Beyond the Project Cycle
Relational Sustainability in Transdisciplinary Social Innovation in Social Services
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19483424 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Luna del Alba Anillo Pérez (0009-0006-9548-3157, Universidad de Huelva), Elena Ferri-Fuentevilla (0000-0001-6820-3611), María Elena Ferri Fuentevilla (Universidad de Huelva, corresponding author), Manuela Ángela Fernández-Borrero (Universidad de Huelva), Susana Martí García (0000-0001-6651-3114, Universidad de Huelva) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 74 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-29 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Social Sciences (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2076-0760 • E-ISSN: 2076-0760 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/socsci15020074 |
| OpenAlex | W7126059873 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 37 |
Transdisciplinarity and the co-production of knowledge have become fundamental approaches to addressing complex social problems. However, the sustainability of collaborative partnerships remains underexplored from an empirical perspective. This article examines the mechanisms that shape the continuity of collaborative networks in social innovation projects in the field of social services, particularly those linked to community-based welfare systems in Andalusia (Spain). Drawing on a thematic qualitative analysis of 15 social innovation projects and 14 semi-structured interviews with project coordinators, the study explores how diverse actors (universities, public administrations, third-sector organisations, and citizens) mobilise different types of social capital within local social services. The findings reveal that collaboration success depends on a balance between relational enablers (trust and shared experiences) and structural barriers (bureaucracy, work overload, and lack of time). The analysis also shows that participatory methodologies and connections with pre-existing networks are essential for sustaining collaboration after project completion. The article concludes that the sustainability of transdisciplinary social innovation in social services requires moving beyond project management logics and investing in the care of invisible relational structures, with implications for public policies aimed at consolidating trust ecosystems and long-term collective learning
Citizen journalism · Social capital · Social innovation · Social learning · Social sustainability · Social Welfare · Sustainability · Thematic analysis · Community Development and Social Impact · Innovation, Technology, and Society · Innovative Approaches in Technology and Social Development
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| Highly cited | No |
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