Canadians are invited to share their ideas on the development of a Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy/
GATINEAU, QC, /CNW/ - Social innovation is a new solution to a social or economic problem which gives better results than traditional approaches. It can improve people's quality of life through collaborating with new partners, testing creative ideas and measuring their impact. Social finance is a tool that seeks to mobilize private capital for the public good. It creates opportunities for investors to finance projects that benefit society, and for community organizations to access new sources of funds.
Both social innovation and social finance often involve collaboration across different levels of government, charities and the not-for-profit and private sectors to act on a common social issue. This collaborative approach aims to better support communities and improve the lives of those who need it most.
The Government of Canada made the commitment to develop a Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy to find new innovative approaches that improve the well-being of Canadians.
In order to gather ideas from communities and regions across Canada, the Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy Co-Creation Steering Group has launched an online consultation. Canadians are invited to share their views through the online engagement before the end of December 2017.
The Steering Group, which was announced on June 8 by the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, plays a central role in the co-development of the Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy with the Government of Canada. By drawing on its members' broad range of expertise and know-how, and through consultation and engagement activities, the Group will develop policy measures to advance social innovation and social finance, and support the social enterprise sector and the social economy in Canada.
Quote
"The Government of Canada committed to develop a Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy with, and not for Canadians. This online consultation is an important part of this process. We encourage community leaders from coast to coast to share their stories, new ideas and innovative approaches. Together, we will co-create a strategy that brings together partners, generates innovative solutions to enduring social problems and creates measurable outcomes for Canadians most in need and more prosperous and inclusive communities for all."
– The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
"We want to hear from key partners in the community, as well as Canada's innovators and job creators, to draw from their expertise. When we embrace innovation, we can find tangible solutions to real issues. When creative new partnerships finance projects that benefit society as a whole, we improve the quality of life of those most vulnerable."
– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
Quick Facts
• Social innovation, social enterprise and social finance have been successfully used in countries like the U.S. and the United Kingdom. For example, in the United Kingdom, government support for social finance over the past five years has helped generate over $1 billion (£600 million) in social investment and grow the domestic social enterprise sector, which now employs 2.3 million individuals.
• In recent years, the Government of Canada has been exploring social innovation and social finance to increase the effectiveness of its programs. It is already testing new types of partnerships and approaches (e.g. social impact bonds, micro-loans, pay-for-performance and support for social enterprises).
• Since 2014, several Employment and Social Development Canada grants and contributions programs, including the Homelessness Partnering Strategy and Skills Link, have launched open calls for proposals seeking submissions for innovative projects.
Associated Links
Social Innovation and Social Finance Public Consultation
Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy Co-Creation Steering Group
Minister Duclos visits the United Kingdom to study social innovation approaches to improve social and economic outcomes for people and communities
Backgrounder
About the Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy
Community organizations in Canada are turning to innovative approaches to better serve those most in need and respond to increasing funding pressures. Innovation in the community sector takes various forms, whether it is not-for-profit service delivery organizations developing new interventions that better respond to users' needs, or forging new partnerships with investors and funders to unlock new sources of capital.
The Government of Canada believes that we need to expand on these new approaches in the community sector and wishes to further promote community-driven innovations. That is why the Government has committed to developing a Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy for Canada which will provide better support for community organizations working to achieve positive solutions to persistent social problems, including those facing vulnerable populations.
The development of a Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy is a joint mandate letter commitment of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.
The Strategy will aim to help government achieve social outcomes in a smarter and more efficient way, while also improving the capacity of those working in the social sector to achieve their objectives.
Scope of the Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy Co-Creation Steering Group
The Steering Group will be responsible for co-creating a Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy. Its members will work over the next 12 months to define the priorities the Strategy will address and begin developing policy measures to advance social innovation and social finance in Canada.
Through consultation and engagement activities, the Steering Group will seek perspectives of community leaders on the Strategy. The Group will also draw on previous findings from government consultation and engagement activities related to social innovation and social finance.
Steering Group members will be asked to share their perspectives on three key challenges which have been raised during discussions led by stakeholders on social innovation and social finance in recent years:
• the skills and capacity of community organizations and governments to pursue social innovation and social finance, including their capacity to measure social outcomes and impact;
• federal laws, regulations and policies that have an impact on the ability of community organizations to participate in social innovation and social finance initiatives; and
• access to the capital needed to fund, replicate and expand the reach of social innovation and social finance projects.
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Émilie Gauduchon-Campbell, 10/3/2017 |
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