ESG Sustainability strategy and reporting: new opportunities for companies
In recent years, sustainability has become crucial for companies, especially in the EU space, following the introduction of increasingly stringent regulations. The adoption of ESG sustainability practices helps to enhance corporate reputation in a context where consumers are increasingly aware of the impact of their choices. A tangible commitment to sustainability strengthens the brand and [...]
Agency, participation in decision making and wellbeing among care leavers
Promoting agency in care leavers entails giving them the ability to make their own decisions, take control of their lives, and advocate for their own needs and desires. In the article “Agency, participation in decision making and wellbeing among care leavers in care system: A quantitative mediation study” (Children and Youth Services Review, 2024) Researchers [...]
Games for social change
To foster social change, it is first necessary to imagine new solutions and understand their consequences within a social context. Traditional methods of generating social change often rely on poorly explained or superficial regulatory interventions, which can lead to resistance to novelty. On the other hand, behavioral research, seeks to trigger a change by enhancing [...]
Circular City- the boardgame, the first board game focusing on the circular economy
The circular economy comes into play: "Circular City - the board game" conceived and developed by the Municipality of Prato, the Municipality of Taichung (Taiwan), and ARCO's Circular Innovation & Sustainable Commodities is the first game in which participants aim to adopt circular economy practices at the local level. The idea for the game came [...]
The potential of emancipatory research in user-centered practice
Involving the community in participatory processes is a key component in promoting social innovation functional to the transformation of local welfare. The Inclusive Development Unit carried out an Emancipatory Research with users benefiting from the Inclusion Income (Reddito di Inclusione REI) provided by the social services of the Prato Area to evaluate the impact of [...]
What if I were mayor? Young people in the game to shape the local policies of the future
Sustainable development, gender equality, LGBTQIA+ rights, workers’ defence, all challenges at the centre of the role-playing game “What if I were Mayor?” created to bring young people closer to local political decision-making processes. The game was developed by the Local Development Unit in the context of the project ‘Local authorities and young people for the […]
CarINg, the wellbeing of care leavers in protection systems
CarINg - Empowering child care systems and supporting leaving care from within - is an action-research project whose protagonists are boys and girls living outside their family of origin. The project aims to support boys and girls leaving the care system - care leavers - in building a life project and gaining autonomy. The activities [...]
5 key benefits of external evaluation for cooperation and development projects
ARCO Research Center is personally committed in spreading the culture of evaluation. The reason is simple: external evaluation is the only way to understand which interventions really work and why! I have learned that success depends on knowing what works Bill Gates Based on the results of an external evaluation, organizations can focus their efforts […]