The Capacity of Volunteer Networks for Sustainable Social Innovation in Ukraine
Olga Voropai1 ✉️, Nina Chala2 ✉️, Kateryna Pichyk3 ✉️ 1Faculty of Management, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland 2Centre for Analytics and Business Modelling of Sustainable Development, National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy,” Kyiv, Ukraine 3Marketing & Business Administration Department, Faculty of Economic Sciences, National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” Kyiv, Ukraine
Cite as: Voropai, O., Chala, N. and Pichyk, K. (2025, May). The Capacity of Volunteer Networks for Sustainable Social Innovation in Ukraine. In SCS 2025, 2nd International Conference on Social Contexts of Science (p. 56). Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Poland.
Abstract
Social entrepreneurship and social innovation are gaining rising attention as a way of both solving societal challenges and creating economic value. However, before becoming a focus of a social enterprise, pressing environmental, social and cultural problems are often solved by volunteers. About 2.7 million people in Ukraine were engaged in volunteer activities in 2023. This study explores whether volunteering can drive social entrepreneurship in Ukraine based on the similarities between the activities undertaken by volunteers and social entrepreneurs. Given volunteers' significant role in addressing social issues, particularly during wartime, this research examines how volunteering ecosystems contribute to social entrepreneurship ecosystems (SEE). A qualitative case study approach was used to analyze the structure and dynamics of Ukraine’s volunteering ecosystem (VE) and its interaction with social entrepreneurship. Desk research was conducted using secondary data from 2019 to 2023, including Ukrainian State Statistics, UN Volunteers reports, and voluntary organization publications. The study also reviewed literature on social entrepreneurship and volunteering, assessing the factors that enable volunteers to transition into social entrepreneurs. The key findings relate to similarities and differences between the two ecosystems, the ways of their interaction, and the forms of state support for the transformation process. The research identifies key similarities between volunteering and social entrepreneurship, including the purpose of solving social challenges, limited resources, and working within established legal structures. At the same time, profit orientation and the objective to reach financial sustainability are the characteristics that differentiate social entrepreneurs and, therefore, make the transition of volunteers to innovators and business entities a feasible way of expanding the positive impact of the VE ecosystem and solving social problems in the long run. Furthermore, the study identified three dimensions of SEE efficiency: social entrepreneurship culture, access to markets, and skills and business development support, where volunteers can be beneficial if they join the social entrepreneurship process. This study underscores the need for policies that facilitate the transition from volunteering to social entrepreneurship. Governments can play a crucial role by creating supportive legal frameworks, funding mechanisms, incubators, and educational programs, fostering collaboration and networking, supporting research and raising awareness and recognition. Strengthening the relationship between volunteering and social entrepreneurship ecosystems can serve as a model for other conflict-affected or post-disaster regions, supporting sustainable recovery and social innovation.
Keywords
Volunteering, Social entrepreneurship, Volunteering ecosystem
Current status of the research is: Published, available online
Potential collaboration with Authors
The Faculty of Economics of the National University "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" is interested in joint research in the filed of economics, finance, and management with the Wroclaw Tech Management department and potential Erasmus mobility agreement between the two HEIs.