SVI Joint Member Network Snapshot – Social Value Italy!

Guidelines on Corporate Welfare

In January 2021 Social Value Italia launched a call to action aimed at the different actors involved in corporate welfare. Their goal was to establish a network among these actors and create a system between measures, practices, ideational, economic and data resources, and communities to invest in social impact evaluation. This was done in order to understand what corporate welfare data is available today and whether/how it can be related and shared. The result is a document containing guidelines to help companies define, implement, and evaluate corporate welfare plans. At the same time the guidelines stress taking into account the effects on workers, stakeholders, the territory, and possibly the broader citizenry and the country as a whole. We are looking forward to learn more from Italy’s example and how it could be useful to the Canadian context!

Social Value Matters Europe Conference (October 2022)

On 24 and 25 October 2022, Social Value Italia, in collaboration with Torino Social Impact and Social Value International, is organizing the SOCIAL VALUE MATTERS EUROPE conference.

The aim of the conference is to share practices and disseminate the value of impact evaluation, reflecting on the dramatic events of the last few years, but also relaunching positive signals for the future. The conference will be an opportunity for participating organizations to exchange views on alternative ways of making decisions at local and global levels which need to be more advanced and responsible, less profit-oriented, and take into account the needs of the weakest members of society.

The conference will be spread over two days, with plenary sessions, parallel meetings and opportunities for exchange and sharing. Stay tuned for updates and check out Social Value Italy’s website.

Future for Good – #MostInterestingThingInImpact

For the past while, Vinod Rajasekaran, Publisher & CEO, Future of Good, has been publishing frequent #MostInterestingThingInImpact videos.

While always insightful, the #MostInterestingThingInImpact moment from three weeks ago condensed some incredibly important topics into digestible soundbites.

Take a look at this insightful video by Vinod Rajasekaran, where he highlights the systemic issues in philanthropic investing and wealth management through the lens of the first-ever Great Canadian ESG Championships.

Human Trafficking is Happening Around Us – Let’s Talk About it More and Pay Close Attention

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs describes human trafficking like this “There is no universally accepted definition of human trafficking, but essentially it refers to the recruitment, transportation and harbouring of a person for the purposes of forced slavery, including the use of threat of force, deception, position of vulnerability, committed without the free and informed consent of the trafficked person. Human trafficking is often referred to as the modern day slave trade, and it is now viewed as a fundamental human rights issue.”

#NotInMyCity is a campaign started in 2017 by Calgary country singer Paul Brandt to raise awareness of human trafficking.

The #NotInMyCity campaign takes a direct look at raising awareness of human trafficking, especially during major sporting and entertainment events like the Calgary Stampede.

Their mission is to combat human trafficking in the city, with a two-pronged approach of education/awareness and uniting local leaders and agencies to combat the growing problem.

The Calgary Police joined Brandt in his mission and points to the extent of how under-reported human trafficking is because the public doesn’t realize it’s happening in the city. “Sometimes people get confused by the fact you don’t see this on the street corners, you’re not bumping into it every day, therefore it’s not there. We know it’s there, we know it’s there in significant volume at times and when it’s out of sight, those victims simply feel invisible.”

Please take some time today to educate yourself about human trafficking and spread awareness of this important topic so we can combat it more effectively.  join the webinar. 

Indigenous women and girls are disproportionately affected

Another shocking fact is that human trafficking disproportionately impacts aboriginal women. About 20 per cent of sex trafficking cases are aboriginal women. In both Canada and the U.S., Aboriginal women and girls appear to be uniquely vulnerable to human trafficking due to the long-term impacts of colonization including the residential schools system, where generations of children were removed from their families and communities.

Data from the 2014 National Task Force on Sex Trafficking of Women and Girls in Canada shows that of the trafficked or sexually exploited women and girls:

• 51 per cent of trafficked girls were or had been involved with the child welfare system and
• 50 per cent of trafficked girls and 51 per cent of trafficked women were Indigenous.

In all of Canada, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls showed that between the years 1980 and 2012, Indigenous women and girls represented 16% of all female homicides in Canada, while constituting only 4% of the female population in Canada. The MMIWG inquiry’s final report also found that police services struggle to respond to cases of human trafficking and that current laws are not effective in protecting Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people.

The Sisters In Spirit is a research, education and policy initiative of the Native Women’s Association of Canada. They have published a report containing personal stories of the women and girls.

Learn more from these resources:

• The Canadian Center To End Human Trafficking’s article Human Trafficking Needs to be Addressed through a Decolonial Lens
• The Canadian Women’s Foundation has several articles about human trafficking
• British Columbia’s information on Domestic Sex Trafficking of Aboriginal Girls and Women

Be Responsive – Not Just Words, but ACTIONS!

We hope you already saw that SVI has officially published the global standard for applying Principle 8 – Be Responsive!

If you haven’t yet, take a look here to learn what “Be Responsive” is all about!

SVC Practitioner Database – Soon to be Launched!

At SVC we are working to meet the growing demand for SROI and Social Value Practitioners.

In order to do that we are launching a database for all people providing services connected to social value and impact. The database will help you connect with other practitioners and will support you in expanding your network.

We will be reaching out to all AP Level 1,2, and 3 Practitioners. If you would like to have your name and details in the database please get in touch here.

Organizational Member Spotlight: DUCA Impact Lab

Founded by DUCA Credit Union, the Impact Lab is a hub where solutions to the inequities in our financial system are explored. As social innovators comprised of experts and community members, DUCA Impact Lab seeks to foster fairer financial services, especially for those traditionally marginalized by the system.

DUCA Impact Lab has developed the Escalator Loan – a debt consolidation program for Ontarians who are facing an unmanageable debt load, who, otherwise would have the means to be financially secure. The goal is to help build credit faster, pay off debt sooner, and ultimately improve wellbeing via financial inclusion.

Given our shared goal to reduce inequality and improve the well-being of all Canadians, we believe that DUCA is a great addition to our membership network as a leader in financial wellbeing!

Learn more about DUCA Impact lab here. 

Become a Social Value Canada Affiliate

SVC Affiliates are organizations that share our Canadian and global vision to address inequality and climate change, through decision-making that seeks to enhance the wellbeing for all.

There is no cost to affiliation, merely a mutual commitment to cross-post news, knowledge, and information about training and learning opportunities. SVC affiliates can offer their own members discounted access to SVC ‘happenings’.

As an affiliate you will also receive ongoing recognition as part of our national and international movement on the SVC website, in newsletters, and on social media. Contact Arnaud for more details.