Innovation at Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)

The TBS Directive on Experimentation, (found in the Departmental Evaluation Plan 2020-21 to 2024-25 below), requires that Departments test new approaches, and measure impact, to instill a culture of measurement, evaluation, and innovation in program and policy design and delivery. However, given Canada's colonial history, including the impact of the Indian Residential School System, the term "experimentation" has negative connotations and is not appropriate in the context of Indigenous Services Canada. As such, ISC uses the term “results-based innovation” when referring to its progress in this area. Results-based innovation at ISC will continue to be achieved by working with Indigenous partners on new and innovative approaches to improve services and to support Indigenous peoples to independently deliver services. Recognized tools such as innovation challenges, demonstration and systems transformation projects, and recognized methods including user-centered design, behavioural insights, data analytics and modeling, gamification and open policy making, will support fostering insight, evaluation, and monitoring results-based innovation at ISC. To foster results-based innovation at ISC, a Results-Based Innovation Network has been established to bring people together and identify opportunities for results-based innovation. This Network, specifically, engages Indigenous partners and their respective work, to showcase communities work developing and informing different tools and strategies that have results-based on innovation that will inform a variety of program and their services and/or their delivery.

Background

ISC Mandate

Policy on Results

Departmental Evaluation Plan 2020-21 to 2024-25

Results-Based Innovation Network (RBIN)

The Results-Based Innovation Network (RBIN) seeks to build connections both, internal and external to ISC, with the intent to come together to share, showcase innovative projects and work, and to foster a space to learn together and raise awareness regarding the variety of innovative projects and initiatives taking place across the country.

Purpose of Network:

To foster a communal space for employees and partners to identify and prioritize opportunities for Results-Based Innovation at ISC;
To provide focused discussions on results based innovation by sharing respective work, learning, insights, and the potential risks associated with said work and/or project as a platform to share best practices;
To provide Sectors with non-human resources and non-budgetary resources (i.e., mentorship, engagement with partners, relationship building, among other opportunities) to support innovative initiatives and projects underway across the country;

To provide an opportunity to learn alongside of network members to discuss what Results-Based Innovation means for Indigenous Services Canada, internal and external partners, and the type of partnerships and collaborative opportunities as a result of the growing Network.


Foster	Monitor	Report
Develop principles to guide innovation with Indigenous peoples that support a systematic culturally competent approach Provide a forum that will test & iterate ideas, as well as guidance on how to manage innovation projects	Develop and maintain a rigorous performance tracking framework for all existing projects Create clear, evidence-based guidelines for new projects and amendments to existing programs/services	SPP Sector will report quarterly to Operations and Services Delivery Committee (OSDC) on ISC Progress and twice annually to the Senior Management committee Annual MAF reporting requirements Share learnings & successes more broadly

Network Leadership and Design


Network Leadership
The Associate Deputy Minister	The Assistant Deputy Minister of the Strategic Policy and Partnerships Sector
Membership
All sectors at Indigenous Services Canada	Regions	Indigenous partners	Interested employees

Membership Expectations

Network members are expected to:

Indigenous Services Canada Employees

Each Sector at Indigenous Services Canada must identify a representative at the management level for distributing information from the Network to their Sector. The employee will be responsible for distributing information from the Network to their Sector. Other employees of all levels are also encouraged to attend.

Representation

The Network will strive to have an inclusive, diverse, and accessible membership with key focus on Gender Based Plus Analyses

Meeting Occurrence and Duration

Occurrence: Every third Thursday of the month

When: 2-3:30pm, 90 minutes

Former Results-Based Innovation Network Presentations

Date	Presenter	Presentation
September 16, 2021	Erin O'Sullivan	Indigenous Data Sovereignty More on Indigenous Data Sovereignty
October 6, 2021	Canada School of Public Service & Jacob Tummons LED	Digital Accelerator & Innovative Solutions Canada Program
October 21, 2021	Communications Branch	COVID-19 Communications with Indigenous Peoples More on COVID-19 Communications with Indigenous Peoples
November 17, 2021	Marissa Hill & Sara Wolfe	Indigenous Knowledges and Data Governance Protocol
January 26, 2022	Dr. Giuseppina (Pina) D’Agostino	AI-powered IP Innovation for Underrepresented Canadian Communities
February 23, 2022	Land and Economic Development Sector, Elizabeth MacDonald	Dare to Meet the Bear - a project to apply Indigenous and decolonizing methodologies
March 16, 2022	Melanie Goodchild	Relational Systems Thinking /Transformative Systems Change
April 20, 2022	Dale Syliboy, Brian Arbuthnot, Jean Knockwood & Mathilda Googoo	Ta’n Etli-tpi’tmk and the Mi’kmaq Social Governance Initiative
June 22, 2022	Marc Fonda & Monty Moudgil	Results of the RBIN Scan
July 14, 2022	Jolene Head	Deconstructing Colonial Practices in the Federal Public Service
September 22, 2022	Jolene Head	Deconstructing Colonial Practices in the Federal Public Service More on Deconstructing Colonial Practices in the Federal Public Service
October 27, 2022	Honey Dacanay	Beyond Innovation Heroics
November 24, 2022	Carleton Centre for Community Innovation (3ci)	Rebuilding First Nations Governance Project
January 26, 2023	OTL Innovation Committee - Diane Bain	On the Land Intiative
February 23, 2023	Erin O'Sullivan	Transformational Approach to Indigenous Data More on Transformational Approach to Indigenous Data
March 23, 2023	Elizabeth MacDonald	Applying Indigenous Methodology in Government

The Strategic Policy and Partnership Fund

Background and Purpose

The Strategic Partnership Fund (SPF) allows the Strategic Policy and Partnership Sector (SPPS) to advance the transfer of services to Indigenous-led organizations, and support Indigenous policy and evaluation capacities. The fund’s approach is intended to enable an expansion of partnerships, bring new voices to the table beyond traditional actors, and support innovation and capacity-building across the Indigenous public sector. SPF will strengthen ISC’s role in supporting the Department’s legislated priority to implement the gradual transfer of departmental responsibilities to Indigenous organizations.
The fund’s outcomes are different from other ISC policy programs because, unlike the other programs, this fund’s focus is to work with Indigenous partners to change ISC’s service delivery, internal policies, and begin to devolve services to those recipients. Other programs primarily focus on policy capacity of Indigenous partners for their own ends or for supporting ISC lead policy initiatives.

Project funding is intended for opportunities that support a path towards substantive equality for Indigenous peoples, the advancement of service delivery transfer, and support for Indigenous-led evaluation functions, while respecting the distinct needs of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. SPF seeks projects that support cross-cutting initiatives that can benefit more than one program, region or activity, integrate co-development initiatives (Indigenous world view/knowledge) in policy and evaluation, and support innovation and capacity building across the Indigenous public sector.

Strategic Policy and Partnership Fund Objectives and Outcomes

Table 1. SPPF Objectives and Outcomes Overview

Strategic Policy and Partnership Fund
Funding	Objective Result	Outcome
Partnership and Innovation	Partnerships and Innovations funding, as a part of the SPP fund, will be allocated to support horizontal and cross-linked projects in partnership with Indigenous partners.	PID funding will be used to advance the transfer of services to Indigenous-led organizations, and support Indigenous policy and evaluation capacities.

Strategic Policy and Partnerships Sector

Results-Based Innovation at ISC Placemat

RBIN Scan - Results - Innovation Projects and Initiatives (All Sectors) Comprehensive Collection

Newsletters: ISC Innovates

Issue 1

Issue 2

Innovative Tools and Methods Starter Kit

User-centered design
Behavioral insights
Open policy-making, including co-creation approaches to develop policy, programs, and services with stakeholders, civil society, citizens, and other governments
Staged funding approaches to enable scaling
Outcomes-based and pay-for-performance funding, including social and development finance and Social Impact Bond-like instruments
Gamification
Data analytics and modeling
Investing in pooled funds that use these tools and methods
Toolkit Navigator - Observatory of Public Sector Innovation
The System Innovation Initiative

Exploring Change in Social Connection