Public Engagement

Public Engagement Uniterra’s experience With Canadian community economic development networks

Uniterra „

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Volunteer cooperation program of WUSC and CECI; cofunding by CIDA Strategy: link partners in the South with home based similar sectors and movements to contribute to MDGs 1000+ Partners in the South and 120 in Canada Target: 1755 Volunteers in 4.5 years

Uniterra’s PE strategy „

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Mobilizing our networks to reach Canadian public (800 returned volunteers, 65 campus groups, 120 Canadian partners) Partners inform Canadians, develop concern for poverty in the South and inspire them to take action (target: 50000 Canadians informed / year)

PE strategy (2) „

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Uniterra provides common actions for partners to engage Canadians to contribute to poverty reduction (target: 6000 / year) Volunteering in Canada and overseas Contributing to projects Influencing policies (advocacy) Ethical behavior (ex Fair Trade)

PE Strategy (3) „

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Uniterra collects achievements and results: stories, reports, WEB data base for direct inventory of initiatives by participants Uniterra communicates achievements back to partners to motivate them and create a sense of acting together

Community Economic Development partners „

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CCEDNET: 2000 organisations. Reach: 10000 members + 250000 at community level in all Canada GESQ and Chantier de l’économie sociale: 6500 entreprises. Reach: 65000 employees in Québec. Others IVCO partners: CUSO, CCI, Oxfam Québec

PE Results „ 1. 2.

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Mobilizing networks: Agreements and membership CCEDNET international committee created in 2006 Poll: 11% answers; 92% interest or participation in 3 areas (knowledge sharing; partnership with South; policies). But not to the expense of domestic activities

PE Results (2) „ 1.

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Partners inform Canadian Public: 55000 informed via websites, publications, films, newspapers 96 medias items (reach 2 millions) Fair trade show: foire de l’économie sociale, salons des Métiers d’arts (300000 visitors)

PE Results (3) „ 1.

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Partners engage 7000 members in 2 years: Participation in International Forum (Dakar 2005 Conference and Professional Seminar ) (50) International presence in national meetings : CCEDNET Annual conferences (1000);GESQ Summer Seminars (200); Sommet de l’économie sociale du Québec (600) Volunteering: 100 abroad and 3500 days in Canada

PE Results (4) „

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Contributing to projects: more time than money (50 partnership agreements) Influencing policies: 0.7 % ODA campaign; Social Economy Fund; aid effectiveness/ civil society role Ethical behavior: fair trade promotion

PE lessons learned (1) „ „

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Choose networks with PE potential Entry point strategy: Dakar 2005. Result: 50 champions Positioning in the networks: formal agreements, membership; international agenda; presence in the events, website, publications, media coverage Message: close to core interests (social economy promotion); feedbacks

PE lessons learned (2) „

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PE leverages: mutual interest; reciprocity; regular feedbacks; public recognition PE constraints: funding; short term volunteering; priority to home issues; Conclusion: a great experience!