The Government Champions for Social Innovation is a coalition of governments worldwide that has united with the primary goal of advancing social innovation on a global scale. Social innovation refers to the creation and implementation of new ideas, practices, or solutions that address societal challenges in ways that are more effective, sustainable, or just than current solutions. This group recognizes that governments must play a central role in driving these innovations, especially when it comes to building a more equitable and sustainable future for all. The coalition is made up of government representatives who are directly involved in shaping national and international policies. These governments recognize the importance of social innovation in meeting complex global challenges like poverty, climate change, inequality, and social exclusion.
GCSI
Welcome
Our Mission
The ultimate goal of the working group is to catalyse a global momentum around social innovation. This will rely on global endorsements regarding the creation of social innovation sectors and calls for stakeholders across the entire ecosystem to act. Gaining these endorsements will require both international and national efforts of showcasing innovations across the ecosystems and ensuring wide societal visibility.
Our Vision
The vision is a thriving people and planet economy, which places local communities at the center of decision-making that cuts across all sectors.
Global, Regional Policy Development and Ecosystem Involvement
The group aims to advance social innovation globally by analyzing impact, addressing support gaps, and fostering unified terminology. It collaborates with governments to build infrastructure and supports social innovators with resources and co-created solutions to scale their impact.
Read MoreFinancing for Social Innovation
The group will develop data-driven financing guidelines to optimize existing funding for scaling social innovation globally. It will also create innovative financing mechanisms, such as levies on luxury consumption and digital payments, to redirect resources toward protecting and growing the People and Planet Economy.
Read MoreObjectives
Objectives
National Policy Development and Ecosystem Involvement
The focus is on unlocking systems change locally through collective action, social sector models, capability building, information sharing, and fostering institutionalization. Guided by principles of a common mission, co-creation, contextual flexibility, transparency, and ethical integrity, the approach ensures impactful and inclusive initiatives.
Read MoreSocial Impact Measurement
The group will create a global social impact indicator index to track country-level progress, combining metrics like community, economic, health, and sociopolitical indicators to assess the cross-sectoral impacts of social innovation. Linked to the Knowledge and Practice Hub, this index will drive data-informed decisions and further accelerate social innovation development.
Read MoreKnowledge and Practice Hub
The hub will develop an AI-powered information highway to analyze social innovation data, identify gaps, and highlight opportunities, while consolidating best practices for partners. It will also provide tailored, data-driven training to build the capacity of diverse stakeholders, including social innovators, corporations, and governments.
Read MoreCommunication and Raising Awareness
The group will raise global awareness of social innovation by promoting its benefits, standardizing terminology, and encouraging public interest. It will also establish channels for collaboration between the public, social innovators, and governments, aiming to institutionalize social innovation through initiatives like creating Ministries on Social Innovation.
Read MoreGovernment Council for Social Innovation
Government Council Chairs
Zarah Bruhn
[Commissioner for Social Innovation]
Filipe Almeida
[President, Portugal Inovação Social]
Jaime Iglesias Sanchez-Cervera
[Special Commissioner for Social Economy]
Lucas Ramalho
[Director of New Economies]