The Million Jobs Mission has an empowering mission to bring together a global consortium of best-in-class design, funding and implementation partners to create an ecosystem to train and empower one million people for sustainable livelihoods in the country by 2020
Three members of the global board of Social Venture Partners (SVP) International visited various social projects at our SVP India locations in Bengaluru, Pune Mumbai and Delhi. Here, we had the opportunity to exchange ideas on venture philtanthropy, meet NGOs and youth being impacted positively and launch the ambitious Million Jobs Mission for India.
Social Venture Partners is the world’s largest network of engaged philanthropists, with over 3,500 investor-donors across 39 cities, in eight countries (U.S, Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, Korea and United Kingdom). Together, we have worked with more than 700 investees and contributed more than US $54 million and hundreds of thousands of hours of skilled strategic support.
Social Venture Partners India, founded in May 2012, in Bengaluru, brings together a diverse community of 100+ business leaders, active citizens and philanthropists committed to solving complex social issues through personal philanthropy, advocacy and capacity building. SVP connects like-minded people who want to make a difference, making it one of the largest networks of engaged donors in India. It strengthens non-profits by providing them multi-year funding grants or capacity building grants; and collaborates with others in the social ecosystem to amplify impact.
The Million Jobs Mission has an empowering mission to bring together a global consortium of best-in-class design, funding and implementation partners to create an ecosystem to train and empower one Million people for sustainable livelihoods in the country by 2020.
Through this Mission, SVP and its consortium partners will select 10-15 social organisations that have plans to create a cumulative of 100,000 + sustainable livelihoods each in the next five years, across diverse sectors. SVP and its partners will provide a range of support to each of these organisations over the next five years to make these plans a reality.
With increasing concerns that our country’s much talked about demographic dividend could actually turn out to be a demographic disaster if we do not accelerate the creation of livelihoods for our youth, the country needs well-meaning, capable global and local partners to come together to address the frightening jobs scenario in the country. As Ravi Venkatesan Chairman of Bank of Baroda and Founder of SVP India said at the launch, “There is an alarming divergence between the opportunities and skills needed for jobs across sectors, and the actual availability of trained, empowered talent in the country.” The Million Jobs Mission will consist of Program Design Partners with global credentials and perspectives and funding agencies as consortium partners to enable scaling and social organisations that have proven, potentially scalable job-creation models like the Pune City Lighthouse Skills programme.
SVP currently works with social organisations like Industree Foundation, Vrutti, The Nudge Foundation and the Milestone Project of NES in their efforts to create large-scale livelihoods
SVP currently works with social organisations like Industree Foundation, Vrutti, The/Nudge Foundation and the Milestone Project of Natarajan Education Society (NES) in their efforts to create large-scale livelihoods and all of these organisations will be a part of the Million Jobs Mission. With global partners like McKinsey Social Initiative’s Generation Program, Rockefeller Foundation, SPJIMR Mumbai, Samhita Social Ventures on board and many more expected to enroll in the next few months, the Million Jobs Mission can become a game changer triggering transformational change.
SVP India has invited social organisations with plans to create 100,000+ jobs in the next five years, to apply to be a part of this Mission. They will also be a part of the SVP Annual Million Jobs Mission Conclave to be held in New Delhi in January 2017.
What is daunting about India is the magnitude of the challenges we face. However, the number of well-meaning initiatives that gives us abound hope that there is always a way we can contribute—ideas, time and money to a national cause. My own current work with SVP globally, nationally and locally, with NASSCOM Foundation enabling digital literacy and digital libraries to flourish; with NES for the Milestone Technology-Enabled Skills initiative and; with Pune City Connect, gives me tremendous hope for our city and country.
What is it then that holds so many of us back from jumping in and contributing to some of these efforts? It could well be what is jocularly referred to as the difference between the role of the hen and the pig at a typical English breakfast. The hen through its supply of eggs is involved in the process but the pig through its contribution of ham, bacon and salami is totally committed! Forgive me for this appalling metaphor, but do think about how you spend your time and money and get fully committed. If you want ways to do this, just talk to us at SVP or Pune City Connect and we will surely show you the way!
By Ganesh Natarajan
