Archived - Aboriginal Economic Development Strategic Partnerships Initiative

Name of lead department(s): Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)

Lead department program: Under AANDC's Program Alignment Architecture, the Strategic Partnerships Initiative is categorized under the Strategic Outcome entitled "The Land and Economy." The program for the initiative is entitled "Strategic Partnerships."

AANDC, as the designated lead department for the program, reports on activities and results for all federal partners under AANDC's Performance Measurement Framework.

Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: June 17, 2010

End date of the Horizontal Initiative: Ongoing

Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): $85.5 million over five years — total Grants and Contributions (G&C) and Operations & Maintenance (O&M)

Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): With a focus on community readiness, the SPI supports Aboriginal participation in the economy, with a particular emphasis on the resource development sectors, including forestry, fisheries, mining, energy and agriculture. The program also supports other key economic development opportunities in areas such as shipbuilding, tourism and potash.

A key component of the new Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development, SPI provides a coordinated federal response to existing and emerging Aboriginal economic development opportunities. The program builds partnerships among participating federal departments and agencies, Aboriginal communities, provincial and territorial governments and the private sector to help Aboriginal Canadians take advantage of complex market-driven opportunities in key and emerging economic sectors. The initiative's funding is designed to fill gaps that cannot be addressed by existing programs.

The initiative also helps to build closer partnerships with non-federal cohorts, including provincial and territorial governments, the private sector and Aboriginal individuals, organizations, businesses and communities. These partnerships help bring together the people and resources required for Aboriginal communities to take advantage of key economic development opportunities across all regions of the country.

Shared outcome(s): SPI supports a horizontal approach to federal investments that ensures that these investments align with and target market-driven opportunities. It also ensures that the Government of Canada is able to anticipate, plan for and engage in opportunities; is able to maximize the results of federal investments; and is better positioned to lever funds from non-federal sources. SPI uses a single-window approach (shared application, monitoring and reporting) to federal investments in identified priorities and addresses program gaps that might preclude Aboriginal participation in economic opportunities. This process also allows funds to flow from multiple programs and departments through one federal lead department in support of the initiative.

Governance structure(s): Central to the governance structure of SPI is the Federal Coordination Committee (FCC) for Aboriginal Economic Development. The FCC validates and prioritizes opportunities taking a whole-of-government approach to investments under the program. The FCC also identifies relevant federal government departments that have a role to play in supporting any given initiative and ensures that they work together with Aboriginal groups to advance these opportunities. A DG-level Investment Committee supports the FCC by reviewing detailed proposals from federal departments on opportunities for consideration under the program and recommending investments to the FCC.

Planning Highlights: SPI is a federal horizontal initiative designed to further the objectives of the Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic by ensuring that:

• opportunities for investment are systematically targeted and assessed;
• willing partners with complementary experience and resources can work collaboratively to take advantage of economic opportunities available to Aboriginal Canadians;
• clear direction, greater coordination, better collaboration and increased linkages are made among federal initiatives across departments and agencies to advance priority opportunities; and
• partners involved in specific projects continue to be engaged throughout the development, implementation and completion of the project.

Risk Assessment and Management:
There is a risk that the Strategic Partnerships Initiative does not achieve the desired level of federal coordination and departments/agencies continue to act independently on key opportunities, not working in partnership with each other or external stakeholders.

• Impact of risk is high. Likelihood is moderate.
• SPI mitigates this risk by incorporating a management control framework into the program delivery. This framework includes a governance structure for decision-making and coordinates the activities of interested federal partners. Signatories to SPI must adhere to the established governance structure and ensure that they develop work plans and performance indicators to measure results.

There is a risk that due to their complex nature, SPI projects may lead to approval and implementation delays, diffused accountabilities or even project failure.

• The impact of this risk is high. The likelihood is moderate.
• SPI mitigates this risk by incorporating a governance structure for decision-making on complex projects. It is supported by detailed work plans including appropriate milestones, progress reporting and risk assessments outlining federal and community coordination.

Federal Partners: Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency; Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec; Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Employment and Social Development Canada; Industry Canada, including FedNor; Natural Resources Canada; Parks Canada; Status of Women Canada; Western Economic Diversification Canada

Expected results by program: The objective of the SPI is to increase economic development opportunities for Aboriginal Canadians by stimulating partnerships between federal and non-federal partners and leveraging investments from other levels of government and the private sector. This is intended to lead to greater participation by Aboriginal peoples in the Canadian economy.

SPI will result in partnerships and investments in economic and resource development opportunities. Other outcomes identified for SPI include the following:

• capacity for Aboriginal stakeholders;
• co-operation and collaboration between federal and Aboriginal partners;
• simplified government application, monitoring and reporting requirements; and
• strategic federal approach to Aboriginal economic development.

Results to be achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable): N/A

Contact information:

Jennifer Cairnie
Director
Strategic Partnerships Initiative
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
Tel.: 819-994-7219
Jennifer.Cairnie@aadnc-aandc.gc.ca