Community Economic Development and the Social Economy

Community Economic Development and the Social Economy

National Social Economy Research Program, developed by CCEDNet and Chantier de l’economie sociale Quebec involving representatives of practitioner and university organizations – national centre and 6 regional centres. Part of broader “social economy initiative”

Funded by Social Sciences Research Council of Canada, over 350 university and community based researchers, student network for the social economy. Led by CCEDNet and Univ. of Victoria

§ § § Objectives: Create knowledge for action by actors in SE to strengthen/scale up sector Create evidence of outcomes and impacts of SE Map sector and its metrics/ Strengthen identity Improve public policy environment Promote knowledge sharing for international cooperation

§ § Structure: National Board of regional centres and national partners (CED, Women, Coops, Non Profit Sector) community – university alliance Portraiture – mapping committee Public policy committee Knowledge mobilization program (telelearning, workshops, government dialogues, publications, website)

Components of the Social Economy Non profit organizations, credit unions and cooperatives, social enterprises, mutuals, associations of social movements using social and economic tools for public and community benefit.

Significance Non Profits make up 6. 8% of GDP in Canada (8. 5% with value of volunteer work). Employ 12% of Canadians. Hall, 2005. Cooperatives hold $160 billion in assets, non financial cooperatives have annual revenues of $29. 5 billion. Coop Sect. 2004.

Research Findings Database of all research projects and reports available at http: //www. ccednetrcdec. ca/? q=en/our_work/socialeconomy /research

Research Findings Social economy organizations playing unique role in achieving outcomes of benefit to social, economic and environmental conditions: § Sustainable food and agriculture § Renewable energy § Poverty reduction § Immigrant settlement § Provision of micro-finance § Human and labour market development § Delivery of community services

Research Findings § § § § § Aboriginal self determination Social inclusion Community economic development Triple bottom-line returns on investment and procurement Financing Social housing Sustainable development Natural resource management Community revitalization (urban, rural, northern)

Research Findings Growth in cooperative and social enterprise development “social entrepreneurship” BUT significant policy barriers: § Legal structures § Procurement § Access to capital § Opportunities for training/education § Funding of sector capacity § Supportive policy frameworks § Impacts of economic crisis (EI and Welfare regulations)

Policy Research § Public policy research and engagement process building on: Social Economy and Community Economic Development in Canada: Next Steps for Public Policy; Mandell, Neamtan and Downing, September 2005.

Policy Research Purpose: § Mobilize knowledge on public policy instruments being used in Canada and around the world § Engage practitioners, government researchers and other stakeholders in improving policy environment

Policy Research • Global analysis of key policy developments and instruments relevant to the social economy. • Assessment of current public policy environment (regulations, legislation, policies, programs) in Canada: Federal; provincialterritorial; local/regional, and; indigenous forms of government.

Policy Research • Assessment of Current and Potential Role of Social Economy Sector in Co-Production of Public Policy. • Engagement of actors in developing recommendations for policy, and holding of “Summit” 2010 Ottawa to agree next steps.

International Analysis • Growth (e. g. fair trade) despite global recession • Convergence of civil society movements around social economy as response to economic, social and environmental crises (e. g. World Social Forum) • Increased explicit government policy (e. g. South America, EU, Asia, Africa)

International Analysis • Community university partnerships (e. g. Canada, Brazil, EU) in knowledge creation and mobilization • Focus for economic stimulus in some jurisdictions (Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico, Thailand, USA, UK, EU) • Enabling legislation in many jurisdictions

International Analysis • Political responsibility and crossgovernment structures to support SE (e. g. UK, Brazil) • Procurement policies advantaging SE organizations (e. g. Italy, France) • Program funding to grow sector and its outcomes (particularly in social enterprise, territorial and human development activities)

Canadian Analysis • Access to capital for social enterprises, community economic development (Quebec, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Ontario) • Explicit policy frameworks (Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Quebec) • Program funding to sector to achieve strategic outcomes (Manitoba, Quebec) • Regional development funds (BC, Newfoundland, Quebec)

Canadian Analysis • Renewal of Federal Cooperative Development Initiative • Partnership funding by Research Councils (SSHRC, CIHR, NSERC) • Federal Bill C 4 for social financing • Regional development agency funding (not explicit to SE) • Links to sustainable development by some PTs • PT (but not federal) poverty reduction strategies

Canadian Analysis • Municipal models: Edmonton Trust; Montreal SE Unit; emerging Vancouver initiative • Foundation support: Mc. Connell Foundation; Vancity Credit Union, Coast Capital Credit Union; Winnipeg Community Foundation; United Way of Greater Toronto • Aboriginal initiatives: CANDO; Urban Aboriginal Economic Development Network and others

Next Steps • Complete international and national analysis (July 2009) • Launch engagement process with stakeholders on opportunities and priorities for enhancing policy (all levels of government, practitioners from all components of SE) • Produce report and recommendations • Hold summit in Ottawa June 2010

Next Steps • Advise governments and sector on steps to strengthen evidencebased co-production of public policy • Advise Research Councils on steps to strengthen community based research. • Through the UN and Intl. Development Agencies strengthen international engagement in supporting the SE to meet Millennium Development Goals

Contacts • Rupert Downing, Director for CCEDNet rdowning@ccednetrcdec. ca • Staff at Uvic secoord@uvic. ca • Staff at CCEDNet mtoye@ccednetrcdec. ca (national and Summit) breimer@ccednet-rcdec. ca (prairies and policy)

More information on our activities: www. ccednet-rcdec. ca www. socialeconomyhub. ca 
www. communityresearchcan ada. ca http: //www. ccednet-rcdec. ca/? q=en/node/5684 http: //www. ccednetrcdec. ca/? q=en/our_work/socialeconomy/research