Pete Ekstedt (ACRE)- Article: There is a need to rapidly accelerate change in rural Australia to alleviate disadvantage. Global Rural Social Enterprise Manifesto launches at SEWF Policy Forum
There is a need to rapidly accelerate change in rural Australia to alleviate disadvantage.
In partnership with Social Enterprise Network Victoria (SENVIC) and endorsed by Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF), ACRE is calling for the co-design of a Rural Social Enterprise Network for Australia – a unified effort to continue the Manifesto’s call for transformative change in rural areas.
There is a need to rapidly accelerate change in rural Australia to alleviate disadvantage. Despite significant progress from focused efforts, 70% of rural inland towns in Australia have suffered severe decline over the past 50 years (SEGRA). Which is why we’re inviting the rural social enterprise community nationwide, to join us in calling for the co-design of a Rural Social Enterprise Network for Australia.
The call for the co-design of a Rural Social Enterprise Network is forming around the momentum created by the Manifesto for Rural Social Enterprise – a policy and advocacy campaign built by policy makers and practitioners – which highlights the importance of networks and the role they play in fostering enterprising and thriving rural communities.
By calling for the co-design of a Rural Social Enterprise Network, we can give rural social enterprises and entrepreneurs a stronger collective voice and unlock new resources and opportunities.
Your Questions Answered.
What does social enterprise offer rural communities?
Australia’s rural communities face unique challenges, from geographic isolation and limited resources to disparities in funding and representation in policy discussions.
Deeply rooted in local communities, rural social enterprise plays a critical role in addressing these challenges through generating employment, ensuring the provision of essential services and supports, addressing environmental challenges, boosting social cohesion and creating economic opportunities.
What is the purpose of a Rural Social Enterprise Network?
The exact purpose of a Rural Social Enterprise Network will be shaped through the co-design process, and we invite you to bring your ideas to the table. While we have a few initial ideas, the ultimate direction will come from those involved in the co-design of the network.
Here are four purposes initially identified:
To enable social enterprises and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge and experiences specific to the unique needs of rural communities.
To be a strong, unified voice for rural social enterprises in policy discussions at national, state, and local levels.
To collaborate with state and national social enterprise peak bodies, helping them to effectively fulfill their missions in rural contexts.
To foster collaboration with sector intermediaries, researchers, impact investors, philanthropic funders, government bodies, and other key stakeholders.
We’re excited to hear your ideas and work together to shape the future of rural social enterprise in Australia!
How exactly is the new network going to work?
We are inviting you to join us in co-designing the answer to this question. This is not about signing up to a pre-determined model; rather, we’re asking you to be part of the journey and have a seat at the table where we will co-create a Rural Social Enterprise Network for Australia.
We are confident that, together, we can build a powerful and invaluable network. Drawing on our experience in establishing practitioner networks, and with the creativity, expertise, and collaboration of our diverse partners—both established and new—we are well positioned to create something truly impactful for rural communities.
What is a co-design process? How will it work?
A co-design process is a collaborative approach that engages key stakeholders in the creation or development of an initiative, ensuring their voices and experiences directly shape the outcome. In the context of a Rural Social Enterprise Network, co-design means that rural practitioners, social enterprises, funders, policymakers, and other stakeholders will play an active role in shaping the network’s development.
This will be a network for rural people, by rural people – their insights and perspectives will define what the network looks like and how it operates with input from those who work with, fund, or represent rural social enterprise.
What value will a Rural Social Enterprise Network provide, given the existing networks, peak organisations and councils?
The efforts of existing social enterprise networks, peak bodies and councils have been essential in building and strengthening the broader social enterprise ecosystem in Australia. A Rural Social Enterprise Network will build on this foundation, focussing specifically on the distinct challenges and opportunities faced by rural social enterprise
Rather than replacing or competing with existing networks, a Rural Social Enterprise Network will work in collaboration with state, national and global networks to enhance the overall ecosystem. By focusing on rural, it will complement existing networks – working closely with state and national social enterprise networks, peak bodies and councils, helping them to effectively fulfil their missions in rural contexts.
A Rural Social Enterprise Network will be led by and for rural communities, ensuring their voices are heard, while working closely with existing organisations to build stronger, more inclusive ecosystems that benefit the entire social enterprise sector.
How will a Rural Social Enterprise Network Australia work with the Global Rural Social Enterprise Network?
The Global Rural Social Enterprise Network, announced by SEWF at the SEWF Policy Forum, is an exciting opportunity for the global rural social enterprise community. It demonstrates a commitment to living out the commitments outlined in the Rural Manifesto, where fostering networks is one of the eight key policy recommendations to support the growth of rural social enterprises.
While the Global Rural Social Enterprise Network will focus on addressing systemic challenges faced by rural communities worldwide, the purpose and structure of a Rural Social Enterprise Network Australia are still to be defined through a co-design process. With the endorsement of SEWF, this co-design process will also ultimately determine how an Australian network will feed into and work alongside a global network where common goals exist.
The Global Rural Social Enterprise Network provides an opportunity for a Rural Social Enterprise Network Australia to not only accelerate outcomes for rural social enterprises in Australia but also support, strengthen and draw from the broader global movement.
Who will fund the rural social enterprise network in Australia?
At present, the co-design process is unfunded, which means the precise structure and timeline have yet to be determined. However, ACRE, in collaboration with our co-initiator SENVIC, is actively seeking funding to initiate and support the co-design process.
We are currently inviting your support by adding your voice to the call for the co-design of a Rural Social Enterprise Network. By doing so, you will help us demonstrate the importance, need, and demand for this network, which will, in turn, help us secure the necessary resources—both in the short and long term.
Who is initiating this?
The call for co-designing a Rural Social Enterprise Network Australia has been initiated by ACRE, in partnership with Social Enterprise Network Victoria (SENVIC) and endorsed by the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF), along with a growing list of supporters. As a key partner, SENVIC has deep experience implementing regional social enterprise subnetworks through the SENVIC Local Leads model.
Will Regional Cities be included in a Rural Social Enterprise Network?
While the intention is for the network to focus on rural needs, regional cities are not excluded from calling for the co-design or co-design process. Regional cities are often integral hubs for rural communities and therefore important sources of connection, resources and services.
How a Rural Social Enterprise Network will be structured and operated will be determined in the co-design process, by those around the table. We invite you to join us!
Are there other rural social enterprise networks like this in other places around the world?
Yes – there is! One example is the Scottish Rural Social Enterprise Network, which plays a key role in connecting rural practitioners, advocating for their interest and fostering collaboration between social enterprises in remote and rural regions. Scotland’s network has been successful in amplifying rural voices in policy discussions and providing targeted resources for rural enterprises.
Another international example of a rural social enterprise network is the Social Enterprise Rural Alliance (Canada) which is a network of like-minded organisations, entrepreneurs, academics, business and government officials who catalyse change in rural communities through engaging, educating and supporting entrepreneurs in rural communities.
References: https://acre.org.au/get-involved/ruralsocialenterprisenetwork/
Global Rural Social Enterprise Manifesto launches at SEWF Policy Forum
The Global Manifesto for Rural Social Enterprise – Unlocking the Power of Rural Social Enterprise was launched today at the SEWF Policy Forum 2024.
It highlights 11 ways in which policymakers can accelerate sustainable and enterprising communities. Over 100 organisations from more than 35 countries contributed to the production of the Manifesto. The process has been stewarded by the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) and the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE).
ACRE CEO Matt Pfahlert and Executive Director of Services Mary-Anne Scully have been on this journey since the Manifesto’s inception in rural Australia in 2022 and its further development at the SEWF World Forum in Amsterdam in 2023. Mary-Anne was part of a distinguished lineup of speakers and policymakers who officially launched the global Manifesto, marking a significant milestone in our efforts to empower rural communities worldwide.
Why this Manifesto?
With 3.4 billion people residing in rural areas, the need for rural economic and social development is a pressing concern for both local and national governments. Extreme poverty and inequality are concentrated mainly in rural areas. An estimated 79% of those experiencing poverty live in rural areas. Rural populations generally have significantly reduced access to essential services, including education, healthcare and infrastructure. In addition, many rural communities depend heavily on climate-sensitive livelihoods. However, across the globe, rural communities are disproportionately at the front line of an accelerating climate crisis.
Deeply rooted in local communities, rural social enterprises play a pivotal role in addressing the unique challenges of rural people including limited access to services, economic opportunities and infrastructure. Through social enterprise – organisations dedicated to driving purpose and profit – rural people create employment opportunities, ensure the provision of essential services, address environmental challenges, boost social cohesion and generate tourism revenue.
Three Guiding Principles
The Manifesto sets out three guiding principles for policy makes to engage with rural communities in a meaningful and impactful way:
Build trust first.
Let those nearest the issue have the say.
Co-develop metrics of success.
Eight Policy Recommendations
In addition to these principles, the Manifesto offers eight actionable policy recommendations to support the development of rural social enterprises:
Provide rural social enterprise with a seat at the table.
Adopt models of social financing and investment that are appropriate for rural communities.
Engage the next generation as agents of positive change.
Foster networks and create business support structures in rural communities.
Democratise access to technology in rural areas.
Integrate social inclusion and environmental protection criteria in procurement processes.
Create incentives for local community asset ownership in rural policy.
Leverage the role of social enterprises to retain and attract people to rural communities.
A global call to action
The Manifesto serves as both a policy roadmap and a global call to action. It underscores the vital role rural social enterprise plays in achieving sustainable rural development and addressing pressing issues such as poverty, inequality and the climate crisis.
“The launch of the Rural Social Enterprise Manifesto is an important step in policy advocacy for rural communities around the world. Our global network of rural social enterprises is committed to championing policy change that recognises the innovation and resilience of rural communities. This Rural Manifesto is part of a transition to a new economy that values wellbeing, fair work, local decision making and critically, the need to live within the means of our living planet. SEWF will work with all partners to support policy change that improves the conditions for sustainable and enterprising rural communities.”
Gerry Higgins, Founder and Managing Director of SEWF
Alongside the policy recommendations, the Manifesto also shares a range of case studies, illustrating the diverse ways rural social enterprise is already making a positive impact around the world.
“Globally, rural communities face unique challenges, and the Rural Manifesto serves as a seminal document that offers essential leadership for policymakers worldwide. ACRE is honoured to have partnered with SEWF and rural leaders from over 35 counties in the development of this important roadmap for the future.”
Matt Pfahlert, Co-founder and CEO of ACRE
As the world faces mounting social, economic and environmental challenges, the Manifesto offers a vision for how rural communities can thrive through social innovation and enterprise. Policymakers, investors and community leaders are urged to join the movement and unlock the full potential of rural social enterprise.
Continuing the Momentum
In partnership with SENVIC and with endorsement from SEWF, ACRE is continuing to call for the co-design of a Rural Social Enterprise Network for Australia – a unified effort to continue the Manifesto’s call for transformative change in rural areas.
We welcome the news from SEWF of an opportunity to form a Global Rural Social Enterprise Network – a dedication to living out the Manifesto, where fostering networks is one of the eight key policy recommendations to support the growth of rural social enterprises.
The global network will focus on addressing the systemic challenges faced by rural communities globally, providing a chance to continue the momentum set by the Manifesto in developing and progressing game changing global policies and practice.