The Future is Collective Advancing Collective Social Innovation to Address Societys Biggest Challenges 2025

We are permanently creating something new that never existed before. We are organizing self-employed workers. It is different from organizing workers with a direct employment relationship, which is what trade unions have done traditionally. We deal directly with ordinary people: most of our members are self-employed women, they are informal street and market traders. They are building jobs for themselves; they are not waiting for the government to do it for them. They face daily harassment, violence, and lack of legal and social protection – even though they are essential workers who provide affordable goods, food and services to local communities and urban poor. Despite these challenges, we want to create and to be part of the solution, especially on the way to the formalization process of our jobs. We don’t lose hope and look ahead to a just future, without getting left behind. Oksana Abboud, International Coordinator, StreetNet InternationalFor-profit models of collective social innovation BOX 2 Collective social innovators operate through a number of different revenue models and are not limited to non-profit models. In the Schwab awardee network, there are many for-profit and hybrid business models using collective action approaches to drive impact at scale. These companies operate with the same values and aspirations outlined in this report, while developing partnerships and multistakeholder structures that prioritize sustainable revenue streams and emphasize scale. Some examples include: Ujala Cygnus in India is a network of 23 hospitals across 18 underserved cities that brings together the expertise of over 1000 doctors and medical experts to serve patients with advanced technology and high quality care. Ujala Cygnus is now partnering with the public sector to ensure that their activities and infrastructure can have the furthest reach. Indigital is a majority Indigenous-owned and managed social enterprise dedicated to creating positive systems change through collective action. As a trusted intermediary, Indigital partners with materials companies and communities to blend Indigenous knowledge and cutting-edge technology, creating solutions that care for country, culture and communities. The result is improved social, economic and environmental outcomes for all. Shonaquip is a hybrid South African social enterprise dedicated to improving the lives of children with disabilities by designing and manufacturing assistive mobility devices, training and support services that address the needs of users living in more off-road and under-resourced regions. It brings together government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other partners to ensure access for underserved communities, and works with public health systems to integrate assistive devices into national policies. Karo Sambhav is an Indian social enterprise aiming to make the circular economy possible through technology-driven waste management solutions. Initially focused on electronic waste, it has expanded to plastics, batteries and glass. Collaborating with enterprises, multilaterals and governments, Karo Sambhav supports circular economy and extended producer responsibility (EPR) initiatives. Its technology platform ensures transparency and traceability in waste collection, recycling and secondary materials management. Operating in over 70 Indian cities, it has processed over 120,000 tons of waste, offsetting approximately 115,000 tons of CO2, and runs three recycling units recovering critical raw materials and precious metals. Collective social innovation approaches can also bring together private sector groups to engage with the public sector and civil society to collaborate for social impact. The Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) in Nigeria was founded in 2017 as a coalition of businesses committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through strategic partnerships and investments. It collaborates with the government to drive policy reforms, mobilizes private sector resources for social impact and engages communities to implement sustainable initiatives. By promoting innovation and corporate social responsibility, PSAG strengthens Nigeria’s development agenda and works collectively to ensure economic growth, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability. Image credit: StreetNet International, Global 27 The Future is Collective: Advancing Collective Social Innovation to Address Society’s Biggest Challenges