Innovation for inclusive rural transformation: the role of the state

ABSTRACTInnovation is increasingly recognized as a potent policy tool for addressing the structural problems that characterize poverty in marginalized rural communities. In what ways should governments in developing countries be involved in supporting innovation to achieve inclusive development objectives? This special issue brings together key insights from different facets of rural transformation programmes in the global South, with the view to shed light on the nature and outcomes of state involvement. The contributions to this volume highlight three domains in which the state plays a pivotal role in spurring inclusive rural transformation: promoting agricultural innovation in Algeria and Vietnam, supporting rural capacity building in South Africa and Peru, and the provision of pro-poor innovations for rural social development in India and Argentina. In all three domains, government support coupled with greater participation of local community members in the planning and implementation of innovative pr...