Paper short abstract:

This paper takes an innovation systems perspective on digital inclusion efforts aimed at micro and small enterprises in East Africa. It examines the role of innovation intermediaries focused on tackling the digital divide.

Paper long abstract:

Innovation is considered a driver of development, yet various groups of people face inequalities that prevent them from realizing its development benefits. Consequently, inclusive innovation is increasingly being recognized as a pathway to serving the aspirations and needs of those who are often marginalized from mainstream innovation. A robust body of literature exists on roles played by intermediaries — actors who foster innovation in advanced economies. There is also growing understanding of intermediaries working with the innovation systems of lower income and emerging economies. Much less is known about intermediaries who foster inclusive innovation in lower economies. This paper seeks to contribute to this knowledge gap by exploring the roles played by inclusive innovation intermediaries and the impact of those roles on inclusion. It presents findings of a case study examining inclusive digital innovation aimed at fostering the inclusion of micro and small women entrepreneurs within the digital economy in East Africa. Findings suggest that within these contexts, intermediary roles aimed at inclusive innovation are much more fluid than in other contexts, and that intermediaries take on a more in-depth category of innovation roles than in advanced economies. Through an examination of inclusive innovation intermediary roles, the paper sheds light on the innovation for development discourse and offers recommendations for actors working to tackle the digital divide.