Abstract

While the studies researching social innovation are growing internationally and already cover numerous countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin and North America, social innovation projects (SIPs) in Central Asia left apart from the mainstream research. Meanwhile, SIPs in Central Asia, namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, supported by different actors including governments, private companies, civil society organizations (CSOs), media, individuals and international organizations (e.g. UNDP, UNICEF, former USAID, etc.) are embedded into the national innovation systems emerging in Central Asian republics. Mostly driven by developmental purposes SIPs have demonstrated different degrees of progress towards true social innovation in Central Asian societies. In this context, it is rewarding research on SIPs enabling scholars to understand societal, economic, legal, cultural, entrepreneurial constellations of factors shaping social innovation in this region.

Thus, the aim of this research is to analyze SIPs in Central Asia and assess their progress towards being true social innovation. To do so, SIPs are scrutinized and compared within the areas/sectors they have been introduced in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. To apply the social innovation concept, in the research, social practice theory serves as the theoretical framework. Also, social innovation criteria and human development approach as additional theoretical pillars are used to set normative standards and conduct qualitative evaluation and comparison of SIPs in the abovementioned republics. The evaluation will shed light on eventual inconsistencies in the application of SIPs and assist in understanding whether a new type of social innovation – developmental, is evolving in Central Asia. It is going to help inform policies aimed at SIPs addressing developmental issues such as poverty, environmental problems, and democratic governance in Central Asia revealing eventual heterodox design and application of SIPs.

Consequently, current research has potential to contribute to the existing research gap on social innovation in Central Asia, contribute to the better theoretical and practical understanding of social innovation developments in the region, provide solid information for policy makers and public.