On 5 February 2020, IFKA – Lead Partner of Finance4SocialChange project has held a 4th Policy Advisory Board meeting with Eva Varga, the Hungarian expert on social entrepreneurship development. The discussion was made on how to improve communication with high-level decision-makers and involve them in the stronger implementation of the regional strategy in the national policymaking process in the Project partner counties. Eva, who was previously working as Member of European Commission’s Expert Group on Social Business (GECES) and Member of the Jury of the European Social Innovation Prize Award contests, shared her valuable insights pointing out that increasing the social enterprise market and proving its significance to policymakers in the region, might be the key towards unlocking the stronger development of this sector. Also increasing the role of the national professional association of social enterprise which should take over the labeling of social entrepreneurs and elaborate legislative initiatives is crucial for further SE market development.

The joint discussion was fruitful and concluded with a proposal to organize a joint meeting of experts, who are developing the educational program during the next Steering Committee meeting of the project, or as a separate event hosted by IFKA in Budapest at the beginning of May or at the end of April.