Canadian Oikocredit Support Associations organize for long-term planning
September 13 | 2013 Oikocredit Canada’s volunteer Support Associations have struck a national advisory group to coordinate future planning.
The action was taken Sept. 10 at a national meeting of Support Association (SA) representatives held in Toronto. The SAs will appoint representatives to sit on a new body to be called the Oikocredit Canada Advisory Group. Oikocredit Canada West (OCW), Oikocredit Canada Central (OCC) and Oikocredit Canada Atlantic (OCA) sent representatives to the meeting.
The SA representatives felt the time was right to better coordinate long-term planning in Canada. They endorsed the direction of a Three Year Marketing Plan recommending increased and coordinated action to tap into a number of communities that have growing interest in impact investments aimed at global justice and international development.
The Marketing Plan was prepared by Canadian National Director Eugene Ellmen and a Marketing Committee composed of Oikocredit volunteers across Canada.
SRI, sweatshops big trends
The Marketing Committee identified a number of trends suggesting that Canadians want to use their investment dollars to improve the lives of people and communities in the developing world. The growth of socially responsible investment plus continuing interest in issues such as sweatshop production show that Canadians want to invest in microfinance, local agriculture, co-operatives and fair trade.
There are a number of communities in Canada that are poised to provide a growing amount of investment dollars for this. These include fair trade groups, co-operatives, churches and faith-based organizations, development coalitions, non-governmental organizations, foundations and advisors to socially responsible investment clients.
The mandate of the Oikocredit Canada Advisory Group is to coordinate communications and activities of Oikocredit International, the Canadian support office and the SAs; to advise the Canadian support office; to share expertise, resources and best practices; to develop strategies for resolving problems; and to undertake long term planning.
“This is an exciting moment for Oikocredit in Canada,” Eugene said in regard to the creation of the Advisory Group. “Oikocredit will have a much stronger national voice in the future and will be poised to deliver the impact investment options for justice and development so desired by Canadians.”
