Preparation of a report for FICE Spain on the state of digital innovation in the field of social intervention and a compilation of best practices (2023)

(2023)

The digital revolution has brought about a process of change that has had – and is having – a significant impact on our society. Historically, technical advances have always led to new ways of thinking, working, and relating to the world and others. However, the acceleration in technological transformation experienced in the 21st century has made it evident the need to adapt quickly and constantly to these new ways of doing things. In this sense, we are facing a paradigm shift that permeates all aspects of our lives, from interpersonal relationships to consumption patterns, and from leisure activities to the way we work.

This transformation we are experiencing highlights the obsolescence of some procedures that we still use but are highly inefficient, and it sparks debates about the enormous possibilities of technology, its proper implementation in our daily lives, and its ethical limits. On the other hand, it reminds us that technology is not always necessarily synonymous with innovation, although, when used correctly, it is an invaluable tool for generating knowledge and optimizing processes.

What is clear, in any case, is that the digital transformation of organizations will be a key factor for their development in the coming years. And this is also true in the field of the third sector and social intervention, where technology can ensure better care, monitoring, management, and communication with the people served.

In this context, FICE Spain, a network of social organizations working to guarantee the rights of children and for the care of at-risk children, has commissioned the iSocial Foundation to develop a guide on technological innovation in the field of social intervention. The resulting document, which focuses especially (though not exclusively) on social organizations dedicated to children and adolescents, is titled “Guide to Digital Transformation: A Vision from the Children’s Social Sector” and aims to offer useful tools and clear guidelines to promote innovation in the third sector. This guide is part of the TIC Impulsa 3 proposal, a digital transformation project in the social field promoted by FICE Spain and financed by the Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030 and the European Union through Next Generation funds.