National Social Innovation Consultative Advisory Group

In June 2021, an Irish-led consortium announced a new EU-funded project to promote social innovation and cross-collaboration across Europe.

Led by Rethink Ireland and Genio Trust (Ireland), the consortium also incorporates partners from Portugal, Bulgaria and Cyprus respectively.

The objective of the project, which will take place over two years, is to establish a sustainable and responsive National Competence Centre for Social Innovation (NCCSI) in each of the partner countries; see fuseproject.eu

The activities to be undertaken are being co-funded by the EU through the European Social Fund (ESF), the European Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) and the Irish government through the Department of Rural and Community Development.

A Steering Group has been established to oversee the project, with representatives from the ESF Managing Authority (ESF MA), the Department of Community and Rural Development, Rethink Ireland and Genio.

The National Consultative Advisory Group will support the aim of bringing on board relevant stakeholders and raising awareness about the role of the National Competence Centre for Social Innovation and the potential of ESF+ to support the social innovation sector.

The National Consultative Advisory Group will comprise of representatives from relevant Government Departments, public bodies, social innovation, and social enterprise stakeholders (civil society, academia, social enterprises, impact investors, impact entrepreneurs, business supports organisations and intermediaries) with a view to achieving a good regional and gender balance.

Two seats on the Advisory Group are being reserved for representation from academic institutions working in the field of social innovation. These seats will be assigned on the basis of this open call for expressions of interest.

Further details, including indicative criteria and a terms of reference for the National Consultative Advisory Group, can be found here .

Expressions of Interest must be submitted by email to clare.bergin@genio.ie by close of business on Friday, 8th October 2021.