Social innovation and collaborative networks in addressing food insecurity and sustainable social development: a study of the “Ceará sem fome” program in the Sobral macroregion

Abstract

The Ceará Sem Fome Program (PCSF) emerges within Ceará’s public-policy landscape as a social-innovation strategy aimed at addressing food insecurity and fostering development grounded in sustainability. This study investigates how the collaborative networks established by the PCSF—particularly the role played by Cáritas Diocesana de Sobral—contribute to reducing food insecurity in the municipalities covered by lots 22 and 37 of the program. The initiative is also examined for its capacity to promote sustainable social development and stimulate the local economy, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, and 10. A mixed-methods design (qualitative and quantitative) was adopted, combining questionnaires and interviews with Cáritas managers and a beneficiary of the vocational training courses coordinated through the institution, in addition to an analysis of operational reports provided by the Managing Unit. These procedures enabled the assessment of impacts on access to food and on citizenship empowerment. The discussion is anchored in the literature on social innovation and poverty-alleviation policies, highlighting the participatory and replicable nature of the experience. The results indicate tangible improvements in food security among beneficiaries, strengthened community ties, and encouragement of local economic initiatives. It is concluded that the PCSF constitutes a consistent example of social innovation implemented through public policy, capable of producing significant changes in the food and socioeconomic landscape associated with extreme poverty in the Sobral macroregion.