ABSTRACT
This chapter describes and analyses the development and prospects of social innovation in Africa. It draws to a great extent on insights from the large-scale empirical research, mapping and analysis of social innovations around the world undertaken between 2014 and 2017 by the SI-DRIVE project. The chapter examines other relevant evidence related to social innovation and sustainable development, as well as drawing on development and social theory to assist placing the analysis in context and drawing conclusions about social innovation and social enterprise in Africa. Rapid population growth and environmental stress across the continent pose the major challenges for social innovation in Africa, so the focus is often on problems such as the provision of food, housing, education, health care, energy, transportation, water and sanitation. The chapter summarizes the main types of drivers, or enablers, of successful social innovations in African and non-African countries.
