Innovating from the grassroots: Perspectives constraints and opportunities of development innovation in Zimbabwe

Abstract

In a rapidly changing world, both economic growth and social development hinge on a country’s capacity to address complex challenges with creative solutions, making ‘innovation’ a key differentiating factor in the competitiveness of countries. This article critically analyses the emerging innovations for inclusive development interventions in Zimbabwe. The article first explores the concept of innovation and inclusive development as a framework for the analysis. The current Zimbabwean socio-economic development trajectory is explored assessing constraints and opportunities for inclusive development. This article critically assesses whether these approaches, including work on pro poor IC4D, can underpin research into how robust inclusive development can be mainstreamed and can be sustained. It suggests that these new approaches offer powerful insights into robust I4ID transforming the marginalised communities’ livelihoods.