Community-Led Research to Strengthen the Social Economy

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

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 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 for Community Benefit

Building 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 cooperatives  Community 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 Europe Economia Solidaria Brazil, Peru, Bolivia Inter-Continental Network for the Social and Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) Canadian Community Economic Development Network North 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:  

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 Proposal 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 characteristics Dialogue on approaches Analysis of outcomes

Global Alliance for Community Engaged Research 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 International meeting at Living Knowledge Conference, Belfast, August

More information on our activities: rcdec.ca/?q=en/our_work/socialeconomy/research