December 2021 – Social Enterprise Development in the Baltic Sea Region

Youth Entrepreneurship and the 21st Century Economy

We highly recommend you to follow the discussion by Philantropy Rountable on the youth entrepreneurship in the face of the 21st Century Economy.

“Philanthropy Roundtable works with donors who want to build strong communities by introducing them to organizations that help people access economic opportunity. This includes programs that teach young people the skills and mindsets they need to succeed as entrepreneurs in a 21st century economy.

The Roundtable recently interviewed three leaders of nonprofit organizations involved in this work to seek their perspectives on the importance of youth entrepreneurship education and the challenges and opportunities on the horizon for aspiring entrepreneurs. They are Kylie Stupka, president of Empowered; Nicole Cassier-Mason, chief executive officer of Lemonade Day and Ayele Shakur, chief executive officer of BUILD.

Roundtable: How does an education in youth entrepreneurship lead to success in the 21st century economy for those who receive it and for society at large?

Kylie Stupka: Like any career path, starting a business may not “work” for everyone — but the components of an entrepreneurial mindset are universally applicable.

An entrepreneurial or growth mindset helps young people see challenge as an opportunity, not an obstacle. The development of essential skills like innovation, confidence and collaboration prepares students for their careers and lives. Experience-based, individualized, real-world relevant learning also helps graduates to create and seize opportunities. This type of education generally leads to happier, healthier people, who are more likely to positively contribute to society.

Our organization, Empowered, works with K-12 teachers who guide students through learning experiences that help them discover their unique passions and skills so they can, in time, succeed in our modern marketplace.

Nicole Cassier-Mason: Entrepreneurship is about much more than starting your own business. It’s a way to define yourself and make an impact on the world.

Our vision is for all children to be introduced to entrepreneurship through the real-world experience of starting their own business: a lemonade stand. Through our licensed program, children learn how to set a goal, make a plan and work the plan.

By running their own lemonade stand, students understand the importance of earning, saving and spending money wisely. These skills are proven to ensure a lifetime of freedom from financial burdens, enabling important life steps, such as access to college, employment, housing and health care. By planting the seed of innovation and building foundational skills, youth are prepared to transition to what comes next in life.

Ayele Shakur: I truly believe our next generation of young people need entrepreneurship education to develop the skills necessary for success in a 21st-century economy. With the global workforce and economy rapidly changing, many of today’s jobs will not exist tomorrow and many of tomorrow’s jobs have yet to be invented.

We need to create a generation of young people who are prepared to thrive in an uncertain world, equipped with the mindset and ability to adapt, pivot, invent and reinvent within a digital, socially responsible and equitable society.

At BUILD, we teach our students the 21st-century “Spark Skills”: communication, collaboration, problem-solving, innovation, grit and self-management. Through the growth of their own businesses, our students demonstrate acquisition of and increased proficiency in these skills, and as they do, they grow in knowledge and self-confidence. Ultimately, entrepreneurship education helps young people become the CEOs of their own lives.

Roundtable: Why do you believe traditional schools do not train students in youth entrepreneurship and how does your organization attempt to fill the gap?

Kylie Stupka: Our traditional, national model for K-12 education is outdated and broken. Teachers and schools are not evaluated on the long-term value they create when they prepare students for life; they are judged by standardized test scores and forced rankings. There is no incentive to truly prepare students for life in the current system.

Empowered aims to fill that gap by reimagining an education system that better serves students and society, thanks to its community of great teachers. You can see the benefits in the 30%+ of students who start their own businesses through our education programs. And you can see it in the 95%+ of teachers who cite our organization’s support as a reason they remain in the classroom at a time when dissatisfaction and exodus are at an all-time high nationally.

Nicole Cassier-Mason: Traditional school learning is incongruous with the new world in which we operate. Youth entrepreneurship isn’t a textbook activity that may not be applicable in real life. It’s about things like negotiating terms, seeking investments, studying geography, dealing with difficult customers and using your creative and technical skills — all while dreaming and innovating.

Lemonade Day plays a vital role in the education and workforce ecosystem. We help prepare youth for life by introducing them and their families to an entrepreneurship model that provides tools for socioemotional learning, financial literacy, mentorship and sound business acumen. We develop strategic partnerships with schools, after-school alliances, community and economic development organizations, religious institutions, businesses and more to improve access to youth entrepreneurship education.

Ayele Shakur: Unfortunately, our outdated, 19th-century education system was designed to teach students to find the “right answer,” to fear failure and to limit creative thinking. Schools have become over reliant on standardized testing in order to prove growth and attainment of skills. However, life isn’t graded on a scale or a curve. Success in life is often determined by how you can overcome obstacles, demonstrate flexibility and exercise compassion.

At BUILD, our program is designed to help young people, particularly those from under-resourced communities, start real businesses in the ninth grade based on their passions and interests. Students learn and develop skills outside of what they traditionally learn in the classroom. Examples of success include students like Mehrin, a BUILD participant in New York City, who overcame adversity when her team was able to pivot, adapt and pitch their business successfully despite last-minute challenges they faced with their product.

Roundtable: What are the challenges and opportunities on the horizon for youth entrepreneurship?

Kylie Stupka: One major challenge is ensuring change-making teachers have support and freedom in their careers and classrooms. Our future needs passionate teachers to “fix” our schools and reverse the trend of underprepared graduates. Teachers choose the profession wanting to build a brighter tomorrow, yet 40% quit within five years out of frustration.

Teachers are also our best opportunity. Educators, second only to parents, have the opportunity to influence the paths and outcomes of young people. Many of the frustrations they experience stem from a lack of resources, support and trust. Empowered aims to provide relief in the form of tools and encouragement as they collaborate to re-imagine schools from the bottom up.

Nicole Cassier-Mason: On the opportunity front, we must meet our children where they are and find creative, relatable ways to inspire them into action. Youth receive information differently today – on social media and YouTube. These are dynamic sources of information that shape their minds, perspectives, experiences and beliefs. By contrast, traditional school learning has been about sitting down and listening to the teacher.

Lemonade Day is committed to making youth entrepreneurship fun, engaging and experiential. Through our new digital platform, we borrow from the entertainment industry to make learning more entertaining.

Also, concepts around financial literacy and career development historically aren’t introduced until high school or college, assuming a youth is college bound. Studies prove such concepts must be introduced in early childhood to be lasting. This is especially true in underserved communities, and is an opportunity that should be undertaken.

Ayele Shakur: I think the biggest challenge that our industry faces is a lack of recognition that entrepreneurship education should be taught as a foundational course in every high school across America. Leaders in our education system need to be cognizant that the skills students learn through entrepreneurship are as important as what they learn in geometry or algebra.

Students today often don’t see the relevance in what they’re learning, and we’re at a critical moment in our nation’s history to make education relevant. With the spotlight on post-pandemic recovery and growing racial and social inequities, it’s time we equip young people with the skills they need to lead as a generation of entrepreneurial changemakers.”

For a deeper discussion on the subject of youth entrepreneurship, watch the Roundtable’s webinar Youth Entrepreneurship: Effective Community Based Programs featuring Kylie Stupka, Nicole Cassier-Mason and Ayele Shakur.

Source: https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/home

This publication has been prepared within INDIGISE project. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.

Blog

The EU’s Social Economy Action Plan has been published

The EU’s new and long-awaited Social Economy Action Plan was announced at a press conference on 9 December 2021 by Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and Commissioner Nicolas Schmit.
The Action Plan was anounced together with a major EU initiative around digital platforms.
The actual launch of the Social Economy Action Plan took place at a launch event online and in Brussels on 16 December.

According to EU figures, the social economy in Europe consists of more than 2.8 million organizations employing approximately 14 million people, which is about 6.3% of the EU workforce.
With the action plan, the European Commission will help organizations in the European social economy, by utilizing their economic and job-creating potential, as well as their contribution to a fair and inclusive growth and the green and digital transformations we face.

Overall, the new action plan has three main initiatives:

1. It should create the right conditions for organizations in the social economy sector to thrive and develop.
Political and legal frameworks must be created, that contribute to creating an environment in which the European social economy can flourish. It includes eg. a framework for taxation, public procurement and state aid, which must be adapted to the needs of social economy organizations.
In order to push for this development, the Commission will make a recommendation to the European Council on the development of the framework conditions for social economy organizations in 2023. The Commission will also provide guidance to Member States on the fiscal framework for social economy organizations and facilitate access to guidance on state aid. The action plan must also help to improve best practice for socially responsible public procurement and to promote the social economy outside the EU’s borders.

2. Better opportunities must be created for social economy organizations to start up and scale.
Social economy organizations must be able to benefit from support for business development to start and develop as well as to retrain their employees. In the period 2021-2027, the Commission aims to increase its support beyond the estimated € 2.5 billion previously allocated to the Social economy sector (2014-2020).
The Commission will also launch a new EU Social Economy Gateway in 2023. A large single portal where social economy actors can find all the information they need in one place. On the platform there will be information on EU funding, policies, education and various initiatives in the field. The European Commission will also launch new financial products in 2022 under the InvestEU program and improve access to finance for social economy organizations. In 2022, the Commission will also set up a European Competence Center for Social Innovation.

3. It must be ensured that the European social economy field and its potential is recognized
The action plan aims to make social economy actors more visible and to better recognize their work and potential. In this context, the Commission will carry out a number of communication activities that emphasize the role and specificities of the social economy field.
In addition, the Commission will launch a study to collect qualitative and quantitative data to better understand the social economy field across the EU. Training courses for public officials on various topics relevant to the social economy field will also be organized, just as social economy will be promoted at regional and local level by increasing cross-border exchanges on the subject and much more.

Read more and download the EU’s Social Economy Action Plan and related documents here

Video from the landing event on December 16 can be seen here

This publication has been prepared within SENBS project No. 2020- 1-EE01-KA204-077999. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.

Blog | Educational Materials | Library

The Social Procurement Manual

This manual is a practical guide to integrating social businesses into corporate value chains created by Yunus Social Business as a part of research series “Business as Usual“.

What is social procurement?

We de-ladder fine ‘Social Procurement’ as the purchase of goods and services by companies from social businesses. Through social procurement, companies integrate social businesses into their supply chains with the explicit intention of creating social or environmental impact through their procurement. Social Procurement enables companies to drive impact directly via their supply chains (‘do good’ approach), extending beyond awareness building and mitigating supply chain risks (‘do no harm approach’).

More about the background of the manual

Today, there are already many successful examples of commercial partnerships between large corporations and social businesses. For instance, IKEA began working with the Indian social business Rangsutra in 2013, procuring small batches of handcrafted cushions. Eight years on, Rangsutra provides IKEA with more than 400,000 pieces a year, working with 2,000 artisans under a model in which most of them are also shareholders of the social enterprise.

Inspired by these stories, we wanted to understand the range of challenges that both sides face when working with each other, and the practices that are key success factors for both business value and social/ environmental impacts. For this research, we conducted qualitative interviews with over forty corporate leaders, social entrepreneurs and intermediary organisations that have extensive experience in these partnerships (our sample composition is available in the Appendix). We then created a survey for our research participants to validate some of the assumptions that we extrapolated from our interviews and preliminary research.

Our Social Procurement Manual is designed for companies who want to engage with the topic of Social Procurement. We share insights and frameworks to help them better understand the concept of Social Procurement, its value for corporations and the tools needed to create partnerships with social businesses more efficiently, increasing the impact on social businesses and corporate partners alike.

Blog | Educational Materials | Library

DESIGN THINKING FIELDGUIDE FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AND INNOVATION

This field guide has been developed in response to the specific needs of Social Enterprises and other stakeholders within the social economy. Design Thinking has been proven as a way to help businesses and organizations respond to customer needs with innovative and human centered solutions. The guide is organized within a bespoke, socially oriented design thinking framework, containing free to use tools for each section and instructions and links to other resources within the instructions for each tool. There is a section on training and facilitation for support agencies, VET’s and in-house design thinking trainers.

The Design Thinking Guide is for social enterprises. The guide will be useful for many levels of social enterprises, from social entrepreneurs or start-up social enterprises to larger, longer standing social enterprise who are looking to become more sustainable. The guide is also designed for NGOs and civil society organizations, consultants and advisers in the social economy and design thinking sectors. It includes a well-documented step-by-step path to introduce you into the logic of the design thinking phases and how they are applicable to the philosophy and the challenges of social enterprises.

Below you can see the introductory video, but to access the whole guide, please click HERE.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSXCA3B_36w[/embedyt]

Blog | Inspiration

5 Tangible Tactics to Participate In Social Entrepreneurship

Unlike traditional businesses, social enterprises are dedicated to help specific groups of people that are socio-economically backward. Since their goal to serve mankind sits above the financial gain, building a sustainable social enterprise is no walk in the park. If you are planning to build a career in social entrepreneurship or already pursuing one, then you should be prepared for the unique challenges and opportunities it brings to your table.

Social enterprise is a different ball game and does not follow a typical organizational structure. You have to be very strategic in executing your business process management plan and ensure that the operating costs do not hamper your profit margin. There are a few tactics that could help you to participate in social entrepreneurship more efficiently.

1) Identify Your Entrepreneurial Elements

Business is about finding a solution for an existing problem; social entrepreneurship works on the same principle. However, as a social entrepreneur, you would be addressing slightly different kinds of issues. It would be community-driven and focused on public welfare. The first step towards social entrepreneurship is to identify the community problems that evoke your interest. The next step is to work on your entrepreneurial elements vital for executing the mission, like goals, core competencies, networking, funding, etc.

2) Have a Firm Social Entrepreneurial Organizations (SEO) Strategy

A firm social entrepreneurial organization strategy is crucial because, unlike the traditional business model, the social enterprise has to tackle social issues in an economically sustainable and self-sufficient way. You need to build a network, make alliances, identify risks, find investors, track performance, develop an income-generating model, and create a value-adding social entrepreneurial organization. The first step towards this is to build a robust social enterprise by conducting market and competitive analysis. You need to perform thorough research to find the criticality of the issue and how it impacts the people. You need to set your target customers and work on the approach towards them. Additionally, you have to perform a competitive analysis to find out if there is any relevant product in the market or market covered by competitors. You also have to document how to fund your social enterprise project and plan strategies to onboard investors. Your job does not end there; you can further find yourself engaged in public relations, marketing, and brand awareness. Social enterprise enthusiasts can also refer to a few knowledge resources that are available online to create a successful social enterprise.

3) Get Your Customers Involved

Your customers can be your brand’s biggest advocate, and if you can involve your customer on a large scale, it can bring success to your social enterprise. Initially, it would be difficult to attract a large cohort of customers, but you can target customers on a small scale and gradually increase the numbers. However, it is a must that your service or product resonates with the customers; only then can you engage your customers. You can use various technologies to address social issues and the company’s motto. For instance, you can use a mobile app to answer customers’ queries or use software to post updates about business events on social media accounts automatically. There are myriads of ways an individual can use technology to involve customers in your social enterprise endeavor.

4) Adopt Innovative Funding Practices

Funding is the foremost thing that stays on the entrepreneur’s radar while designing the business plan. In a typical business scenario, companies approach financial institutes for a loan, but social enterprises are not revenue-oriented, and therefore they don’t qualify for equity capital. Instead, they adopt innovative funding practices.

Quasi-equity debt: Social enterprises often observe financial crunch due to lack of funding, and in such circumstances, Quasi-equity debt is an ideal way of funding. This type of loan is given based on the future cash flow projection proposed by the social enterprise, and the payment terms are pretty flexible. Mezzanine debt and junior debt are examples of quasi-equity debt; such debts do not require any collateral.
Pooled funds: In pooled funds, money from several individual investors are accumulated into a single account, which is then allocated to the social enterprise by the head fund manager. It significantly reduces the costs of operation from individuals and shares higher returns.
VPO (Variable Payment Obligation): In the VPO model, the investors offer funds to social enterprises based on future cash flow. The good thing about VPO is that entrepreneurs are liable to pay only 20 to 30 percent of the return. It enables entrepreneurs to keep most of the income and reinvest in their social enterprise.
Social impact bonds: In social impact bonds, the government acts as a middle-man and contracts with social enterprises and investors. The government evaluates the project of the social enterprise, and if it is successful, the government pays to the investors.

5) Use the Right Technology

Technology can be quite supportive for social entrepreneurs to amplify their efforts and get in a position to accomplish their work quickly. They can use a range of technologies such as data analytics, cloud computing, AI, automation to solve their core challenges, such as minimizing investment risks, identifying revenue opportunities, increasing productivity, reducing communication gaps, etc. They can even use advanced software solutions to organize their work structure and get a clear view of the entire process. For instance, social entrepreneurs can use policy management software to create, modify and track various social enterprise policies. Mobile apps are further empowering social entrepreneurs to take their mission to a global audience and build a network with other social entrepreneurs.

Conclusion:

The global economy demands organizations to build enterprises that could bring positive change in society and overcome the challenges such as poverty, climate change, inequality, etc. Social enterprises have the ability to generate social impact and strengthen the economy. Since social enterprises are more focused on addressing social issues and less on revenue, you need to be tactical in your business approach. You should operate a social enterprise in a way that widens your scope for growth and sustainability. By following a few best management practices for social enterprises and adopting a few latest technologies, you can build a stable social enterprise.

Article written by associate contributor Paul Wheelson

Blog | Uncategorized

Why support social entrepreneurs in the Christmas season?

Christmas is the time when most businesses are looking forward to capitalizing on the heartfelt feelings. And people are willingly spending their hard earned bucks on presents for the loved ones. But how can we create more meaningful moments for our loved ones amidst the bustle of this consumerist culture flagship event? And still stay socially responsible, sustainable and even more – impactful? In this article you will hear about several ways to do at least double the amount of goodness for this Christmas already! With that I mean getting Christmas gifts that your dearest will love, and supporting a cause at the same time.

Why support social entrepreneurs in the Christmas season?

First and foremost, purchasing goods and experiences from social entrepreneurs is a great deed any day of the year. Your money is the way how they can fulfil their good intentions, and grow their impact too. Namely, the profit they get is then invested in a good cause. And the best thing is – they work on solving this issue throughout the year, from day to day!

But why is it especially important to have a look at their offer especially in the Christmas time? Simply put, it is just more responsible and considerate spending your money for a socially responsible and sustainable business practice. And in this season the amount of spending increases drastically, so why not make sure that the good causes get enough of boost for their business, and in turn can create larger impact as a result of Christmas craze. But this is not the only benefit. You see, by purchasing and giving such gifts you help to tell their story to other people, and this is a great contribution to the cause, too! Additionally, receiving a gift with meaning makes a greater sense of gratitude, doesn’t it?

Now that we have established common grounds on why is it crucial to think about social entrepreneurs in this festive season, let’s talk a bit more in detail about the potential gifting options and scenarios! Just for the information – the article will feature mostly Latvian enterprises, but you can easily google the similar alternatives in your surroundings. Because, as you know – buying local is always better! Shall we start?

It is undeniable that one of the most pressing issues in the world is related to over consumerism and various environmental issues. Which is also why it is not a surprise that so many social enterprises are looking for their own approach and social innovation to contributing to a better and greener world in future. Clothing is among the most common gift items under almost any Christmas tree (because, it is obviously practical), so why not gift clothes that have been made sustainably, or even from recycled fabrics and other items. For example, for avid swimmers or the next summer season consider swimsuits from SWIMBE. Besides practicing a responsible approach to their business, they craft their garments from a fabric that is made from recycled fishing nets, carpets, PET bottles etc.!

Buying these goods you will warm at least three hearts, for sure! That is yours, the one who will receive it, as well as the person who made the present. By gifting a handmade pair of socks, soaps, handicrafts, tableware or accessories you can support various marginalized groups of society that take part in creating these little goods by their own warm hands. For some of them it is a crucial financial necessity, for some – a possibility to feel relevant and included! For example, on webpage tiptip.lv you can buy various nice items made by seniors and people with special needs. The best part about this shop? When buying you will also be able to find out something more about the author of the gift!

Isn’t the best part about social innovation the creativity in solving the issue? Sometimes it is brought to us through a fun game or activity that might as well be a great gift. May it be a walk with one of the dogs from the animal shelter, or learn to spell letters of alphabet through an innovative game. Anyhow, what matters is your commitment to the experience, and the time spent together. For what it matters, if you want to do something especially kind then donate for company Sonido that provides a service where everyone who feels lonely or wants to talk can reach out without an additional cost.

If you are especially conscious about your actions consider buying less and creating meaningful moments with your loved ones without spending too much of money. Think about all the ways that you can create the impact and cultivate the love in your surroundings by just being a little more creative than going to a supermarket for you Christmas gifts. First, consider organizing a gift lottery where each of the family members gets one person to prepare a gift for. I am sure that some of your loved ones have everything they need already, and deciding on a present for them is a struggle each year anyhow. And secondly, consider giving experiences instead of things – craft a special moment together that will make everyone feel more special and remember this event way longer. Here’s an example: bake gingerbread cookies together before sitting at the common Christmas table!

Wherever your thoughts are going this year concerning the gifts and the season itself, I hope that now you have gotten at least a few ideas about the ways how to make your friends and family feel more special at the Christmas Eve. To be honest, it is rarely about the presents, but about making people feel loved and special. But if you do look for a tangible parcel of joy to transfer this feeling then be mindful and go for goods of social enterprises!

Photo by Juliana Malta on Unsplash

Blog | European Union | Support for SocEnts

Brussels unveils ‘once in a decade’ Social Economy Action Plan to rave reviews

A long-awaited package to promote the social economy across the European Union was unveiled yesterday – with onlookers hailing it as “radical” and “passionate”.

The EU’s Social Economy Action Plan sets out a raft of proposals for 2022-2030, and is its first major policy in this field since the Social Business Initiative of 2011.

It aims to support the estimated 2.8m entities in Europe considered part of the “social economy” – social enterprises, cooperatives, mutual benefit societies, associations (including charities) and foundations – which together employ 13.6m people.

The plan covers three broad areas:

Improving the business environment (including legal forms, taxation policy, labels or certification systems, public procurement and State aid)
Helping organisations to start up and scale up (including providing access to funding and information)
Boosting awareness and recognition (including communication, collecting data, training public officials)

The Commission does not specify a budget for the new measures, stating only that its “ambition is to increase the level of support for the 2021-2027 period”. In 2014-2020, an estimated €2.5bn was mobilised from the EU budget specifically to support the social economy.

Engine of innovation

At a press conference yesterday European Commission executive vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis described social economy organisations as “the engine of social innovation and inclusivity”. But, he said, they were not fulfilling their economic and social potential.

The social economy concept has “little or no recognition” in at least 10 EU countries – Social Economy Action Plan

Commissioner for jobs and social rights Nicolas Schmit (pictured above) said such organisations often faced difficulty because they were “not sufficiently understood and recognised”. The social economy concept has “little or no recognition” in at least 10 EU countries, according to the action plan.

What does the European Commission want to do for the social economy?

The EU Social Economy Action Plan lists dozens of proposals, including:

A Council Recommendation on developing social economy framework conditions
A ‘Social Economy Gateway’ – one entry point for all information on EU funding, policies, networks and initiatives
A youth entrepreneurship policy academy
A new European Competence Centre for Social Innovation
A ‘buy social’ initiative to support local and regional partnerships between social economy entities and mainstream businesses
New financial products under the InvestEU programme, aimed at mobilising private financing for social enterprises

Victor Meseguer, director of Social Economy Europe – which was created in 2000 to enable permanant dialogue between the social economy and EU institutions, and has been calling for a European plan since 2014 – told Pioneers Post that a big-name press conference was unusual for the sector.

He also praised the “passion and professionalism” of those who had drawn up the plan, adding: “We feel that the teams in charge of social economy at the Commission are in love with the social economy concept and with its potential.”

The Commission will propose a Council recommendation on developing social economy framework conditions in 2023 – a highlight of the plan, said Meseguer. (Recommendations are not legally binding, but carry political weight and often set precedents.) If approved by member states, this would help national policymakers to adapt policy and legal frameworks to the needs of social economy organisations. The plan also raises the delicate issue of State aid – “the holy grail in Europe”, as Meseguer put it.

I wish that national governments were as understanding of and committed to the social economy as the Commission is

John Kearns, a board member of network body Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI) and a member of the EC’s Expert Group on Social Entrepreneurship (GECES), told Pioneers Post the new plan was “radical”, because it was “getting to the root of social enterprise”.

“I wish that national governments were as understanding of and committed to the social economy as the EU Commission is,” he said. “They get it, they understand it, they’re at the cutting edge of it and they want to encourage it in every way possible.”

Understanding of the social economy was “really poor” in many countries, said Kearns, so support from Brussels on policy and legal frameworks could be a “huge development”.

Opening doors

Suzanne Wisse-Huiskes, CEO of Euclid Network – whose 42 member organisations support social entrepreneurs and impact-driven leaders – described the plan as “a once in a decade moment and a huge development for our sector”.

Euclid Network will publish a detailed statement ahead of the plan’s official launch next week. Wisse-Huiske said her initial observations of the plan were that – in a field typically divided and scattered, with many types of organisations and competing definitions – the action plan appeared to have created alignment on what was needed for all of them. It also called not just on national governments but also on other funders and private companies to do more to support the social economy, she pointed out. “I feel like it’s more co-creation than ever,” she said.

This is a once in a decade moment and a huge development for our sector

Kearns said it was “exciting” to see that the new action plan sat within a “strategic suite of actions” by the Commission. For example, the social economy is also now explicitly recognised within the EU’s 14 “industrial ecosystems” to support the transition to a green and digital economy.

Though this had not yet attracted much attention, it was “really important”, said Kearns, when it came to how funding would be allocated.

“That allows us to sit at the table with equal status with any of the other ecosystems – whether it be farming or fisheries or IT… we’re now recognised. And that automatically opens doors for us and includes us in all economic planning and actions.”

A launch event for the new EU action plan for the social economy will take place in Brussels and online on 16 December 2021. Check back soon for more coverage on Pioneers Post.

Source: by Anna Patton, Pioneer Post – https://www.pioneerspost.com/news-views/20211210/brussels-unveils-once-decade-social-economy-action-plan-rave-reviews