Community-Led Community-Led Research to Strengthen Research to Strengthen

the Social Economy the Social Economy

Canadian CED Canadian CED NetworkNetwork

National, non-profit association of community organizations working to enhance the social, economic, and environmental conditions of their communities.

WHAT WE DO:WHAT WE DO:– Capacity-building, information sharing,

and networking. – Research and development re: new

models, tools and strategies– Evidence-based policy development – Promote community economic

development and social-solidarity economy as an alternative model to respond to social, economic and environmental challenges

What is Community What is Community Economic Development?Economic Development?

Action by people locally to create economic opportunities and enhance the social and environmental conditions of their communities,particularly with those most marginalised, on a sustainable and inclusive basis.

CED, a multi-faceted approach, conceived and directed locally, for revitalizing and renewing economies by managing and strengthening community resources for community benefit.

Community Resources Community Resources for Community Benefitfor Community Benefit

Building Local EconomiesBuilding Local Economies

CED, an alternative to conventional approaches to economic development, is founded on the belief that problems facing communities – unemployment, poverty, job loss, environmental degradation and loss of community control – can best be addressed by a community-led, grassroots, integrated approach.

Building a Social Economy

Growing collectively owned organizations and enterprises for public community benefit

Social assets (housing, child care, etc.)Social enterprises and cooperativesCommunity investment funds and credit

unions (capital)Non profit organizations, community

development groups and social movements using social and economic tools for change

What Do We Know What Do We Know ??

The Global Economy is in Melt-Down. As Jim Stanford, Economist at the CAW predicted in 1999 (Paper Boom: Why Real Prosperity Requires a New Approach to Canada’s Economy, CCPA) the “Casino” economy has collapsed. Some sources at the World Bank are suggesting that the paper value of the global economy is inflated by 300 times its actual value in productive capacity because of derivatives and speculation.

What Do We Know What Do We Know ??

The Global Climate is in Crisis.

We are in the era of Peak Oil, even with short term variations in oil prices non-renewable energy resources are declining.

Climate-change is having a fundamental impact on global and Canadian communities NOW. Perma-frost melt in Nunavut, water temperatures in the Pacific, weather fluctuations on the Prairies are having costs that require sustainable eco-system wide responses.

What Do We Know What Do We Know ??

Social Inequality is Growing. Child poverty has been increasing in many communities…the targets for poverty reduction set by Parliament have not been met. Inequality of income and social security is growing. Several provinces have created poverty-reduction strategies in the last year to respond…but not the federal government. There are predictions that global inequality and poverty will see a major rise…the UN’s Millennium Development Goals are failing.

What Do We Know What Do We Know ??

The Social and Solidarity Economy is the solution many around the globe are creating. Social Economy EuropeEconomia Solidaria Brazil, Peru, BoliviaInter-Continental Network for the Social and Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) Canadian Community Economic Development NetworkNorth American Network for the Social Economy

What Do We Know What Do We Know ??

Research is now being undertaken on how to strengthen the Social Economy in Canada, in collaboration with colleagues in networks around the world. Check out:

www.ccednet-rcdec.ca www.socialeconomyhub.ca

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.

Objectives: Create knowledge for action by actors

in SE to strengthen/scale up sector Create evidence of outcomes and

impacts of SE to strengthen support Map sector and its metrics/ Strengthen

identity Improve public policy environment Promote knowledge sharing for

international solidarity

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 (tele-

learning, workshops, government dialogues, publications, website)

Thematics: Food sovereignty Sustainable resource management-

energy Coop and social enterprise development Financing Social and cooperative housing Indigenous forms of social economy Community (urban, rural, northern)

revitalization Democratic governance Inclusion

Policy Research International and National Literature

Reviews, building on: Social Economy and Community Economic Development in Canada: Next Steps for Public Policy; Mandell, Neamtan and Downing, September 2005.

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; provincial-territorial; local/regional, and; indigenous forms of government.

Policy Research• Assessment of Current and

Potential Role of Social Economy Sector in Co-Creation of Public Policy (building on existing analysis e.g. Vaillancourt and Loxley).

• Engagement of actors in developing recommendations for policy, and holding of “Summit” 2010 to agree next steps.

Policy Subjects (from Intl. Review)• Organization of sector and its

economic tools• Outreach to social movements• Mapping/identity building• Research on outcomes/potential • Evidence-based policy

development/advocacy• Public education/engagement

Policy Subjects (from Intl. Review)• Government legislation and

regulation advantaging the social economy (policy frameworks, political representation, mandated rights, legality)

• Access to funding programs, subsidies, procurement opportunities, tax credits

• Support for sector infrastructure• Access to capital

Policy Subjects (from Intl. Review)• Education• Requirements on state agencies• Requirements on private sector

recipients of state benefits • Inclusion in specific policy domains

(regional and local development, economic stimulus, housing, agriculture/food, energy, environment, housing, equity, poverty elimination)

At Global Level• Reform of international trade and

finance agencies and regime (fair trade, debt forgiveness)

• Regulation/abolition of speculation and international capital markets

• Regional investment funds • Global solidarity economy networks

and resources built by civil society• Reform of higher education

Lessons Learned• Practitioner leadership of all aspects

of research (resources, definition, methodology, knowledge mobilization)

• Challenging institutional environment in universities

• Progressive potential of organized student engagement

Lessons Learned• Role of indigenous and community

knowledge and scholarship• Importance of social movement

engagement• Attention to time and resource

requirements for civil society participation/movement building

International Research International Research ProposalProposal

RIPESS (Inter Continental Network for Social and Solidarity Economy)Mapping of social and solidarity economy globally (qualitative and quantitative)Engagement of networks and actors in describing activities and characteristicsDialogue on approachesAnalysis of outcomes

Global Alliance for Global Alliance for Community Engaged Community Engaged ResearchResearch

Civil Society and University Alliance to Strengthen Community Engagement for Sustainable Development. Declaration May 2008, Victoria, Canada.Regional Institutes Canada, Senegal, India, Malaysia….Policy Paper and Case Studies to UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education, July 2009.International meeting at Living Knowledge Conference, Belfast, August 2009. www.communityresearchcanada.ca

More information on our

activities:

www.ccednet-rcdec.cawww.ccednet-rcdec.cawww.socialeconomyhub.www.socialeconomyhub.

cacahttp://www.ccednet-rcdec.ca/?q=en/node/5684

http://www.ccednet-rcdec.ca/?q=en/our_work/socialeconomy/research