The Journey Continues: The Second Report to Canadians on Implementing An Accord
Between the Government of Canada and the Voluntary Sector
D. Looking Ahead
The Federal Government and the Voluntary Sector have developed a set
of historic agreements that reinforce their commitment to work together in
the service of Canadians – An Accord Between the Government of Canada
and the Voluntary Sector, A Code of Good Practice on Funding and A Code
of Good Practice on Policy Dialogue.
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WHAT THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR SAID:
Asked to identify the priorities for
the voluntary sector in implementing
the Accord and Codes for the coming
year, respondents to the voluntary
sector survey focused on activities
such as:
- creating links between organizations
and the federal government –
for example, by providing feedback
on the other’s progress
- giving the Accord and Codes
“teeth,” by enforcing their use/
application through report cards
or other mechanisms
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Asked where federal government
efforts should be directed, survey
respondents underscored the need to:
- increase awareness of the Accord
and Codes and departments’ effectiveness
in implementing them
- adapting processes – i.e., by
making them less bureaucratic – especially to meet the needs of
small organizations
- putting in place a system to
recognize and reward departments
that have been using the Accord
and Codes in their day-to-day
activities
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WHAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SAID:
Asked what the federal government
should focus on, survey respondents
identified several key themes:
- build capacity/relationships – for
example by expanding networks
with the nonprofit and charitable
sector
- enhance accountability – by
simplifying the reporting questionnaire;
reducing overlap; and
developing government-wide
performance indicators
- communicate, educate and raise
awareness – by developing a communications
strategy, conducting
policy development exercises; and
developing knowledge
Asked what voluntary sector priorities
should be, respondents mentioned
such activities as:
- share information on areas of
common concern and successful
implementation strategies – especially at the grassroots level
- “twin” voluntary organizations
to share good practices
- provide information-sharing
opportunities to discuss good
practices with departments
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Over the next year, the two sectors
will continue their focus on collaboration
and innovation in government/
voluntary sector relations for
the benefit of communities. On
behalf of the Government of Canada
and the voluntary sector, the Joint
Steering Committee has agreed to the
following priorities for the next
reporting period:
1. Integrate the Accord and
two Codes within and across
the sectors as “the way we
do business” by:
- improving the flexibility, responsiveness
and consistency of
funding arrangements between
the federal government and the
voluntary sector
- deepening the dialogue between
the federal government and
the voluntary sector in order to
create better public policies for
the benefit of Canadians
- measuring progress in meeting
our commitments
2. Ensure government departments
and voluntary sector organizations
share good practices and
lessons learned in implementing
the Accord and Codes.
