IJCESA

Grassroots Innovation for Inclusive Growth: A Study of Community-Lead Sustainable Development

© 2025 by IJCESA

Volume 2 Issue 1

Year of Publication : 2025

Author : Gokul G, Rengaraj

Article ID : IJCESA-V2I1P105

Citation :

Gokul G, Rengaraj, 2025. "Grassroots Innovation for Inclusive Growth: A Study of Community-Lead Sustainable Development " International Journal of Community Empowerment & Society Administration [IJCESA]  Volume 2, Issue 1: 36-46.

Abstract :

Solutions to everyday challenges formulated by communities are termed "grassroots innovation," and have evolved into an important avenue for sustainable and equitable development. Community-led innovations promote inclusive growth by improving livelihoods, expanding services and local capacity in a way that also preserves environmental resources, we learn in this article. The paper identifies means through which grassroots innovation enhances social inclusion, economic resilience, and ecological sustainability based on a mixed-methods approach that reviews the literature, analyses illustrative case studies (Honey Bee Network innovations; community-based energy initiatives; water harvesting) and proposes an empirically applicable analytical framework. The main findings are that: (1) local institutions and learning networks assist diffusion and scaling; (2) the role of enabling policy environments, as well as intermediary actors (e.g., civil-society networks, incubators), is critical; and (3) bottom-up innovations lead to greater access and affordability of essentials for the poor. Aside from providing an operational monitoring tool to measure contributions to inclusive growth, the report also provides a set of policy-making recommendations on how grassroots innovation can be elevated into national development strategies.

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Keywords :

Community-Led Development, Sustainable Development, Frugal Innovation, Social Inclusion, Participatory Innovation, Local Knowledge, Rural Empowerment Environmental Sustainability Grassroots Innovation Inclusive Growth.