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Inclusive Innovation and Rapid Sociotechnical Transitions: The Case of Mobile Money in Kenya

Author

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  • Elsie Onsongo

    (Strathmore University)

  • Johan Schot

    (University of Sussex - Science and Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU))

Abstract

Mobile money innovation is at the centre of a sociotechnical transformation in the financial services sector in Kenya that saw changes in the regulatory framework, in market shares, user practices and social networks across multiple regimes. While sociotechnical transitions often take about 50 years, the mobile money revolution in Kenya has taken only 15 years, and has resulted in remarkable levels of financial inclusion of marginalised people. In this paper we combine the multi-level perspective (MLP) from the sustainability transitions literature and the Ladder of Inclusivity (LII) from the inclusive innovation literature to explain this rapid transformation. Applying both frameworks to the case enables us to elucidate potential areas for cross-fertilisation between MLP and LII, thus responding to calls for the inclusion of a social dimension in the transitions perspective, while explaining how processes of change envisioned (but weakly defined) in LII can be explored. Based on our findings, we hypothesise that a rapid socio-technical system transition takes 1) strong landscape pressures, an opening up of regime which makes regime actors willing to act and strong niche development all oriented towards the same goal, and 2) regime actors motivated by the normative goal to take risks and respond favourably to the mix of developments at all three levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Elsie Onsongo & Johan Schot, 2017. "Inclusive Innovation and Rapid Sociotechnical Transitions: The Case of Mobile Money in Kenya," SPRU Working Paper Series 2017-07, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    • Handle: RePEc:sru:ssewps:2017-07
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Lepoutre, Jan & Oguntoye, Augustina, 2018. "The (non-)emergence of mobile money systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: A comparative multilevel perspective of Kenya and Nigeria," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 262-275.
    2. Anne-Charlotte Hoes & Lusine Aramyan, 2022. "Blind Spot for Pioneering Farmers? Reflections on Dutch Dairy Sustainability Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Felix Ouko Opola & Laurens Klerkx & Cees Leeuwis & Catherine Kilelu, 0. "The Hybridity of Inclusive Innovation Narratives Between Theory and Practice: A Framing Analysis," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 0, pages 1-23.
    4. Felix Ouko Opola & Laurens Klerkx & Cees Leeuwis & Catherine Kilelu, 2021. "The Hybridity of Inclusive Innovation Narratives Between Theory and Practice: A Framing Analysis," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(3), pages 626-648, June.

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    Keywords

    Sustainability transitions; multilevel perspective; inclusive innovation; ladder of inclusivity; mobile money; financial services;
    All these keywords.

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