Social
Innovation
We help our clients effectively navigate sustainable development through a process of social innovation.
Next Generation’s primary focus is on social innovation, a model of innovation squarely geared towards addressing the most pressing economic, social and environmental challenges in a way that contributes to the success of the business, the environment and the communities in which it operates. Our objective is to create shared value for all stakeholders that can be measured in a collective, comprehensive and integrated way.
We help funders, investors and social purpose organisations strengthen their ability to address persistent, complex and challenging social issues.
Over the past two decades, Next Generation has developed world-class proprietary integrated approaches to service delivery that help our clients differentiate their organisations through best practice research, strategies and performance management activities.
Our approach to social innovation is underpinned by a belief that strategy and sustainable development are inextricably linked, and we view impact assessment as a systematic inquiry based on data and evidence to facilitate intentional learning and continuous improvement.
What our clients say about us
Related Articles
8th Nov 2019
Social Innovation: beyond the buzz
From organ transplant deliveries by drone to smartphone apps that help diagnose eye disease and plant-based burgers that taste just like meat right through to entrepreneurship programmes that aim to build thriving early child development...
6th Nov 2019
5 Things We Have Learnt About Measuring Social Impact
Over the past seventeen years we’ve assisted numerous social investors, philanthropists, grantmakers and development organisations to not only become more sustainable, but to also create greater social impact. In the process, we’ve c...
6th Nov 2019
Social Innovation to Drive Shared Value
Social innovation is becoming a buzzword which is discussed around the world. There’s a surge in attention and government support for social development and social innovation, because it’s seen to be providing effective ways for addr...
11th Jul 2019
Executive Summary: Grantmaking & Social Innovation
Grantmaking: Executive Summary of research report 2017/2018: Reflections and insights from Africa regarding the social investment and development sectors....
20th Jul 2018
Understanding the concept and value of social innovation
The term social innovation has been used in a number of ways. Some of the earliest references, dating back to the 1960s, use it to refer to experimental research in the social sciences and humanities. Since then, the term has been used i...
13th Apr 2018
In social investment, it’s now about hard evidence and measured impact (2018 CSI trends media release)
2 April 2018 Social and impact investors no longer just want to know that they’ve attempted to change the world for the better. They want to know if their investment meant something. They want detailed evidence that their investment le...
13th Apr 2018
Social sector needs to up its game to keep receiving financial support (2018 CSI trends media release)
12 April 2018 Today’s philanthropists, grantmakers, social and impact investors want more control over their giving and they want evidence of the scale and sustainability of the impact they make. They demand greater transparency and ac...
13th Apr 2018
Social investors now want to see impact, sustainability – and ROI (2018 CSI trends media release)
12 April 2018 Investing in social and developmental causes has become increasingly innovative lately, moving away from one-directional donations and suchlike. Social investors now use a mix of finance models to put their money where it h...
7th Dec 2017
Creating shared value – because companies cannot succeed in a failing society
Too many companies are still trapped in an outdated approach of focusing solely on short-term financial performance while mostly ignoring the well-being of their customers, the availability of natural resources and the needs of the commu...
3rd Oct 2017
Let’s do social innovation rather than corporate social investment
Companies cannot be sustainable if the communities they depend on for future business are unsustainable. While this may sound as logical and common sensical as continually adapting CSI efforts to keep up in an ever-changing world, so man...
3rd Oct 2017
Implementing social innovation strategies at a systemic level: A wish list for 2018
Spring has officially sprung and we’re heading towards the planning phase for the forthcoming financial year. There is no better time to clean out the CSI closet and consider more innovative approaches that can equip us to better manag...
27th Jun 2016
Social innovation: Contributor and driver of future value and capital
Even today, many development practitioners find it hard to prove the value (and the business case for that matter) that social and community development delivers and contributes to the future sustainability of a business. However, becaus...
