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Legal and Policy Frameworks

Costa Rica has adopted the following legal frameworks, strategies, and vision documents related to social innovation:

Social Entrepreneurship
Social Innovation
Social Businesses
Social [and Solidarity] Economy

Current stage of implementation:

Stage5: Social Entrepreneurship / Innovation / Businesses / [and Solidarity] Economy

with:

Stage1: “No Policy or Recognition: No formal recognition, discussion, or policy exists. The sector operates informally or without government involvement.”;
Stage2: “Initial Discussions & Awareness: The government acknowledges the sector and has started discussions or consultations, but no formal policy framework or regulation exists.”;
Stage3: “Draft Policy or Framework in Development: A draft policy, strategy, or regulatory framework is currently being developed. The government may be conducting research, stakeholder consultations, or legislative drafting.”;
Stage4: “Pilot Programs or Limited Implementation: Some initiatives, pilot projects, or partial government-backed programs exist, but full implementation has not yet been achieved. Policies may be tested in select regions or for specific groups.”;
Stage5: “Policy Adopted but Not Fully Implemented: A formal law, policy, or regulation has been passed, but it has not been fully implemented, enforced, or funded. Gaps in execution may still exist.”;
Stage6: “Policy in Effect & Actively Implemented: The policy is fully enacted and actively being implemented. There is clear government support, funding, and enforcement mechanisms in place.”;
Stage7: “Policy Reviewed & Strengthened: The existing policy has been evaluated and improved over time based on feedback, data, or evolving needs. New funding, incentives, or structural reforms may have been introduced.”; and
Stage8: “Leading in Policy Innovation: The country is recognized as a leader in this policy area, with best practices, strong regulatory frameworks, and incentives that actively promote and support the sector.”

Ecosystem Actors

Key Actors in the Ecosystem

The leading actors driving social innovation in Costa Rica include government ministries, social enterprises, NGOs, philanthropic institutions, academia, and other ecosystem builders. The top three most influential actors are:

Academic and research centers
Foundations & philanthropic organizations
Government entity (ministries/agencies)

Examples: Public Universities, UCR, UNA, TEC ‍

Education and Capacity Building

Formal and informal education programs that support social innovation exist in the following forms in Costa Rica:

University-level courses or degrees:“ Social innovation, social entrepreneurship, or impact-driven business programs are offered as courses, degrees, or research tracks in universities or technical institutions
Government-supported training programs:“ The government has launched or funded capacity-building programs, incubators, or skill-development initiatives to support social innovation
Private sector or NGO-led programs:“ Non-governmental organizations, incubators, or private sector actors actively run training, mentorship, or acceleration programs for social innovation.

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Coordinating Bodies

A centralized body responsible for coordinating social innovation efforts across sectors exists in Costa Rica.

Ecosystem Communication

The level of communication and coordination among key actors in Costa Rica’s social innovation ecosystem is currently Moderate:“ some collaboration, but existing gaps in coordination.

Support Mechanisms for Policy and Finance

Policy Incentives and Support Mechanisms

To support social innovation, Costa Rica has implemented the following incentives and mechanisms:

Government-backed funding programs (e.g., grants, subsidies, social impact funds)

Financing Mechanisms

Impact

Flagship Programs and Achievements

Notable achievements and flagship programs in social innovation in Costa Rica include:
There is a program in the University of Costa Rica named DIPROVID that has been very successful https://www.proinnova.ucr.ac.cr/noticias/11-logros-de-la-diprovid

International Collaborations

Tech for Good Innovations

Impact Measurement Frameworks

Costa Rica does not have a formal framework or methodology for measuring social innovation impact.

Economic Contribution of Social Innovation

Reports on Social Impact

There are no Reports and studies that assess the social impact of innovation in Costa Rica.

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Policy Momentum

Momentum for social innovation as a public policy issue in Costa Rica is currently rated as:

Some Momentum: There is growing awareness and initial efforts in public policy, but implementation remains limited or fragmented

Barriers to Growth

The following barriers are currently hindering the growth of social innovation in Costa Rica:

Regulatory and legal barriers,
Lack of awareness and understanding of social innovation,
Weak collaboration between public, private, and civil society sectors,
Difficulty in measuring and demonstrating impact

Collaborative Ideas