Social entreprenuership strategies, social innovation and resilience of one-acre fundhousehold livelihoods in Kakamega County, Kenya.

Abstract

One Acre fund programme a social entrepreneurship was introduced in Western Kenya to help improve maize production on one acre pieces of land. Reports indicate increase of 20% to 30% in maize production of 3000 to 4000 bags among One Acre fund households in the year 2017 to 2022 in Western Kenya. One Acre Fund households in Kakamega County remain in muddle and still suffer deficiency in meeting family obligations despite engaging all the social entrepreneurship strategies. Literature identifies five social entrepreneurship strategies that are seldom studied together in relation to resilience of household livelihoods with unknown impacts. Theoretically, literature indicates that social innovation moderates the relationship between social entrepreneurship strategies and resilience of One Acre Fund household livelihoods, extant literature does not present its empirical testing to ascertain its magnitude, direction and interaction effect. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of social entrepreneurship strategies and social innovation on resilience of One Acre Fund household livelihoods in Kakamega County Kenya. Specific objectives were: establish effect of social entrepreneurship strategies on resilience of One Acre Fund household livelihoods; determine effect of social innovation on resilience of One Acre Fund household livelihoods and analyse moderating influence of social innovation on the relationship between social entrepreneurship strategies and social resilience of One Acre Fund household livelihoods. The study employed the theory of social entrepreneurship, innovation diffusion and resilience theories. The study followed post-positivism research philosophy and used a correlational research design. Target population was 1390 households under One Acre Fund. Based on Leeuw sampling formula, 311 households were sampled using proportionate stratified random sampling technique. Pilot study was conducted on 31(10%) of sample size randomly sampled to test reliability. Validity was tested through content validity index and construct validity. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and secondary data was collected from magazines, books, diaries and pamphlets of One-Acre Fund. Found that social entrepreneurship strategies and social innovation had positive significant effect on resilience of One Acre Fund households (R²=50.9%, p<0.000 and R²=63.9% p<0.000 respectively). The interaction term results between Social entrepreneurship strategies and social innovation was R²=64.5% (∆R²=0.6%, p<0.01) implying that social innovation moderates the relationship between Social entrepreneurship strategies and resilience of One Acre Fund household livelihoods. The study concluded that, if more emphasis is put in social entrepreneurship strategies and social innovation, more resilience of One Acre Fund household livelihoods would be realised. The study recommends that farmers should adopt One Acre Fund model as coping mechanism to food insecurity build resilience in any disastrous situation. The study may provide useful knowledge and growth in literature of social entrepreneurship that can benefit government, academicians and researchers.