Social Innovation Model Based on Collaboration Between Government and NGOs in Covid-19 Crisis: Evidence from Iran

Abstract

Background: Timely information and risk assessment in crises, can save people’s lives at risk in emergencies, providing effective, prompt, and coordinated interventions. In this context, the best and most effective way to attract social collaboration is through the combination of different ideas and forms of cooperation and creating a new approach to a social issue called social innovation. The present study seeks to identify the dimensions of social innovation based on the collaboration between government and NGOs in crises.Methods: This study is applied research in terms of purpose and qualitative research in terms of method, in which the Grounded Theory strategy has been used. The statistical population of the study is health experts from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran. Exploratory analysis and MAXQDA 2020 software were used to identify the components of the model. By selecting and reviewing 68 research in-depth, the initial framework was prepared. Then, through a semi-structured interview with experts, the framework was adapted and reviewed.Results: Based on the analysis of the collected data, 39 open codes were extracted and the components of the social innovation model are identified as follows: the effectiveness of NGOs collaboration, as axial phenomenon; investment, to attract NGOs collaboration, as casual conditions; ability to manage the implementation of the social innovation plan and ability to network, as strategies; ability to policymaking overall social innovation plan and providing the necessary cultural and educational infrastructure, as contextual conditions; the existence of capable legal organizations to solve the executive problems of the plan and facilitate coordination, as intervening conditions and controlling, containing and reducing the effects of the crisis, as consequences.Conclusion: The research results, give policymakers a model for social innovation by involving NGOs, especially in times of crisis. Also, they can be used in government planning for social development.