Helpers in Crisis - How Governments and Social Entrepreneurs Can Work Better Together 

Governments around the world are under enormous pressure not only because of the corona pandemic. You have to cope with several crises at the same time, become faster and better in achieving social goals: with access to high-quality health care and education, with sustainability in all decisions or with a balanced recovery from the consequences of the pandemic - including possible changes in existing social systems. Social entrepreneurs can be important allies for governments in this situation. Through their work, they support relevant social change processes and help to overcome pressing social problems and deficits. The question of how governments can better support and use the work of social entrepreneurs is answered by the new study "New Allies: How governments can unlock the potential of social entrepreneurs for the common good".    

The report is the result of a cooperation between Ashoka, the world's leading network of social entrepreneurs, McKinsey & Company and the social entrepreneurs of Catalyst 2030 and the Echoing Green, Schwab and Skoll foundations. The New Allies study looks at five areas in which governments can support social entrepreneurs. For each of these areas, the study outlines specific recommendations and provides over 40 specific practical examples from 25 countries of how governments around the world have implemented changes. The report is based on discussions with more than 50 government officials and social entrepreneurs around the world. 

The five areas in which governments can act to support social entrepreneurs:

1. Access to information by making public sector data available or by jointly generating new data

2. Skill building among civil servants and social entrepreneurs to enable mutual understanding and collaboration

3. Developing funding models that take into account the characteristics of social entrepreneurs

4. Promote cooperation within the public sector and between the public, private and social sectors

5. Promoting institutionalization through joint development or adoption of successful innovations

For each of these areas, this report provides specific recommendations and real-world examples of changes that governments around the world have implemented.

The authors are convinced that while the examples in the study focus on national governments, they can also be applied at the local and international level. Coordinated efforts at all levels of government could further enhance the impact of the proposed measures.