Lessons from Europe: Reforming the welfare state

 

The groundbreaking global conference was held on October 16 and was hosted by Euclid, a  network of European non profit leaders that connects and supports European civil society. The event also acted as stage for the launch of Euclid’s pioneering new publication Lessons from Abroad, which tells the stories of how third sector organisations are transforming public service provision in ten industrialised countries from around the world.

The picture of a European third sector which, despite its diversity also faces joint challenges. Like the need for improved communication between political and social actors. Thierry Weishaupt, President of Euclid Network and head of communications at FEGAPEI, a French charity for people with disabilities, spoke of: “The importance of effective communications between government and third sector operations in creating opportunites for renenewed dialogue and more effecient working practices”.

More specifically, there is an implicit need for the sector to embrace networking at national level, an international level and at a level appropriate to relevant decision making.  These sentiments were echoed by Ruth McCambridge, Editor of the Non Profit Quarterly, the leading third sector publication in the US, who said: “Conferences like this present an opportunity to improve the research agenda, organise political help and most importantly, bring the marginalized back to the center through engaging in a more dynamic way”.

Another important issue, which throughout the day was shown to be shared by many countries, is the need to reassess the way in which third sector organisations raise money. Dr Peter Kyle, Director of Strategy & Enterprise at ACEVO highlighted this: “A fundamental change is taking place. The biggest source of funding for the sector is now contracting. We need to rethink the concept of fundraising and explore the potential of negotiating contracts”.

The publication highlights a number of areas where third sector leaders in the UK should be looking to their peers in other countries, including how to respond to different models of commissioning, how they develop skills and how they assert their ability to campaign.

The Global Learning Forum brought together speakers from around the world, including Ruth McCambridge, Editor of The Non-Profit Quarterly in the US, Lars Petterson, chief executive of FAMNA in Sweden, Carlos Fernandez, head of Leadership Development at the world’s largest social enterprise, Mondaragon in Spain, Geoff Mulgan from the Young Foundation and Joel Hasse-Ferreira MEP, rapporteur on public services to the European Parliament. It was held at the Royal Bank of Scotland on Bishopsgate in London.

Priscilla Nkwenti CEO of Black Health Agency and ACEVO Board Member summed up the days events in her closing remarks when she commented that: “This conference reminds us that we all have a common purpose. Give us time and capacity to innovate and we can all learn from one another to improve society on a systemic level. Global problems require global solutions”.

Euclid Network will showcase the publication at a special hearing at the European Parliament on 8 December. Following this, the next stage of development is to extend the research project to the rest of Europe and the U.S.

Lessons from Abroad is available to purchase from Euclid Network

Find out more: www.euclidnetwork.eu