a talent consultancy based in London dedicated to social change. ... Koreo Futures: Exploring the Future of Meaningful Work
By Megumi Koyama
March 27, 2018
In this Lab Exchange Series, Chelsea (Public Policy Lab, NYC), Stephane (La 27e Région, Paris) and Carolyn (TACSI, Adelaide) talk with Rachel (Social Lab, Hong Kong) and Marco (SIX, London) about building new narratives and capabilities needed to work as a lab practitioner. This conversation was part of Social Lab Symposium in Hong Kong. New narratives Stephane ... New narratives and culture shift – Lab Exchange PART III
March 18, 2018
AI is already shaping the way people live and affecting day-to-day functions in society. It holds promises for social good, but also presents many challenges and risks. Yet, for many it remains inaccessible. How can everyday voices be included in the debate? How can we design AI for the common good? How do we ensure ... Ten articles to read on the future of inclusion in AI: Why AI matters in social innovation
March 13, 2018
As part of International Women’s Day, SIX is is highlighting a number of brilliant, inspirational women who are leading and championing innovation in their fields. Interviews with: Priyanka Dutt from BBC Media Action in India Stephanie Atkins from Women’s Aid in the UK Gabriella Gómez-Mont from Labatorio para la Ciudad in Mexico Shariha Khalid from Scope Group ... #WomensDay- SIX speaks with women who are pioneering and leading their fields
By SIX
March 8, 2018
Abstact Global Networks Networks are a powerful and growing vector for social change. Considering the complex nature of today’s global challenges, solutions need to be reactive to an ever-evolving landscape of players and circumstances. Networks are a fitting way to approach this complex challenge and if well-managed, networks help us share and use knowledge across ... Global Networks: Strategies & learning with peers
By SIX
February 26, 2018
Ending malaria. Achieving marriage equality. Dramatically reducing teen smoking. Surmounting these and other daunting social challenges can require an “invisible hand” that amplifies the efforts of many other players in the field. These behind-the-scenes catalysts are built to win campaigns, not to last forever, and they are galvanizing population-level change. By Taz Hussein, Matt Plummer & ... How Field Catalysts Galvanise Social Change
By SSIR
February 15, 2018
The Social Innovation Community has produced its second ‘state of the union’ report, researching and mapping how EU employment policy is driving social innovation throughout Europe. The European Commission has recognised a need to address fundamental challenges around work and employment across the European Union. The European Pillar of Social Rights (2017) highlights that the future of the ... How EU employment policy is driving social innovation
By SIX
February 7, 2018
Director of SIX, Louise Pulford recently contributed a chapter towards the Atlas of Social Innovation publication. The Atlas offers a comprehensive overview of the world of Social Innovation in a lucid way. It is featuring the manifold results of SI-DRIVE as well as the perspectives of leading experts. It gives insights into the various types of ... Book chapter: Networks and capacity building in social innovation
By Louise Pulford
February 5, 2018
Between the 2017 Paradise Papers scandal, the globally contested multi-billion merger between a large pharmaceutical and an agrochemical company, incidents of day-to-day disrespect of employees, protests over excessive pay and a leading car company’s fraudulent emission scandal, the air surrounding global corporations feels somewhat heavy. For the 17th consecutive year, the Edelman Trust Barometer recently surveyed tens ... 25 companies carrying out corporate social innovation
By Marc Violo
February 1, 2018
Established by ATÖLYE and Zorlu Holding as founding partners and S360 as a strategic partner, imece is a social innovation platform based in Istanbul, that brings together individuals and institutions tackling social challenges. Through its incubation process, imece offers various resources in the form of mentorship, workspace, grants, training, access to the ecosystem and investor relations to teams providing ... A Social Innovation Platform in Istanbul: imece
By SIX
January 29, 2018
Author: Mark Cabaj The idea for this resource emerged during a retreat on Wasan Island for the SIX Funders Node devoted to exploring the challenges and opportunities of getting alignment on tackling tough social, economic and political issues. The retreat focused on the changing role of foundations, why foundations need to align and how they ... Getting Alignment: Some Helpful Aides for Action
January 27, 2018
We believe that there’s great power in knowing the questions and challenges that are keeping your peers up at night. Not only does it help to reassure that you’re not alone in your work but it can spark a conversation, which in turn can shift thinking and practice. The mission of the Funders Node is ... The Burning Questions of Alignment
By Jordan Junge
January 27, 2018
“Towards a general theory and typology of Social Innovation” comprises the most important findings of the four years lasting SI-DRIVE project according to the development of the theoretical framework. Based on a new innovation paradigm seven central building blocks are summarising the theoretical and empirical work of the project: a comprehensive definition of Social Innovation, five ... SI-DRIVE: Towards a general theory and typology of Social Innovation
By Jürgen Howaldt, Antonius Schröder (TUDO) Anna Butzin, Dieter Rehfeld (IAT)
January 25, 2018
Visions and Trends of Social Innovation for Europe; European Commission, October 2017 European society is facing dramatic changes. Despite all its benefits, the innovation society is part of the problem. Social innovation can be part of the solution. Launched in 2010 within Europe2020, social innovation has spread in policy, practice, and research with increasing impact on ... The top five reports on social innovation from 2017
By SIC & SIX
January 16, 2018
It’s not enough to be reflective. You need to put action into your reflection This was one of the many calls to action from the Spark! Conference in Toronto at the end of November. This gathering of 250 social innovators was at a pivotal moment. Although social innovation has gained in traction over the past decade thanks ... The future of social innovation – Canada and the world
By Jordan Junge
January 10, 2018
As SIX Global Council member Social Innovation Generation (SiG) draws to a close after ten years, the organisation have created this book to chart and track their learning journey from the past decade. Social Innovation Generation (SiG) was a coming together of unusual allies — a private family foundation, an innovation hub, a non-profit social enterprise and a ... The SiG Story
By SiG
January 10, 2018
The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise — with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. Abraham Lincoln It’s been another eventful year at SIX, with a growing team, activities and ... Highlights 2017 – How has social innovation shifted and how has SIX contributed?
By SIX
January 10, 2018
This piece builds on my contribution to OECD Forum 2017, Bridging Divides , and conversations on ways to ensure that more active online engagement actually leads to offline empowerment and participation. All public institutions worry about trust. They witness long-term trends of apparently declining trust, long for a golden age when things were simpler and ... How to lose trust and how to win it back
By Geoff Mulgan
December 14, 2017
Last week 150 people from more than 50 countries gathered at the Istanbul Innovation Days to share, learn and discuss how building movements for government and cross-sector innovation might enable social impact at a larger scale. The event was hosted by the UNDP in collaboration with Nesta. I returned from Istanbul with new insights and new case studies on public ... 5 steps to help build movements for social impact and system innovation – lessons from Istanbul
By Juline Munk
November 7, 2017
Introduction On 30-31 August 2017 in London, 14 participants from around the world met to explore the question of ‘how might we approach transformational change for complex challenges in the future?’ The workshop was convened by the Australian Futures Project, a not-for-profit that seeks to create the enabling conditions for long-termism including the space for ... A Wayfinder’s Guide to Systems Transformation
By Julie Munk with Australian Futures Project
November 6, 2017
Abstract Addressing many of today’s most pressing problems—from climate change to unsustainable borrowing to rising inequalities—requires both engaging broad public audiences and working with complex systems of institutions, actors and drivers to mobilize solutions. Over the past thirty years, advances in the field of public engage – ment have enabled citizens to meaningfully affect government ... Participatory Systems Change: A Primer
By Center for Dialogue, Simon Fraser University
October 24, 2017
SIX recently hosted Tim Draimin for a breakfast in London with individuals working in networks and systems change. Tim works for the McConnell Foundation in Canada, is seconded to be the Executive Director of Social Innovation Generation (SiG) and is a member of the SIX Executive Board. After 10 years, SiG is sunsetting, as planned, at the end ... A Breakfast on Networks and Systems Change
By SIX & SiG
October 20, 2017
‘Thecamp is a base camp for exploring the future’. This is how Antoine Meunier, Head of Communications, presented the new innovation campus, inaugurated this past Thursday evening in Aix-en-Provence. The camp came out of an ambitious idea of Fréderic Chevalier, founder of HighCo and recognized entrepreneur of the region. He said it would be a ... The Camp is a base camp for exploring the future
By Marc Violo
October 4, 2017
No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main John Donne I’ve realised that since being at this Festival that I’ve been involved in politics and activism my entire life.’ Peter Macfadyen (Independents for Frome) To say it was disconcerting to be led ... Follow Our Movement- Reflections following the Rethink Activism Festival in Aarhus
By Duncan Collins-Adams
September 26, 2017
Author: Jordan Junge If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together African Proverb We know that the challenges our societies face are growing in scale and complexity. We know that not one organisation is capable to solve these challenges alone. Not even foundations, who are uniquely positioned and ... Why do global foundations need to align for impact?
September 15, 2017
Introduction – What are universities for? For many, universities and higher educational institutions continue to be viewed as elitist and isolated institutions, with little connection to the society, communities and organisations around them. Indeed, universities are large, bureaucratic organisations, and many still operate in this stereotyped ‘traditional’ way. However, at a time when the challenges ... Report: Five ways universities are organising themselves to increase societal impact
By Julie Munk, So Jung Rim & Louise Pulford
September 12, 2017
As the pace of life increases, our lives are continuously engulfed by technology and data. There are few opportunities for stillness. We need spaces to recharge and recalibrate more than ever, and when we find these spaces, we need to use them more strategically. This is the view of Dr Helga Breuninger of the Breuninger ... The philanthropy of place
By Louise Pulford
September 11, 2017
This document is a four year review of the Unusual Suspects Festival model and events. Following the success of the London festival, we wanted to review all our past events and think strategically about how best to take the festival model onwards. All the festivals have reinforced that collaboration is a skill, not a hobby. ... The Unusual Suspects Festival- London Impact Report: 4 Years in Review
By SIX
August 21, 2017
(Image provided by MaD (www.mad.asia) Louise Pulford and So Jung Rim from SIX participated in the MaD Festival 2017 The Blink of the Creative Mass, which took place on 21-23 July. Here is Ada Wong’s closing remark from the Festival, reflecting on the journey of MaD during the past 8 years. 8 years ago, there was ... Make a Difference: A journey of imagination and reflection
By Louise Pulford & So Jung Rim
July 31, 2017
We work hundreds of miles apart, separated by the border but our two organizations – the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation in Canada and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in the US -have formed a collaboration that is accelerating our efforts to bring about change in our respective countries. Despite our many differences, our organizations are wrestling with similar ... How foundations join forces for better philanthropy?
By Katie Wehr & Elana Ludman
July 13, 2017
What are BCorps? What first motivated the movement? B Corps are for profit businesses which operate for the benefit of both shareholders and stakeholders. To become a B Corp, a business must go through a rigorous certification process which includes an assessment of their performance based on both how they operate and what impact their ... What are B Corps? SIX speaks with Charmian Love from B Lab UK
By SIX
July 7, 2017
SIX worked with the ESADE Institute for Social Innovation to co-facilitate a Lab on Labs for Social Innovation in Barcelona in June 2017. This workshop was part of a project carried out by the Institute and was supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation and BBVA, and aimed to provide meaningful insights into how to best address the complex societal ... Labs for Social Innovation
June 28, 2017
협동조합은 학교다_SBS from SPREAD-i on Vimeo. I have desired to goWhere springs not fail,To fields where flies no sharp and sided hailAnd a few lilies blow. And I have asked to beWhere no storms come,Where the green swell is in the havens dumb,And out of the swing of the sea.– by Gerard Manley Hopkins, Heaven-Haven I am honoured to have known ... Tea with Robin Murray
By So Jung Rim
June 25, 2017
The academic world is in motion. Huge efforts are being made to connect academia with society and to increase the impact of scientific research on society. There has been a lot of debate on valorisation of research results and on making academic publications publicly accessible. We still see that research results are often not (immediately) ... Academic innovation for societal impact
By Simone van de Wetering & Nora van der Linden, Kennisland
May 31, 2017
In February 2017, SIX hosted our first global Wayfinder event in London. We brought together more than 160 leaders from 34 countries to explore the future of social innovation and our roles within it. There were some clear messages about the very core of what we do, why we do it, and why it matters. Some of ... A global response to the most important questions facing the field of social innovation
By Jordan Junge
May 17, 2017
At times it seems no wonder that social isolation and loneliness are on the increase. Quite frankly it’s tough out there, with rising inequalities in health, education, housing and public services that appear to be closer to breaking point than ever before. Tough times can also be tough on our relationships as human beings. We ... How human connections can form a solid foundation for social change- Lessons for the Unusual Suspects Festival
By Duncan Collins-Adams
May 17, 2017
Author Charlie Leadbeater concluded the SIX Wayfinder with six things that social innovation can offer to the future: I want to say a few things of what might be coming and how to interact with it. Over the past two days at the Wayfinder, we’ve had a lot of conversations on the good work that we do and the ... 6 things social innovation can offer to an out of control world
By Charlie Leadbeater
May 8, 2017
Can you tell me a bit more about what you do at Ikea related to social innovation and what you think have motivated these initiatives, mentalities and policies? After six years working with sustainability at IKEA I have recently moved over to a new position where I am responsible for people and communities globally at ... How can businesses enhance and enrich social innovation? SIX speaks with Lisen Wirén from Ikea
By Marc Violo
May 4, 2017
Social Innovation Generation concludes its decade-long run in its current form in December 2017. This blog is our opportunity to update our community and partners about SiG’s status and possible next steps. We are also conducting a short survey on what the social innovation ecosystem needs today – please take a few minutes to give us ... The future of SiG: Social Innovation at an Inflection Point
By Tim Draimin
April 27, 2017
Background Innovative solutions to pressing social challenges are thought after throughout the world. In 2013, the Latin American spotlight was on Brazil to offer innovation solutions to counter growing social unrest. Less publicised but similar socio-economic conditions were developing in other Latin America countries, namely Colombia. Challenge There were existing examples of innovative change makers ... Colombian Centre for Social Innovation – ANSPE
By SIX
April 13, 2017
The SIX Wayfinder was convened by SIX, hosted by Nesta and supported by the UNDP, Social Innovation Generation (SiG) National, The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI), and the JW McConnell Family Foundation. 160 leaders from over 34 countries attended the SIX Wayfinder from diverse backgrounds, both private and public, including government, design, international development, entrepreneurship ... Social innovation in the next 10 years: Insights from the SIX Wayfinder
By SIX
April 13, 2017
The Manifesto is a EU level Policy Outreach document, which aims at fostering civic participation in Digital Social Innovation (DSI) and CAPS initiatives to counteract prevailing top-down approaches while promoting active citizenship. The Manifesto includes a set of recommendations for policy makers, aiming to facilitate DSI and CAPS initiatives to drive the Digital Agenda in becoming ... The DSI Manifesto
By SIX
April 7, 2017
It was during another, countless, KPI improvement for GSK that I started to think about whether there was more to life than just earning money. As many of you, I inherited the mind-set that believed, “work hard”, earn a living and be economically safe as priority number one. At GSK I was travelling world trying ... What good is a corporate experience?
By Martin Cosarinsky Campos
April 7, 2017
Original post here The Young Foundation has published a research report on the MONDRAGON Corporation, the largest industrial Co-operative in the world. The report explores it as a social innovation ecosystem, a highly successful and competitive way of transforming people’s lives for the better through shared ownership. MONDRAGON is a large global business owned by ... Humanity at work – MONDRAGON, a social innovation ecosystem case study
April 5, 2017
As part of the SIX Funders Node, which connects funders across the world that want to learn from each other to be better funders of innovation, I interviewed Dr Toby Lowe of the University of Newcastle Business School who is working with Collaborate and the Big Lottery Fund to explore trust-based funding, as a response ... What does it mean to move towards trust-based funding?
By Jordan Junge
March 2, 2017
Dangshu (Jaff) Shen and Fan Li from Leping Social Entrepreneur Foundation have collaborated with various individuals in East Asia working on the emerging frontiers of research and innovation in the field to create a collection of practices and perspectives on social innovation from East Asian countries. Leping Social Entrepreneur Foundation is part of SIX Global Council. Stanford Social Innovation ... East Asia’s Role in Global Social Innovation
By Dangshu (Jaff) Shen and Fan Li
February 21, 2017
10 years after the creation of SIX, and almost four years as an independent body, SIX is undergoing a new strategy process. This comes at a pivotal time. This week, SIX will host the global Wayfinder event where 150 global social innovation leaders will come together to map the way forward for the next 10 years of ... SIX Strategy Survey
By Martín Cosarinsky Campos
February 14, 2017
Photo Credit: Quipu project We spoke with Sandra Tabares-Duque from Quipu Project about the power of storytelling. The Quipu project is currently featured on Guardian Documentaries here. Also, find out more about Quipu project and hear more testimonies on their interactive platform. What is storytelling for you? Why do you think it is important? I think that storytelling is ... What can social innovators learn from the power of personal testimony? Lessons from the Quipu project in Peru
By Duncan Collins-Adams & So Jung Rim
February 14, 2017
In groups we can do together what we cannot achieve alone. With networks and new computer-based tools, ordinary people can now become a group even without the benefit of a corporation or organisation. They can make decisions, own and sell assets, accomplish tasks by exploiting the technology available. They no longer need to rely on ... How to build a network: Lessons from SIX
By Jordan Junge
February 3, 2017
As usual, the Unusual Suspects festival showed lots of things that are not found during an average social innovation event… 1) We facilitated unlikely connections creating genuine social change Orode Faka from Roehampton R.O.C.K.S. met Louise Foreman from the Young Foundation for the first time at the Unusual Suspects ideas exchange, months before the Festival began London on ... 10 unusual things about the Unusual Suspects Festival
January 29, 2017
At SIX we think it is important to tell stories where social innovation has impacted people’s lives for the better. Our Stories of Change series tells you the stories that inspire us from around the world. It was when Sofia felt that she was being followed in Bogotá that she started to feel unsafe. Her ... Stories of Change: Truth, Memory and Reconciliation Commission of Colombian women in diaspora
By Duncan Collins-Adams
January 3, 2017
SIX has moved office! At the end of October 2016, we relocated from Somerset House to Cubitt Street, five minutes walk from Kings Cross. We are now sharing our office with creative criminal justice charity, Only Connect. We spoke with OC’s executive director Mat Ilic to find out a little more about their work. What ... Sustainable work and the future of public services: A conversation about creative criminal justice with charity Only Connect
By SIX
December 15, 2016
How do you have a conversation with someone that you disagree with? “If you ask, what is the most significant thing you can do to achieve peace in ordinary life? The answer is: commit to the conversation, converse with people that you disagree with.” John Paul Lederach, University of Notre Dame The Biggest Conversation ... The Biggest Conversation in the World
By SIX
December 15, 2016
Systems change. To some the word comes with a promise. A chance to create a bigger, deeper lasting impact. A shakeup, a change in the status quo. A fundamental reshuffle. To others, the idea is fraught with confusion. What is it? What does it even mean? And how do you do it? Despite the growth ... A foundational approach to systems change: A snapshot
By Jordan Junge
December 6, 2016
People first, programmes later: Lessons from Nairobi to Northern Ireland What happened at Unusual NI? SIX speaks with Melissa Mbugua, Innovation Engagement Officer from Ushahidi in Kenya, who joined us for her first Unusual Suspect Festival in Northern Ireland. Ushahidi, which translates to “testimony” in Swahili, was developed to map reports of violence in Kenya after the ... People first, programmes later: Lessons from Nairobi to Northern Ireland
By Duncan Collins-Adams
November 29, 2016
– from Seoul City’s Global Advisory Committee on Social Innovation SIX’s Director Louise Pulford is part of the Social Innovation Global Advisory Committee Group of Seoul Metropolitan Government. Last month, we travelled to Seoul to join the Future Innovation Forum 2016 and to also be part of the Social Innovation Global Advisory Committee Group Meeting hosted by ... 7 tips for building a social innovation city
By Louise Pulford & So Jung Rim
November 29, 2016
In a rapidly changing world, the role of foundations to broker and create change is increasingly important. And, as their own role develops, it’s vital for funders to share and learn from their peers across the globe. The SIX Funders’ Node works with leading funders to unpack the big questions facing trusts and foundations all ... The SIX Funders’ Node: A new kind of network for social innovation
By SIX
November 15, 2016
Following the success of the two previous Unusual Suspect festivals, we hosted our third festival in Northern Ireland across two cities in Derry-Londonderry and Belfast. The Unusual Suspects Festival is all about sparking new connections, reframing old ones and finding innovative ways to tackle chronic social problems. With 40+ organisations, both local and international, participating in 19 ... The Unusual Suspects Festival: Northern Ireland 2016
By SIX
November 15, 2016
Growing up in conflict- A Letter from a Mexican student from Ciudad Juarez Dear SIX, As a student from Mexico, the SIX Summer School in Colombia is the best event that I have had the opportunity to be a part of. I met incredible people from all over the world, who had fascinating knowledge and ... Growing up in conflict – A letter from a Mexican student from Ciudad Juarez
By Jesús Antonio Castro Sáenz
November 14, 2016
Social innovators have a lot to learn from situations where they and their target beneficiaries vote on opposite sides. This past June, as a US citizen and social innovator living in London, I found myself surrounded by British colleagues who voted to remain in the European Union. Many of the people they and their social ... What Lessons Does “Brexit” Hold for Social Innovators Worldwide?
By Jon Huggett
November 9, 2016
After the success of two Unusual Suspects Festival in Glasgow and London, we hosted our third festival in Northern Ireland in October 2016. With 40+ organisations, both local and international, coming together to host 19 different events across two cities in both Belfast and Derry~Londonderry, it proved to be as exciting, insightful and unusual as ever. You ... What happened at the Unusual Suspects Festival in Northern Ireland?
By SIX
November 9, 2016
“We are emotional beings, that sometimes think, not thinking beings that sometimes feel” Iain Christie A few weeks ago I attended, alongside some other colleagues from SIX, an APPG committee event at Westminster, entitled Respectful Conversations. Both the recent Scottish and Brexit referenda have been characterised by a lowering of political debate, with a perceived deterioration in ... How can we talk about this? Creating space for discussion in polarised places
By Duncan Collins-Adams
November 8, 2016
PHOTO Credit: Guardian Newspaper What connection might there be between efforts to resolve community tensions around ‘un-authorised’ Gypsy camps here in the UK and efforts to build a peace deal in Colombia? Helen Jones, CEO of Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange, says that words have the power to create change, but we must use them wisely. ... On peace-building and the power of words
By Helen Jones
November 7, 2016
What happened at Unusual NI? SIX speaks with Anthony Gerrard, CEO of Bad Idea in Glasgow, who joined us for his second Unusual Suspects Festival. Through his work at Bad Idea, Anthony worked with UV Arts and Tell it in Colour as part of the event ‘The Future is Now: How can young people transform their city?’ in ... Poverty, politics and paint: Lessons for Glasgow from Northern Ireland
By Duncan Collins-Adams
November 4, 2016
A closer look at what characterizes an innovation lab can help practitioners, funders, and scholars better understand what labs’ potential and limits might be, as well as better assess the social impact that comes out of the them. Innovation labs, with their aspirations to foster systemic change, have become a mainstay of the social innovation ... Innovation Labs: 10 Defining Features
By Lidia Gryszkiewicz, Tuukka Toivonen, & Ioanna Lykourentzou
November 3, 2016
The Social Innovation Index, sponsored by Nippon Foundation was devised and constructed by an Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The report examines, analyses and explains social innovation. This piece of work sets out to define social innovation. It examines results, policy and institutional framework, financing, entrepreneurship, civil society and how best to enable social innovation. The ... Old problems, New solutions: Measuring the capacity for social innovation across the world
By The Economist Intelligence Unit
October 26, 2016
Witnesses to a divided society “I had to come back from Canada when my father and uncle were murdered and there was no one to help on the family farm.” “My mother was killed and her body thrown down a well.” “My father has been kidnapped several times.” You cannot spend a week in Bogota ... Blogging from Bogota about post-conflict design, innovation and planning
By Eddy Adams
October 25, 2016
SIX Colombia 2016 brought together a wonderful group of social innovation thinkers and doers for 2.5 days to reflect on common topics, share experiences and identify potential collaborations. Here are some of the people we met in Colombia.
By SIX
October 10, 2016
Originally posted here. To start the Social Innovation Community project we reviewed what social innovators and researchers have said so far about the relationship between public policy and social innovation. Across Europe there are many initiatives operating nationally and transnationally that have been designed to support social innovation, but we’re still some way from a ... Policy for social innovation: Five ways policy can support social innovation
By Madeleine Gabriel, Nesta
October 3, 2016
I was at work on January 22nd 2016, when an online news headline caught my eye. “Breaking News: School Shooting in La Loche, Saskatchewan.” I struggled to read the words that seemed scrambled on my computer screen, and I heard my co-worker gasp and say, “oh my God, there was a school shooting in La ... How I came to be an ABSI Connect Northern Fellow
By Melissa Herman
September 28, 2016
Abstract The Social Innovation community has a lot to learn about the challenges involved in collaborating. For this week’s SIX Series on social innovation and collaboration in post conflict societies, SIX invited Adam Kahane of Reos Partners to give his reflections on collaboration, from his new book entitled Collaborating with the Enemy: How to Work with People You ... I could never work with those people!
By Adam Kahane
September 21, 2016
As part of our work to demystify innovation within international development, we spoke with Mariko Takeuchi, human-centred design expert on the core of the methodology and what NGOs can learn from the private sector. Mariko is a Strategy Consultant and Advisor working on behalf of clients and funders including Helen Keller International, LandMapp, Gates Foundation, WWF, UNDP, UNFPA, IDRC and more. She previously ... Getting to the core of human-centred design: SIX speaks with Mariko Takeuchi
By SIX
September 19, 2016
Little actions that bring people together As the CEO of a grant funded organisation, a non-profit, I am often challenged to validate the importance of placemaking programmes and allied activities in a country characterised by staggering inequality, high unemployment and poverty. These issues are of vital importance and require consistent intervention by civil society and ... Little actions that bring people together
By Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana
September 14, 2016
Collaborate launched a new report “Behaving Like a System?“ on the preconditions for place-based systems change. Funded by the Lankelly Chase, this piece of work set out to explore the preconditions for systems change in a place. It unpicks the critical behaviours and vision that makes system change more likely, more deliverable and more sustainable. In ... Behaving Like a System
By Lankelly Chase
August 30, 2016
As we hurtle towards a human community of 9.7 billion people by the year 2050, coupled with new technologies and the growing challenges of our planet’s carrying capacity, there is more and more discussion of systems and how they change or are created. The post-war era has witnessed an unprecedented growth of global, national and ... Mapping Momentum
By Rachel Sinha and Tim Draimin
August 30, 2016
Taking a Positive Peace Approach in Colombia Michelle Breslauer, Director of the Americas Program at the Institute for Economics and Peace @MichBreslauer When I first travelled to Mexico City with the Institute for Economics and Peace, I came seeking ways to contribute to a more peaceful Mexico. For the last four years, I have strategized to ... Taking a positive peace approach in Colombia
By Michelle Breslauer
August 17, 2016
People are like trees, and groups of people are like forests. While the forests are composed of many different kinds of trees, these trees intertwine their roots so strongly that it is impossible for the strongest winds which blow on our Islands to uproot the forest, for each tree strengthens its neighbour, and their roots ... Indigenous wisdom and peacemaking
By Al Etmanski
August 10, 2016
As part of the SIX series exploring social innovation in post conflict places, Eddy Adams, SIX Adviser, spoke with Gorka Espiau. Hailing from the Basque country, Gorka was actively involved in the peace process there, and has subsequently been involved in social innovation work across the globe. This includes experience in Colombia and Croatia, which ... Building social innovation in post-conflict places
By Eddy Adams & Gorka Espiau
August 3, 2016
Written by Peter Ramsden, Freiss ltd in July 2016 Can social innovation ecosystems overlap with those for technological innovation? Where are the connections? Why is the uptake of European Structural Funds in support of social innovation so slow in the 2014-20 period? Where are the new opportunities? I can’t be the only person to think that ... Regions are from Mars, Cities are from Venus
By Peter Ramsden
July 19, 2016
The Engineering Change Lab is a platform for collaboration to allow individuals and organizations from across the profession to take action to address the systemic challenges (i.e. ethics failures, lack of diversity, and low levels of innovation) that have been holding back the profession’s full potential. Engineering Change Lab hosted their 5th highly successful workshop in Montreal ... Engineering Change Lab – Sharing the Latest Lab Thinking
By Engineering Change Lab
June 2, 2016
This blog was originally published on URBACT. A message from Sicily There’s been a lot of recent talk about the additional pressure new migrant arrivals place on public services. There has been less discussion about how cities – and it is mainly cities – are coping with this. And less still about what we are ... Migrant crisis: what can cities learn about new service design?
By Eddy Adams, URBACT
June 1, 2016
What behaviours and attitudes contribute to an effective social innovation culture? A few months ago SIX co-hosted an SIE event with the BMW Foundation to consider this question. “Transparency” Trust” and “Openness” were frequently recurring words in the discussion. This endorsed much of the established evidence about the importance of a collaborative approach to stimulate innovation. But ... SIX Series: Exploring social innovation in post-conflict societies
By Eddy Adams
May 25, 2016
In cities across the world, citizens are looking for new ideas and ways to solve big social challenges. And Zimbabweans are no different. With a booming population, urban residents in Harare face a myriad of challenges- from air and water pollution, housing, water and electricity shortages, limited public transport, and damaged public spaces combined with ... Inclusive Cities of the Future: Experiences of Zimbabwe in a global perspective
May 9, 2016
In the next decades, a growing number of people will be on the move. The challenge for Europe is to see this not as a threat, but as an opportunity. That is, to imagine how migration can become a driver of innovation towards a younger, dynamic, cosmopolitan and, at the end of the day, a ... Migrants, social innovation and collaborative inclusion
By Ezio Manzini, DESIS Network, University of the Arts London, Politecnico di Milano
May 4, 2016
This was originally published on URBACT and was written by Peter Ramsden on April 25th, 2016. The subject of the Eurocities Social Forum in Nantes on March 16th was citizen involvement in social innovation. Cities are now leading Europe on social innovation across a range of fields from health and care to integrating migrants. The message of the ... The Citizen as Mayor: Citizen participation in social innovation
By Peter Ramsden
April 29, 2016
As part of our work to demystify innovation within international development, we spoke with Milica Begovic, Innovation Specialist at UNDP’s Regional Hub for Europe and CIS. We asked her how UNDP has been able to embed innovation within the organisation and position themselves within the sector. Prototyping is key ‘We’ve created innovation funds for staff within ... Embedding innovation within UNDP- SIX speaks with Milica Begovic
By Jordan Junge
April 27, 2016
Although many aspects of innovation, including the ability to creatively problem solve and adapt to changing context, have long underpinned the work of NGOs, it is currently emerging as a new and distinct area of practice. At present, there is both scepticism towards, and enthusiasm for, innovation in the sector – as well as a ... An introduction to social innovation for NGOs
By SIX
April 20, 2016
SIX asked Kevin Shane, Principal and Communications Lead at Quicksand, based in India, to share insights and lessons from their work and human-centred design including what it looks like in practice, key challenges and how the process can add to the field of international development. Human- or user-centered design is a framework or system of processes ... What does it really mean to put the user at the centre of international development? Lessons from Quicksand
By Kevin Shane
April 18, 2016
The unprecedented flows of migrants approaching Europe was (and still is) confronting the European Union and its Member States with a series of complex challenges. It raises fundamental questions about the social and cultural fabric of European societies. Ingenuity, vision, as well as political will and an efficient use of resources are required if we ... Innovation, integration and the migrant crisis – insights from European innovation
By SIX
April 11, 2016
Building on Social Innovation Europe (SIE)’s country profiles which demonstrate a variety of views on what social innovation means to different kinds of organisations in a particular country, SIE also looking at how social innovation is carried out in different regions across Europe. SIE recently interviewed Innobasque to learn more about social innovation in the Basque Country. The following interview builds on Innobasque’s contribution to the country ... Social Innovation in the Basque Country
By SIX
April 4, 2016
Unpacking the value of social innovation in NGO’s Context At the point this project was commissioned, there was both scepticism towards, and enthusiasm for, innovation in the sector. There was also confusion about exactly what ‘social innovation’ meant. Oxfam and Bond, the UK’s membership body for international development, wanted to demystify social innovation and have ... Social innovation and international development
By Bond
April 1, 2016
Establishing a Global advisory committee for the Seoul Mayor Context With the election of Wonsoon Park as Mayor in 2011, Seoul expressed the ambition to become a ‘social innovation city’. It implemented a programme of initiatives to deepen grassroots democracy, embed civic engagement in the everyday working of the city, and began to shift the ... Establishing a Global advisory committee for the Seoul Mayor
March 31, 2016
Across the world, development and social challenges are increasingly more complex and urgent. From INGOs to community organisations to governments, finding new ways of working to meet these challenges is more of a priority than ever. The organisations that are best placed to deliver the biggest impact are those that are highly connected, that are agile ... How to be more innovative in your practice: 6 reflections from SIX and Hivos
By SIX and Hivos
March 16, 2016
We have reached a watershed moment. After a century of robust development of technological and business innovation, plus several decades of cracking the code of social innovation, the time has come to create an integrated innovation system. Innovation has long been recognized as necessary for a nation’s economic and business success. But citizens have relied ... Innovating Innovation: Connecting technological, business and social innovation
By Tim Draimin
March 15, 2016
In January 2016, a group of 25 foundations from across 4 continents came together at the Rockefeller Foundation’s New York office to learn and share insights about funding social innovation that help them tackle their most important opportunities and challenges. Although there are numerous toolkits, guides and traditional gatherings for foundations providing tips, practical suggestions ... Pushing boundaries to advance social impact
By SIX
March 9, 2016
Insights from the meeting of international foundations in January 2016: An interview with Louise Pulford, the Director of SIX. What makes this node different? This group is about the people, and I felt lucky to be in the room with such a great group. It really felt like the best were learning from the best. ... Connecting peers to push boundaries for social change – a new kind of meeting
By SIX
March 8, 2016
This originally appeared on the BRAC blog. If there were a simple recipe for social innovation, anyone could easily transform an idea into an impactful solution reaching millions. Unfortunately things are a lot messier on the ground. Many ‘amazing’ innovations that promise to save millions of lives fail to scale and quietly disappear. Who’s to blame: ... Scaling social innovation: An art or a science?
By Anjali Sarker and Maria A May, BRAC
February 26, 2016
How can mayors be more involved in driving social innovation at a city level? Social Innovation Europe recently asked Mayor Aboutaleb of Rotterdam, the Netherlands to share his insight on innovation in his city. Please allow me to say that I am so happy with the subject you have chosen for this interview. This is a subject ... Driving social innovation at a city level: Mayor Aboutaleb on Rotterdam
By Mayor Aboutaleb, the city of Rotterdam
February 15, 2016
The SIX Funders’ Node took place at the Rockefeller Foundation in New York in January and was the first convention of social innovation grantmakers from three continents. Andrew Barnett, Director of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s UK Branch, writes about his experience. Social Innovation should be invigorating and I returned from the SIX Funders’ Node gathering ... Greater funder connectivity for social change: reflections on the SIX Funders’ Node
By Andrew Barnett
February 9, 2016
Eddy Adams of SIX met Penny Travlou at the Unusual Suspects Festival in Glasgow, where she spoke passionately about the work she’s been involved in with refugees in Greece. As part of Social Innovation Europe’s Beyond Crisis Collection, Eddy interviewed Penny to learn more about this work of using food making and sharing to support migrant integration in Greece. To get us started, can you tell ... Options Foodlab: How food making and sharing is supporting migrant integration in Greece
By Social Innovation Europe
January 26, 2016