Building capacities for oriented innovation: Argentina’s response to COVID-19 from a gender perspective

Abstract

The pandemic tested the resilience of public systems, as governments faced the challenge of rapidly adapting their policies and practices. In this context, Argentina was recognized as one of the few countries that managed to mainstream a gender perspective to reach the most vulnerable populations, showing adaptive capacities and strategic orientation. This article seeks to document, systematize, and rethink the strategies deployed by the Argentine government in terms of mission-oriented innovation policies. The objective is to understand which capabilities are key to address complex social issues in the Global South and how they can be nurtured. Through a theoretical framework that articulates the literature on “dynamic public sector capacities” and “state capacities” in Latin America – and the application of a qualitative methodology (case study), we find that state capacities were strengthened by reconfiguring pre-existing resources based on a government project, collective leadership, and a series of institutional and political innovations in the context of the rise of regional feminisms. This experience, which has earned Argentina global recognition, offers important lessons for addressing social challenges through innovation policies, the institutionalization of popular movement demands, and collaborations for resilient systems.

Keywords

• state capabilities
• dynamic capabilities
• covid-19
• gender
• mission-driven innovation
• public innovation