Transforming to such a society will require organisations, businesses, political structures, communities and people, as well as social values to adapt. It also requires that we acknowledge the distance from such ideals in some of the world's most vulnerable, deprived, and dispossessed communities due to wars, failed states, environmental crises, and societal collapse.
Our Centre researches, evaluates, advises, and acts on the complex but necessary interaction of diverse stakeholders, institutions, and natural systems to bring society closer to such ideals. We particularly use the opportunity of disruption to the status quo caused by the Covid-19 pandemic to explore new structures and behaviours that will contribute to an enduring societal transformation. We suggest ways for industry, government, and third-sector organisations to work together to develop innovative approaches.
Indicative research projects
- Contributing to best practice pro-climate/sustainable economic recovery and Green New Deals, which highlight the link between the root causes of the financial and environmental crises, and which aim to 'build back better'.
- Proposing social innovation that combines the traditionally separate state, market, or voluntary sector-led initiatives to address social issues (for example, community mental health and wellbeing) by integrating all these different actors.
- Working with vulnerable global communities in the most underdeveloped or distressed regions to develop strategies which bring solutions, recognising that they will be most effective and long-lasting if they combine economic, social, and environmental aspects to the community's benefit.
- Leveraging the existing Africapitalism research project to further explore the constraints, enablers, and framing of the private sector as a contributor to Africa's unique sustainable development challenges.
- Understanding how forced new routines of working from home, flexible working, and family life could impact commercial real estate and commuting patterns, as well as individual wellbeing and issues of inclusivity.
- Understanding the opportunity for the gamification of exercise through an ecosystem of apps and peripherals (such as Strava, Zwift, Peloton) to address complex health and wellbeing issues across society to become more sustainable and inclusive.
Project Fair
Building on a strong body of research into the psychological impact of disparate salaries in the international aid sector, in particular their impact on some employees' motivation, performance, and retention, and thereby aid activities.
Decent work/living wages
Understanding how to create and maintain good quality—decent—work to ensure it provides important benefits for workers, and also for employers. Furthermore, decent work supports a fairer society that enables individuals to thrive and their families to prosper, offering important benefits to the wider society.