Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the social impact of the social cooperative enterprise (SCE) “Modousa” in a marginal agricultural area of Lesvos Island, Greece. Focusing on post-productive agriculture and collaborative rural development, the study investigates how Modousa leverages local resources – particularly olive oil – to strengthen local capital, foster community-led sustainable development and address structural challenges. By analyzing Modousa as a model of social entrepreneurship, this paper aims to highlight its potential to empower rural communities, promote niche markets and contribute to broader discussions on sustainable rural development and social innovation. Design/methodology/approach The study uses participatory observation and secondary data analysis, complemented by unstructured interviews with Modousa’s founding members and local civil society representatives. The researcher participated as an observer in Modousa’s activities, balancing insider access with ethical considerations. Events were observed in physical and digital spaces to document local perceptions and practices. Data were analyzed thematically to explore how Modousa functions as a social solidarity economy (SSE) initiative in Lesvos, based on principles of collective ownership, democratic management and community benefit, following relevant European and Greek SSE frameworks. Findings The findings show that Modousa strengthens local capital by mobilizing natural, cultural, social and economic resources, fostering community-led development in a marginalized rural area. Its model of collective ownership and democratic governance helps mitigate structural challenges and global market pressures. Modousa promotes olive oil as a socio-cultural product, enhancing local identity, creating niche markets and building solidarity networks. The enterprise demonstrates how social entrepreneurship can drive sustainable development by leveraging territorial assets and engaging local actors. Overall, Modousa’s approach contributes to rural revitalization, encouraging a transformative culture of collaboration and resilience in peripheral agricultural regions. Originality/value This study offers original insights into how SCEs like Modousa can function as agents of rural transformation in marginalized agricultural regions. By combining participatory observation with in-depth interviews, it examines the interplay between social entrepreneurship, local capital mobilization and community-led development. The research highlights the innovative use of olive oil as both an economic product and a cultural asset, contributing to place identity and local resilience. The findings provide a practical framework for policymakers, practitioners and scholars interested in applying similar SSE models to promote sustainable development in other rural contexts.

Purpose This study aims to examine the potential of tourism social enterprises to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as the 2030 deadline approaches. While the public sector plays a central role, private actors such as social enterprises can reconcile economic, social and environmental imbalances. By focusing on Fiji, a small island state heavily reliant on tourism, this research highlights the extent to which tourism social enterprises contribute to sustainable development and identifies how their activities align with the global agenda. This study further considers policy implications for enhancing their enabling environment. Design/methodology/approach This research adopts a qualitative case study approach, using tourism social enterprises in Fiji as the unit of analysis. Data were collected through interviews, document analysis and stakeholder engagement to examine how these enterprises generate impacts aligned with the SDGs. The analysis mapped enterprise activities against the 17 SDGs, identifying areas of contribution and potential gaps. This approach enabled an in-depth understanding of the role of small to medium-sized tourism social enterprises in advancing sustainable development in small island economies. Findings This study demonstrates that tourism social enterprises in Fiji actively contribute to 14 of the 17 SDGs, with particularly strong links to goals related to poverty reduction, gender equality, responsible consumption and climate action. These enterprises combine business models with social and environmental missions, amplifying their developmental impact beyond economic outcomes. The findings also highlight systemic challenges, including limited resources, institutional support gaps and policy fragmentation, which constrain their contributions. Policy interventions and capacity-building initiatives are recommended to strengthen the role of social enterprises in advancing the SDGs. Originality/value This research provides novel insights into the intersection between tourism social enterprises and the SDGs, an underexplored area in both tourism and sustainability scholarship. By situating the analysis in Fiji, this study adds value to understanding sustainable development in small island developing states, where tourism is a primary economic driver. The findings offer practical implications for policymakers, emphasizing the importance of creating enabling conditions that foster the growth and impact of social enterprises. This study thus advances both theoretical and applied discussions on sustainable tourism and social entrepreneurship.

Purpose This case study aims to trace a transdisciplinary development process in the context of social welfare that – taking a novel approach – addresses the issue where client’s rights and obligations to participate in the planning of personal and economic assistance come up against communication barriers. Design/methodology/approach Content analysis of conversation observations, documents and interviews with social workers and social assistance beneficiaries from four services allowed to identify potential development topics. Visual materials on 10 jointly selected topics were then developed in an iterative and co-creative process drawing on the expertise, experience and ideas of social service managers, social workers, clients of social services, a national umbrella organisation and – on the research side – social work and visual communication design. Findings From an innovation-specific perspective, the case study allows for discussion of topics such as development alongside day-to-day business, gatekeeping of professionals or the challenges of service user participation. Furthermore, the case analysis highlights key aspects relating to contextual conditions and the promotion of social innovation therein. Originality/value The present case study allows conclusions to be drawn about the challenges facing transdisciplinary innovation in a public, administratively structured and highly regulated area of human services and how these can be addressed. In addition to the potential for disruptions within the process, it is clear that creative endeavours can flourish through adequate funding, knowledge-based collaboration, planning that is closely aligned with the realities of the field, flexibility and a collective openness to learning.

Purpose The current economy is witnessing a significant rise in the involvement of women in entrepreneurial activities. However, in rural areas, where traditional values often meet with innovative approaches, the entrepreneurial journey of women presents unique challenges and opportunities. This study aims to examine the impact of entrepreneurial intention, social innovation and government support on the promotion of sustainable entrepreneurship among rural women entrepreneurs and, consequently, their business performance. Design/methodology/approach Primary data was acquired for this study by the distribution of a structured questionnaire to a sample of 351 rural women entrepreneurs. This study is conducted inside the geographic territory of Bihar, India. Structural equation modelling has been used to examine the direct and mediated association between the variables. Findings The findings highlight that entrepreneurial intention, social innovation, and government support have a significant influence on sustainable entrepreneurship. In addition, sustainable entrepreneurship has a substantial impact on business performance. Furthermore, the results showed that sustainable entrepreneurship significantly and partially mediates the link between entrepreneurial intention, social innovation, government support and business performance. Practical implications Governmental bodies and policymakers must develop policies and initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable and resilient business practices among female entrepreneurs in rural areas. The government should invest in education and training initiatives to teach rural women entrepreneurs about sustainable business practices and how to effectively execute them. Originality/value This study contributes to the current body of literature by highlighting the significant importance of sustainable entrepreneurship in rural contexts.

Purpose This study aims to examine the influence of the regional social entrepreneurship ecosystem (RSEE) on the functioning of social enterprises (SEs) in India, with a specific focus on Kerala. By shifting the analysis focus from the national to the regional level, it addresses the limited understanding of how social entrepreneurs experience and interact with ecosystem actors. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a qualitative research methodology, drawing on in-depth interviews with 17 social entrepreneurs across the state of Kerala. Thematic data analysis was performed to identify patterns of interaction between SEs and diverse ecosystem stakeholders. Findings This study reveals that SEs are strongly supported and fostered by regionally embedded institutions, such as state and local governments, as well as by locally available actors. The findings emphasise that a strong RSEE is critical for SE growth and sustainability and that research and policy attention should shift from national to regional ecosystems. Originality/value This study contributes to the SE scholarship by focusing on the RSEE and examining how social entrepreneurs experience and engage with ecosystem actors at the local/regional level.

Purpose Community-based social enterprises (CBSEs) face distinctive challenges in creating hybrid values within localised contexts. While intermediaries – specialist organisations mediating transactions and interactions – are crucial actors in supporting social enterprises (SEs), their contributions to CBSEs remain underexplored. This paper aims to examine the roles of intermediaries in supporting the development of CBSEs in China and Japan, where the SE sector has evolved under distinct yet complementary contexts. In addition, it aims to elucidate how intermediaries supporting CBSEs differ from those assisting SEs more generally. Design/methodology/approach This research draws on ecological system theory (EST) and institutional logic theory, allowing for a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of intermediaries. The authors conducted eight qualitative case studies with a comparative perspective, collecting data through semi-structured interviews, documents and field observations. Afterwards, thematic analysis was pursued to analyse the data. Findings The findings reveal that, in both countries, intermediaries serve as “external enablers” for CBSEs, playing a crucial role in facilitating and mediating across multiple systems. While intermediaries differ in their incorporation and approaches, community logic – an institutional logic informed by local context – guides their strategic pursuit. Originality/value This paper provides empirical evidence on the understudied role of intermediaries in Asian contexts, particularly those supporting CBSEs. The authors highlight two theoretical contributions. First, this research extends the application of EST. Second, it develops the theoretical discussion on community logic and the territoriality of intermediaries.

Purpose In developing countries, social enterprise creation is often said to offer a promising solution when public institutions struggle to uplift society from social, economic and environmental challenges. Despite social enterprises’ vital role, they still face challenges such as financial sustainability, market penetration, access to financial resources and maintaining social enterprises’ dual (social and economic) nature. The recent discussion about the positive effects of co-creation processes in institutional creation paves the path for exploring the potential of this approach in creating social enterprise. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore an integrative social innovation model based on a co-creation process to help social enterprises address their challenges. Design/methodology/approach This study explores a social innovation model based on co-creation and quantitatively analyzes its impact using the difference-in-differences approach. It used STATA 18 to analyze panel data from the World Bank, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority and the United States Agency for International Development-funded PYWD project, covering 2013–2020. Findings This study’s findings indicate a significant positive impact on the creation and growth of social enterprises over time, which is further strengthened in the presence of covariates such as social infrastructure availability, education investment, urbanization and public support institutions. Originality/value This study uniquely emphasizes the ways that can curtail social enterprises to subside potential uncertainties about their sustainability.

Purpose This paper aims to show how community digital accessibility – as a social innovation emerging from institutional arrangements – enhances farmers’ access to agricultural knowledge. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative approach based on a case study highlighting social innovation around community digital devices, data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The data collected were analyzed using discourse analysis. Findings The results indicate that community digital accessibility, supported by the community’s choice of managers and the mobilization of farmers to maintain the equipment for these digital devices, promotes close and tailored support for farmers in accessing digital services and agricultural knowledge. These collective dynamics have enabled the sustained functioning of digital devices, facilitating continuous access to digital services and agricultural knowledge. Practical implications These results suggest that agricultural policies should rely on local collective dynamics to facilitate farmers’ adoption of digital technologies and improve their efficiency in agriculture. Originality/value This research emphasizes a transdisciplinary approach that links social, institutional, cognitive and technological dimensions to generate knowledge supporting agricultural transformation.

Purpose Social entrepreneurship ecosystems (SEEs) are communities of varied yet interdependent actors collaborating to impact the environment for social entrepreneurs. To date, there is limited understanding of the processes that drive their functioning. The purpose of this paper is to address this limitation by explaining how SEE relational governance processes strengthen relationships among actors. Design/methodology/approach This conceptual paper uses narrative theorizing to integrate ecosystem research with social enterprise literature and proposes an SEE relational governance process. Grounded in social capital theory, the authors explain how networks, norms and trust enhance relationships within SEEs. Findings The authors identify how diverse ecosystem actors shape governance processes in SEEs: Socializing fosters collaboration within the network; Strategizing aligns objectives through shared norms; and Legitimizing reinforces trust via transparent communication. Research limitations/implications This paper advances the theoretical understanding of SEE by linking ecosystem governance with social enterprises and social capital theory. The process offers insights into the role of networks, norms and trust in shaping relational ecosystem governance. Practical implications By articulating SEE relational governance, the authors give ecosystem builders, policymakers and support intermediaries a concrete checklist: expand and broker ties; co-create objectives that match those ties; and signal progress through shared impact metrics and credible partnerships. Originality/value This paper advances SEE research by offering a process-oriented approach for SEE relational governance. The authors identify Socializing, Strategizing and Legitimizing as the three interconnected processes through which ecosystem actors connect, align objectives and build trust.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate, how Stella’s Circle, in St. John’s, Canada, a large, long-lived, social organization providing diverse services, created an enduring crisis-free identity. Design/methodology/approach Data from 13 semi-structured interviews and document review was used to examine the organization’s relationships with its many stakeholders. Findings Serendipitously, nuanced communication with elements of both ambiguity and clarity, enabled the organization to establish an enduring, crisis-free identity. To achieve this successful balance, the organization used powerful, yet ambiguous, words and labels coupled with customized narratives to manage stakeholder identity perceptions. Practical implications Understanding the nuances of this organization’s communication can assist other social organizations create and manage a crisis free identity. Originality/value Besides being the first-time, the tension between identity ambiguity and clarity has been scrutinized in this context. This work argues that social constructivist identity theory can be, beneficially, cross-pollinated with the concept of strategic ambiguity from communication theory to develop a fuller understanding of successful social organization identity management.