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Contemporary governance increasingly emphasizes cross-sector collaboration to address complex societal challenges. This article examines how state strategies approach cross-sector collaborations involving the third sector, and delves into the interplay of authoritative, competitive, and collaborative governance strategies within these policies. Motivated by concerns about child poverty and social exclusion, the Declaration on Leisure Activities exemplifies Norway's reliance on partnerships between government, municipalities, and third sector organizations in the leisure and culture policy field. Employing a qualitative document analysis, the study reveals both potentials and paradoxes inherent in these approaches, offering valuable insights for designing effective cross-sector policies and navigating the complexities of cross-sector collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a renewed interest in third sector organizations with hope for contributions to systems of new public governance and welfare services. This study is based on a survey to the local authorities in Sweden and aims to analyze how collaboration between public and third sector organizations occurs at the local level. A special focus for the study is idea-driven public partnerships (IOPs). The results indicate that collaboration mainly occurs outside of the core fields of welfare and also that the national level agreements set standards to be used in especially the larger local authorities who are more in need of formalized policies to handle the local relations. The institutionalized collaborative relations are diverse and mainly meant to promote a thriving third sector for its democratic values, but there are also certain welfare fields with less local remit such as sports, leisure time activities, and homelessness where NPOs are not crowded out by the public sector. Collaboration with IOPs are more common in larger local authorities and places with a larger proportion of immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates institutional isomorphism within English social housing through the theoretical lens of strategic performance management. By employing a multiple case study analysis, we uncover how external isomorphic pressures are sensed within the organization as a strategic dissonance through its strategic performance management system. Housing Associations (HAs) need to respond to these 'sensed' external changes by adapting their internal strategic performance management, which are then measured and reported in a rapidly changing external environment. We argue that by focusing on changes in managing performance, organizational performance can become a lens by which the internalization of isomorphic pressures in social housing can be studied. A conceptual framework for social housing has been developed to study how HAs manage their performance in a rapidly changing context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Within the United Kingdom, the third sector has an important yet increasingly challenging role in providing employability support for people with complex barriers to work, as organisations face an ever‐tighter and more uncertain funding landscape. Whilst the obstacles posed by short‐term funding are raised in numerous publications from third sector professional and campaigning organisations, academic contributions on the effects of short‐term funding for the third sector remain scarce. This article presents a qualitative analysis of the impacts of short‐term programme funding on a third sector employability project in the North of England, as it navigated the post‐Brexit transition from European grants to regionally allocated shorter‐term funding under the first tranche of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Drawing on in‐depth interviews with frontline employability keyworkers, the article illuminates the multiple detrimental effects on project delivery, keyworker practices and client experience brought about by a reduction in funding timeframe and associated future uncertainties. Alongside practical implications, the study offers novel insights into the emotional impacts of short‐termism on those delivering at the frontline, which we interpret via the theoretical lens of ‘moral distress’. Findings also reveal a risk that, under tighter operating timescales, third sector organisations may feel increasingly pushed towards the selective recruitment of participants who are easier to help, potentially undermining their deeply held commitment to supporting those furthest from the labour market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of two evaluation activities that foster reflection on the operational strategies implemented, as well as the main challenges and opportunities that arise during intervention implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we sketch a vision that might guide academic and third sector collaboration. We do so by drawing on a project that involved collaboration with a range of stakeholders, in order to stimulate ongoing discussion about how academics and the third sector might work together to seek positive change. Our findings show that there are keenly felt challenges, but also a sense of resilient optimism. A key finding among our stakeholders was a sense that there is an absence of an overarching shared vision, which was experienced by many of our respondents as consequential. Therefore, in the spirit of constructive provocation we set out such a vision, which was collaboratively developed with our respondents: opening a dialogue, rather than providing a conclusive position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Third-sector organizations (TSOs) are recognized for having a unique and essential role in designing and delivering community-centred, sustainable health and well-being services. A World Café workshop at the 2023 International Conference on Integrated Care to explore perspectives on the questions explored the question: How do we characterize the role of the Third Sector in Integrated Care Systems? Are they Partners, Service Providers, Both or Neither? Attendees from Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands shared perspectives regarding facilitators and barriers to engaging TSOs in integrated care systems, drawing on experiences and practices from their communities and health systems. Building from participant perspectives, we posit that while cross-sectoral alliances between government and voluntary organizations are possible, and this engagement can contribute substantial health-promoting value to society, much work remains to be done. Meaningful collaboration requires attitudinal shifts, new working methods, rebalancing power within the relationships, and sufficient resources to support the collaboration. Creative approaches to facilitating positive engagement of TSOs within integrated care systems can address long-standing barriers and misunderstandings. Sharing and learning through research, evaluations, and networks is essential to achieve integrated care systems based on trust and committed collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the organizational innovation of third sector sport organizations (TSSOs) that deliver or facilitate the delivery of sport and physical recreation for disabled participants during the first five months of COVID-19 suppression measures in England. Drawn from qualitative data with key personnel, findings first demonstrate the strategic, financial, user, and human resource dimensions of constraint placed upon the TSSOs. The blend of online/digital and physical innovations adopted by the TSSOs, and how they have contributed to the implementation of novel administrative processes, and technical services and products by the organizations to continue to engage with their target audiences during this time are then documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community Development (CD) is a process to favour the socio-economic development of communities through the engagement of citizens, social workers, public authorities or non-profit organizations. Over the last decades, theories and practices of the CD have spread all over the world. Italy has a consistent "Third Sector" (TS) with a long-standing tradition; Despite the absence of a well-defined area of the Italian CD, in recent years, particularly within the so-called Third Sector (TS), there has been to develop characterizes of the CD. This paper aims to theorize the features of the CD in the Italian TS. The research engages representatives of 23 organizations—from neighbourhood associations to foundations and national bodies—and investigates through qualitative semi-structured interviews how they promote and conceptualize CD processes. Through the framework of international theories, it is possible to define the field of the CD in the Italian TS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beginning explorations of civil society organisations (CSOs) from a democratic, political, or regulatory perspective potentially overlooks important aspects of CSO activity. Instead, this paper takes CSOs in action as its starting point – specifically, Australian CSOs responding to the needs of people and communities during the crisis of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Working between reflections by Australian CSO leaders during the pandemic and selected literature, a multi-grounded theory approach is used to produce a novel theoretical contribution – a typology of 10 distinct CSO activities. These 10 activities are divided into three categories: (1) The 'Big Three' activities – advocate systemically, deliver service and build capacity; (2) 'Business As Usual' activities – engage community, manage organisation and work collaboratively; and (3) 'Enabling' activities – conduct research, coordinate network, hold space and provide funding. The final three activities are revealed as being less integrated into the broader CSO literature than their more commonly explored counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to understand the differences between brands in the third and private sectors, using a sample of 100 individuals. The results showed a positive relationship between brand and choosing to work in the third or private sector. For maximum benefit, it is recommended to develop marketing strategies centered on the brand, enhance communication with customers and employees, invest in training and skill development, foster organizational culture, pay attention to work-life balance, and strategically think about talent recruitment and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prevalence of self-harm In England is rising, however contact with statutory services remains relatively low. There is growing recognition of the potential role voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) organisations have in the provision of self-harm support. We aimed to explore individuals' experiences of using these services and the barriers and facilitators to accessing support. Methods: Qualitative, online interviews with 23 adults (18+) who have accessed support from VCSE organisations for self-harm in the Yorkshire and the Humber region were undertaken. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was undertaken using NVivo software. Results: Participants described how a lack of service flexibility and the perception that their individual needs were not being heard often made them less likely to engage with both statutory and VCSE organisations. The complexity of care pathways made it difficult for them to access appropriate support when required, as did a lack of awareness of the types of support available. Participants described how engagement was improved by services that fostered a sense of community. The delivery of peer support played a key role in creating this sense of belonging. Education and workplace settings were also viewed as key sources of support for individuals, with a lack of mental health literacy acting as a barrier to access in these environments. Conclusions: VCSE organisations can play a crucial role in the provision of support for self-harm, however, pathways into these services remain complex and links between statutory and non-statutory services need to be strengthened. The provision of peer support is viewed as a crucial component of effective support in VCSE organisations. Further supervision and training should be offered to those providing peer support to ensure that their own mental health is protected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this article is to conduct a comparative analysis of good practices resulting from the interaction between strategic management and social management in two non-profit organizations focused on serving refugees. Through exploratorydescriptive research of a qualitative nature, the central problem of the research is to find answers to the question: How much the interactivity between strategic management and social management contributes to characterize the good practices of the sector? Initially, data collection was carried out through bibliographic and documentary research and, later, field research using semi-structured interviews with the main agents involved in the enterprise. The results indicate that in the good practices of the third sector entities analyzed, in both, common principles of social management are adopted (reception, protection, promotion and integration), while the principles of strategic management are consolidated only in the larger organization, in the smaller organization the empirical view predominates without the establishment of formal administrative procedures. The main obstacles encountered were bureaucratic processes, lack of preparation and structure for humanized care, and little knowledge about interculturality among those responsible for public policies. The contribution of the research lies in the finding that, despite the relevance of the interaction between strategic management and social management, good practices in non-profit organizations operate fundamentally based on social management, in which ideological alignment becomes one of the main pillars for the engagement of those involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study analyzes the use that the main NGO in Chile and Spain make of their profiles on Facebook and Instagram. Specifically, we study how they manage their public presence on these social networks, what issues they focus their activity on, how they are connecting with their audiences and the engagement they achieve. Methodology: the content analysis of the publications made by 50 NGO during a month has been used, taking into account quantitative and qualitative variables; the sample has been made up of 25 organizations from each country, selected by means of a non-probability sampling according to predefined criteria. Results: a total of 2,103 publications have been analyzed, which show that Facebook is the most used network, especially in Spain, and also the network with the largest number of followers; the use that NGO give to their profiles is basically informative, but there are differences between Spain and Chile and also by sector of activity of the organizations; the most used format for posting is text and notably the use of hashtags; the most common topics deal with the activities and projects of the NGO with a formal tone. Discussion: taking into account the social nature and the need to generate dialogue and connection with society, NGO should make more effort in their social media profiles given the scope and potential for generating engagement with their audiences. Conclusions: the communication strategies of the NGO in social networks do not take advantage of the power that these channels have to dialogue and establish relationships of trust with their audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With increasing attention to models of transitional support delivered through multisectoral approaches, third-sector organizations (TSOs) have supported community reintegration and independent living post-hospitalization. This study aimed to identify the core elements of these types of programs, the facilitators, and barriers to service implementation and to understand the perspectives of providers and recipients of their experiences with the programs. Methods and Analysis: A collective case study collected data from two UK-based 'Home from Hospital' programs. An inductive thematic analysis generated rich descriptions of each program, and analytical activities generated insights across the cases. Results: Programs provided a range of personalized support for older adults and addressed many post-discharge needs, including well-being assessments, support for instrumental activities of daily living, psychosocial support, and other individualized services directed by the needs and preferences of the service user. Results suggest that these programs can act as a 'safety net' and promote independent living. Skilled volunteers can positively impact older adults' experience returning home. Conclusions: When the programs under study are considered in tandem with existing evidence, it facilitates a discussion of how TSO services could be made available more widely to support older adults in their transition experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the application content and processes of forty Australian philanthropic grant-makers of varying sizes. It presents and briefly discusses the methods and content of pre-grant inquiry, and then considers the underlying nature and purposes of pre-grant inquiry. It is suggested that pre-grant inquiry functions, in part, as a sensemaking device that enables foundations to act with some degree of comfort in an uncertain, ambiguous and risky environment. The paper concludes by suggesting that Australian foundations need to consider carefully the bases, uses, functions and potentially toxic consequences of pre-grant inquiry before it is developed further. Although the data reported are from Australian foundations, many of the wider issues are of relevance to foundations in the UK and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conceptual malleability of the notion of social innovation has resulted in the appropriation of the concept in various sectors. The goal of the paper is to provide a critical view of such appropriation. We contend that this appropriation often includes the usage of the concept to advance agendas away from or opposed to that of the common good. This paper evaluates such problematic usage by identifying the distinguishing and core aspects of social innovation. These include the social need-meeting dimension geared towards marginalised or disadvantaged communities which is enacted via processes of social and/or power relations shifts of these groups. The paper locates the current trajectory of social innovation discourse to identify that it is in the actions of grassroots third sector initiatives, where the democratic side of social innovation is conserved, and calls for its advancement to prevent exploitation of disadvantaged communities and hogging of resources away from initiatives that are committed to it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge produced about the third sector in one country can provide useful insights to understand the nonprofit sector in other countries. It goes without saying "Knowledge not shared is knowledge wasted." While the volume of research on the South Korean third sector has been growing in recent decades, its readership has been mostly limited to Korean language users, missing the opportunity to globalize knowledge. Recognizing an opportunity to spark conversations about how to share the third sector research done in one country with global readers, we conducted semantic network analysis to identify long-term patterns of research in South Korean third sector knowledge production, reviewing about 6500 nonprofit studies published between 1987 and 2019. With a bigram and trend analysis of key themes, we find key characteristics and discuss them in detail. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the benefits of sharing knowledge produced in one country with scholars and practitioners in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is the perception of social services professionals regarding the participation of the Roma people in Castilla-La Mancha? What is the self-perception of the Roma people regarding their participation? This work examines the main participation trends in Rrom populations who are living in Castilla-La Mancha Region and the perception of social workers and third sector professionals as well. The methodology is qualitative and quantitative based. The qualitative method aims to answer about research subject who represented the Rrom people in Castilla-La Mancha (n=98), they participated in ten focus group that were developed in nine cities. The quantitative method aims to obtain professional details about their Rrom’s perceptions, the online questionary was applied (n=50). The results offer a descriptive and inferential analysis about participation variables and difficult perception in Rrom participation. The conclusion emphasizes on relevant needs in Rrom people, and it creates a differentiation between collectives and Rrom community in Castilla-La Mancha. The Rrom population is composed by collectives with several needs, theses collectives are formed the Rrom community in Castilla-La Mancha as a part of Rrom People in worldwide. Third Sector’s organizations and Public Social Services are focused on promote the participation of Rrom collectives, the Rrom associations and public administration need to create a horizontal logic in their relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a compendium of good practices detected from the application of the Social Profitability Indicator in Communication IRSCOM to a group of 12 community and indigenous public interest stations in Colombia during the year 2022. The IRSCOM-RADCC (Radio Comunitaria Colombia) is a tested methodology that is specified in 33 indicators and is designed to collect quantitative and qualitative information on the internal functioning of the media in relation to six categories of analysis: management, social capital, territorial and citizen articulation, programming, Internet activity and infrastructure. The information collected goes through a weighting process that results in numerical scores for each of its variables allowing to observe strengths and weaknesses. The tool facilitates the collection of qualitative information in the form of good practices for each of its variables, thanks to the results of the semi-structured interview that accompanies the IRSCOM implementation methodology. The results have shown ingenious ways by radios to self-manage, as well as loyalty participation, both in management and in the realization of programs. There is also a growing interest in diversity and differential aspects in the configuration of social capital and in the programmatic contents as well as a high level of linkage with the social fabric. All this makes them the axis of territorial structuring and enhancement of proximity communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relatively little is known about the Malaysian third sector. This is in large part due to the lack of large-scale data about the organisations that make up the sector, with the last comprehensive investigation nearly 50 years ago (Douglas and Pedersen in Blood, believer, and brother: the development of voluntary associations in Malaysia, 1973). The limited understanding of the make-up of the sector creates difficulties in policy development and resource allocation. For the first time, we combine the organisational databases of seven different regulators to map the Malaysian third sector, classifying organisations according to the International Classification for Non-Profit Organisations. We produce a map of the Malaysian third sector, describing its constituents, activities and beneficiaries. Our results show a sector cross-cut with ethnicity and religion, and we reflect on the implications both for the development of third sector organisations in Malaysia and for how current nonprofit theories adequately describe third sectors in non-western contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for accounting professionals who are increasingly up-to-date and prepared to meet the demands of the market, motivated this work that sought to verify how higher education institutions (HEIs) are preparing academics in order to meet the specificities required by organizations of the third sector. Thus, a study was carried out on the undergraduate courses in Accounting in Rio Grande do Sul, in order to identify the disciplines aimed at the third sector, with the aim of quantifying and qualifying the teaching of the discipline in HEIs, as well as seeking understanding how the syllabus contributes to student training. To achieve the results, qualitative research was used, explanatory and descriptive research, diagnostic research and document analysis were used. By analyzing the results, it was possible to verify that the institutions present curricula focused on accounting standards and legislation inherent to the area, with a reduced approach to other subjects relevant to the theme. Institutions must train professionals capable of providing relevant information to the management and longevity of third sector entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines third sector social housing in early post-apartheid South Africa, hence offering important new insights into how institutions in emerging economies shape the implementation and impacts of this approach. Based on qualitative research methods, the paper finds that under conditions of weak formal governance, nascent industry capacity and disaffected communities, third sector social housing resulted in serious project failures and squandered public resources. The study employs an institutional lens to understand how formal and informal institutions shaped the implementation of projects and how key stakeholders acted upon conflicting incentives. It discusses five major factors – inadequate formal policy and regulatory framework, limited government capability and support, limited sector capacity, private finance reluctance and adverse informal arrangements – that caused serious difficulties both at the program and project level. The paper argues that developing robust third sector social housing comes with substantial financial, administrative and political responsibilities for governments, and its success depends on the alignment between the formal policy framework and informal institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even if profit is not one of the purposes of the Third Sector, non-profit entities need to raise financial resources to maintain their activities and to meet their social goals. This study aimed to identify how the budget can be implemented in a Third Sector organization. It is classified as descriptive research with respect to its purpose; qualitative as regards the problem approach; and case study in relation to the procedures. Organização Líder was the institution analyzed and the data was collected by way of an analysis of its cash flow, a simple observation during visits to the institution and a questionnaire carried out with its directors. The applied budget form was rolling budget and the model used was the cash budget. The main results point to cash surplus at the end of the period under review. It was concluded that there were improvements in the organization financial sustainability with positive perceptions of its managers by the implementation of the selected budget form, being the rolling budget the appropriate tool for the entity. The contribution of this study is that the Third Sector has grown in representativeness in the country, but financial sustainability is considered a challenge to the management of its entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper makes an innovative contribution to studies on the local governance of migration by considering the role played by Third Sector actors in three small municipalities in northern Italy: a mountain village, a rural village, and a town located at the edge of the great Milanese conurbation. The cases shed light on the implications that a small size can have for understanding the policy outputs and challenges of migration governance at the local level. Building on comparative qualitative data, the paper describes common features that can be observed in the local policy arena of small municipalities, such as the reduced number and limited heterogeneity of Third Sector actors, ease of access to local decision-makers, and blurred boundaries between politics and administration. It shows that such features can be associated with specific inclusionary and/or exclusionary policies that can be explained by local associational ecologies and local governments' political orientation, despite the (often) limited human and economic resources available, but also by the activation of policy entrepreneurs and supra-local networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the collaboration between public and third-sector organisations (TSOs) in the framework of collaborative governance. We examined how TSOs portray their collaboration with public organisations and what kind of collaboration agency can be identified based on these descriptions. Using a discourse analytical approach, we identified three multifaceted, and somewhat paradoxical, types of collaboration agency discourse in third-sector organisations: situationalised, service system–oriented, and dependency-driven. We argue that collaborative governance both sets expectations and shapes the agency of TSOs. At the same time, TSOs strategically use these opportunities to their advantage, constantly reshaping their collaboration with public organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to understand the relationship between organised civil society and the energy transition. It is carried out by using a mixed qualitative method combining a systematic literature review, identifying the role of organised civil society within the energy transition internationally, and 18 interviews focusing on the development of Renewable Energy Communities in Italy and the potential position held by organised civil society in these collective actions which are transforming the energy system. The results demonstrate that such actors can contribute to the transition process as well as to the establishment of a new virtuous ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The third sector has emerged in the last decade as an important actor in development due to the social innovations it brings, Professional associations are one of the most important organizations, which situate between the public sector and the market. Therefore, this study aims to explore the innovative role of local professional associations in Algeria, This study relied on the analytical descriptive approach, and the statistical treatment of data, This study concluded that the local professional associations of the state of Algiers support local development by promoting social innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successive crisis in Europe have contributed to rethink welfare state and the entrepreneurial role of Third Sector organizations in the provision of community services that progressively have created social enterprises. Its creation is the result of a decision-making process that is collective, not individual, and of a strategic nature, in which the organization's culture plays a relevant role. This work aims to describe and analyze the entrepreneurial process, and the key elements that determines the decision of creating a work insertion social enterprise by its promotor entity. As a result, this article proposes an explicative model of social enterprises creation and makes an empirical validation, using Delphi Method in Spanish work insertion social enterprises case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The boundaries between state and charitable activities within the NHS are set out in regulations but are also enacted, blurred, and contested through local practices. This article reports research on NHS Charities– charitable funds set up within NHS organizations to enhance statutory provision – in Scotland. We analysed financial accounts and conducted qualitative interviews with staff in 12 of the 14 NHS Charities in Scotland, where they are generally known as endowments. Our findings suggest that Scotland's endowments are relatively wealthy in charitable terms, but that this wealth is unevenly distributed when population size and socio-economic deprivation are considered. We also identify two diverging organisational approaches to decisions, including those about appropriate and inappropriate fundraising. We argue that these approaches cohere with contrasting 'state' and 'charitable' institutional logics, which in turn imply different attitudes to potential inequalities, and to relationships with local publics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The increase in demand for young people's mental health services has been met by a growth of co-located mental health service provision in the NHS and third sector. This research explores the benefits and challenges of the NHS collaborating with a charity to provide a step-down crisis mental health service for young people in Greater Manchester, and suggests how the collaboration between the NHS and third sector may be improved for future projects. Methods: Working from a critical realist paradigm, this qualitative case study utilised thematic analysis of 9 in-depth interviews with operational stakeholders from 3 operational layers, to explore insiders' perspectives of the benefits and challenges of collaboration between the NHS and third sector in the context of the 'Safe Zones' initiative. Results: Themes relating to perceived benefits of collaboration were: doing things differently, flexibility, a hybrid approach, shared expertise, and shared learning. These were counterbalanced by perceived challenges: getting the pieces to fit, obtaining a shared vision, geography, lack of referrals, and timing. The importance of effective communication (e.g. of shared vision, standard operating procedures, key performance indicators) was noted as central to addressing challenges and reaping benefits. Conclusions: NHS and third sector collaboration can yield a range of benefits, some of which can mitigate against the perceived inflexibility and restrictive nature of usual mental health service provision, thereby providing a vehicle for innovation in step-down crisis care for young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the country achieved statehood in 1971, the United Arab Emirates' propulsion into modernity has witnessed the steep growth of the third sector (MOCD, 2019). The UAE's global economic outlook has also attracted numerous third sector organizations (TSOs) to establish chapters in the UAE (International Humanitarian City, 2020). While the TSOs established in the UAE serve a wide array of public purposes, a large proportion of them were grounded in charitable work. Although the third sector has been steadily growing in the UAE, literary efforts to document this sector were not found in the literature. This paper aims at presenting a preliminary understanding of the current status of TSOs in the UAE. Taking the contextual factors of the UAE into consideration, this paper explores the process of establishing a TSO across various legal frameworks found in the UAE and identifies the differences between them. This paper also includes a classification of TSOs based on their operational roles and a description of their geographical distribution across the UAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Writing on weaponized volunteering in these perilous times, one risks the perils Auden described of 'lecturing on navigation as the ship goes down'. Aging and unarmed, this scholar proceeds to respond to the invitation of providing concluding remarks to the monograph issue. I address four aspects of weaponized volunteering, as introduced in the five articles presented in this issue: (1) the significance of the content of this phenomenon; (2) the scope and quality of initial presentations; (3) the refinement of criteria for the subject; and (4) the range of responses that are likely to greet initial efforts to develop this field. Researchers in this field, if they are to succeed, will need to be exceptionally introspective, reflective, and self-critical. It will not be difficult for their critics to attack them as apologists for one or another side in the conflicts they study, or even as advocates for violence or terrorism. Studies in this field will themselves require study, relating, for example, the depiction of groups targeted for study to the intellectual backgrounds and political orientations of the researchers themselves. And the field itself will expand in both time and space: the long history of weaponized volunteering will be discovered and explored as it unfolds in the many corners of the earth; alternative futures and their implications for social peace and justice will require charting. In short, this may become a lively and important field, one which opens a wide range of new issues and concerns to the researcher aiming to understand the broadened nature of voluntary and purposive social action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses what I consider to be the world's main problems, although I recognise that there are also other problems at present, such as inflation and the war in Ukraine. I will try to address the main problems, which are of interest to CIRIEC, which is an international organisation that pays particular attention to what is called the Third Sector" or "Social Economy", an area that lies between the private business sector and the government despite I am not, I must admit, an expert in this last field. I will deal with it in the context of discussing a couple of problems we face in the world that I think are really important. The first problem is economic inequality, which I know something about. The second problem is climate change and environmental problems, which I think are the most important. I will also refer at the end to some problems related to the COVID pandemic. In all the problems, what we could call the Third Sector can play a big role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper charts the rapid rise of data science methodologies in manuscripts published in top journals for third sector scholarship, indicating their growing importance to research in the field. We draw on critical quantitative theory (QuantCrit) to challenge the assumed neutrality of data science insights that are especially prone to misrepresentation and unbalanced treatment of sub-groups (i.e., those marginalized and minoritized because of their race, gender, etc.). We summarize a set of challenges that result in biases within machine learning methods that are increasingly deployed in scientific inquiry. As a means of proactively addressing these concerns, we introduce the "Wells-Du Bois Protocol," a tool that scholars can use to determine if their research achieves a baseline level of bias mitigation. Ultimately, this work aims to facilitate the diffusion of key insights from the field of QuantCrit by showing how new computational methodologies can be improved by coupling quantitative work with humanistic and reflexive approaches to inquiry. The protocol ultimately aims to help safeguard third sector scholarship from systematic biases that can be introduced through the adoption of machine learning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnographies involve the exploration of social phenomena in the field, typically for an extended period of time. Traditionally, ethnographers listen to, observe, and directly communicate with the subjects of their research. At its essence, ethnography is about storytelling, and the data are collected through human interaction. With the development of new technologies, and with the plethora of social media platforms, the manner in which many stories are told has become significantly more varied. Accordingly, digital ethnography has emerged as a new approach to conducting ethnographies. In the present study, we focus specifically on the use of digital ethnographies in third sector studies. Building on our own experience using digital ethnography, collecting data from Facebook pages and groups, blogs, and websites of nonprofit organizations and individual volunteers and donors, we describe two different ways of conducting digital ethnography: One, at the micro-level, explores human milk donations to nonprofit milk banks. The second, at the meso-level, explores a community of migrant workers. We aim to outline the potential, limitations, and ethical considerations of this methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As of 2019, the COVID-19 Pandemic in Portugal confronted non-profit organizations with unprecedented challenges, leading to the need to adapt to the new pandemic context., The HRM area was strongly affected and forced to make quick, effective, and efficient adjustments to better respond to the new requirements. This work analyzes and identifies the main changes that non-profit organizations had to make in this area, specifically in recruitment and selection practices within a pandemic context. For this purpose, those responsible for managing people in private institutions of social solidarity and equivalent institutions, with a people management structure, are from two municipalities in the northern region of Portugal. We, therefore, used an exploratory study, consisting of applying a survey by questionnaire. The study population consisted of all IPSS and institutions equivalent to IPSS, in the municipalities of Felgueiras and Lousada. The study sample all IPSS and institutions equivalent to IPSS, with a people management structure - of 27 IPSS. This investigation found that third sector institutions do not ignore people management and it's multiple practices. They have probably not yet reached the desired development and maturity, but there is a progressive concern about "scientifically managing the most important assets" - People. This study concluded that, in relation to the previous period, 71% of institutions, in a pandemic context, had increased recruitment needs. Although with some changes, most IPSS managed to use the same type of recruitment (internal, external and/or mixed) that they practiced in the period prior to the pandemic. There were several recruitment difficulties and the techniques used were varied, as we will demonstrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Italy was the first Western EU country to have dealt with the severe effects of the widespread Covid-19 virus since the pandemic began. Many healthcare services were negatively affected, and the delivery of palliative care has been no exception. The Italian healthcare system has suffered more than others due to public spending cuts. The hospital-based approach has not allowed all patients to receive appropriate care. This situation was brought about not only by the pandemic emergency but mainly by pre-existing shortages due to the cut in financial resources before the Covid-19 pandemic. For countries similar to Italy, it is necessary to develop territorialised health care, decongestion hospitals, and strengthen the Third Sector, particularly the voluntary sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The introduction of elements of the circular economy requires major structural changes in economies, the involvement of a wide range of actors, including primarily businesses. However, it is worth noting the importance of other organizations, including the so-called third sector. Research objectives: The purpose of this article is to introduce the issue of cooperation of business and the third sector entities for the development of the circular economy. Research design and methods: For the purpose of the research paper, the following research method was used: a classic literature review and case study. Results: Collaboration between business and third sector providers has enormous potential for development and innovation. Conclusions: In Polish conditions the benefits and possibilities of cooperation between business and the third sector are not properly appreciated, and they are connected with a huge potential for the entities themselves and the possibilities of implementing the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to take stock of the evaluation tools currently in use in the private sector - including both the private for-profit sector and the third sector - to assess the contribution to the achievement of publicly relevant environmental and social goals. A very rapid evolution is underway in this sector, from accountability tools aimed at accounting for the organization' commitments, to more complex systems focusing on outcomes. The latter aim not only to assess the impact, but also to provide structured evidence so that citizens can make informed choices, and in the meanwhile to fuel the evaluation demand. Private sector evaluation shares many of the aims of public policy evaluation: a greater connection between the two worlds is essential as well as it is desirable to identify actors capable of translating their respective demands into common knowledge goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the global recession has served to increase the pressure on the management of nonprofit organizations (NPO). Executive leadership is an essential component of the success of these institutions. The aim of this paper is to survey the existing literature on social entrepreneurship and social innovation in the third sector (TS). For this, we used the collection of existing literature on the Web of Science (WoS). The 176 articles selected in this database were analyzed analytically and also using the VOSviewer software. The results show the existence of three approaches that highlight a relationship between entrepreneurial behavior and NPO performance, the creation of social value and the entrepreneurial orientation of NPO that triggered the emergence of hybrid organizations: social enterprises. This study aims to contribute to the construction of a holistic model for the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the use of interpretive methodologies to study civil society networks within the field of third sector research. Interpretive methodologies situate reality as both socially constructed and negotiated and seek to understand meaning and meaning-making practices, which from a critical perspective act as forces of and derivatives of power relations. In particular, we develop the concept "interpretive engagement" to highlight a common but broadly defined focus of study in relation to civil society networks and use it as an illustrative example for highlighting the value of interpretive methods—specifically those that focus on discourses and discursive practices as forms of meaning-making—for advancing scholarship in the field of third sector research. Drawing on research in the field that employs interpretive methodologies and techniques to understand such practices, our interpretive engagement concept demonstrates how interpretive methods can address neglected areas of study in relation to the expressive functions of organized civil society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature in the field of employability and the third sector has focused upon the impact of marketisation on third sector providers, elaborating how commissioning processes have led to a contraction of (smaller) third sector organisations (TSOs) and an expansion of larger private sector bodies. Extant research does not however explore the role of third sector organisations in the employability of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Therefore, our paper explores this gap by adopting a qualitative approach via a total of 36 interviews involving migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and managers of third sector organisations, alongside a categorisation of TSOs. Our findings reveal that TSOs are the primary (and for asylum seekers perhaps the only) providers of integration support services and training or education services. We found that only a limited number of organisations provide formal employability services or skills development services which seem to be only residual in terms of the range of activities that TSOs can organise. Thus, perhaps the main function that TSOs perform that enables integration into the UK labour market is providing a safe and trusted environment that people can use to increase their confidence, improve their well-being, broaden their social circle, learn the language or increase their work experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The innovative contributions of third sector organizations (TSOs) to tackle work-related societal challenges are increasingly acknowledged in policy and research, but rarely in Nordic working life studies. The article helps fill this knowledge gap by an empirical mapping of efforts by Swedish TSOs to promote work inclusion among people considered disadvantaged in the regular labor market, due to age, disabilities, origin, etc. Previous studies of social innovation help distinguish their innovativeness in terms of alternative or complementary ways to perceive and promote work inclusion in regard to Swedish labor market policies. By combining various measures for providing and preparing work opportunities, addressing their participants through individualistic and holistic approaches, and managing work inclusion by varying organization, funding, and alliances, the mapped cases seem to innovatively compensate for government and market failures in the work inclusion domain to some extent, while also being limited by their own voluntary failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work proposes the concept «Feminist Social Intervention» (FSI) to identify an incipient practice of social intervention focused on feminist action proposals. Through the study of the social intervention ways with women survivors of gender-based violence in different contexts–the specialized services provided by the Administration, the third sector, and the community and self-managed initiative–differential practices, experiences and stories based on structural components of the feminist historical reflection have been detected which would justify the proposed concept. The methodology used is qualitative, and it is based on in-depth interviews conducted with intervening professionals and volunteers. This concept would allowed:(a) to make visible a form of critical and feminist intervention that is already being developed, although in a limited and precarious way; (b) to identify more clearly what these differential practices and principles are; and (c) to vindicate the urgent need for a unique form of social intervention aligned by transdisciplinary feminist proposals that place women at the centre of the accompaniment, survival and empowerment processes after and/or during gender-based violence situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present evaluation analysis was conducted using a goal-free logic on 205 projects, implemented in different areas of Southern Italy benefiting from the financial support of the "CON IL SUD (FCS) Foundation", with the aim of highlighting some of the positive changes (expected or unexpected, direct or indirect) triggered by mid-long term projects, analysed using the Positive Thinking Approach as a research framework. In situations characterized by high levels of complexity, it is difficult to forecast how a change will manifest itself; therefore, the evaluative research should identify positive changes even when they occur unexpectedly. The author focuses on the different types of relational contexts in which the projects were embedded, with particular attention to how certain types of links between project partners and other stakeholders contributed, along with other factors, to generating local development in the territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inter-organisational collaboration plays an important role in the provision of services by the third sector. In this article we analyse the relationships among 21 third sector organisations in Andalusia. Through social network analysis we evaluate centrality, cohesion, influence and brokerage in different relationship structures among these organizations. The results reveal the existence of two relational spheres: one consisting of third sector organisations that provide services to specific groups and the other of organisations that work on issues of social inclusion and participation. A limited number entities account for the majority of the relationship activities in the network, mediating between users, the third sector and public administration. These entities structure the relationships into clusters with high cohesion, facilitating control over resources and the convergence of objectives among organisations in the same sphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inter-organisational collaboration plays an important role in the provision of services by the third sector. In this article we analyse the relationships among 21 third sector organisations in Andalusia. Through social network analysis we evaluate centrality, cohesion, influence and brokerage in different relationship structures among these organizations. The results reveal the existence of two relational spheres: one consisting of third sector organisations that provide services to specific groups and the other of organisations that work on issues of social inclusion and participation. A limited number entities account for the majority of the relationship activities in the network, mediating between users, the third sector and public administration. These entities structure the relationships into clusters with high cohesion, facilitating control over resources and the convergence of objectives among organisations in the same sphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social prescribing schemes refer people toward personalized health/wellbeing interventions in local communities. Since schemes hold different representations of social prescribing, responses to the pandemic crisis will vary. Intersectionality states that social divisions build on one another, sustaining unequal health outcomes. We conducted and inductively analysed interviews with twenty-three professional and volunteer stakeholders across three social prescribing schemes in urban and rural Scotland at the start and end of year one of the pandemic. Concerns included identifying and digitally supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals and reduced capacity statutory and third-sector services, obliging link workers to assume new practical and psychological responsibilities. Social prescribing services in Scotland, we argue, represent a collage of practices superimposed on a struggling healthcare system. Those in need of such services are unlikely to break through disadvantage whilst situated within a social texture wherein inequalities of education, health and environmental arrangements broadly intersect with one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea that we live in a world that has made the economic crisis, by a social and political extensión and its main characteristic is dealt with an essayistic manner. It is intended to recognize their practices and narratives, those ways of concretely constructing imaginaries and symbols that naturalize the sense that the post-Fordist society is the only one possible, despite its risk management or its enormous capacity to generate precariousness and discrimination. In this context, the role played by the third sector is raised, a concept that amalgamates ideas, companies and people that operate in the social economy halfway through public policies and the companies, corporations and financial systems that characterize the global world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]