Edward Jackson is a Senior Research Fellow at the Carleton Centre for Community Innovation. He previously served as founding Director and Chair of the Centre as well as Associate Dean (Research and Graduate Affairs) in the Faculty of Public Affairs at Carleton University. He is also Adjunct Research Professor in Carleton’s School of Public Policy and Administration and is cross-appointed to the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and the Institute of African Studies.
Dr. Jackson built a distinguished career over more than 20 years at Carleton University in teaching, research and administration, retiring in 2014. As a tenured public-policy professor, he taught and supervised more than 500 graduate students in courses on program evaluation, program management and social-economy organizations in the international development and non-profit studies streams of Carleton’s graduate School of Public Policy and Administration. As Associate Dean, he strengthened the capacity of 20 research centres across the Faculty of Public Affairs and chaired university-wide working groups on community engagement and partnerships. His 2009 report, The Oxygen of Community, has provided guidance for Carleton leaders in advancing the institution’s community engagement strategy.
In 1997 he co-founded, with the McConnell Foundation, the pan-Canadian Community Economic Development Technical Assistance Program which, over a decade, made social-business grants to more than 500 community corporations, cooperatives and firms. In 2001, he co-founded the Carleton University-World Bank International Program for Development Evaluation Training, which became a globally acclaimed executive-development offering. With the Carleton Centre for Community Innovation, he supervised a wide range of students and led action-research projects, for example, evaluating the microloan program of Alterna Savings and Credit Union and investigating the role of post-secondary institutions in Eastern Ontario in sustainable regional economic development.
Professor Jackson also served as founding Principal Investigator (2011-2014) of the Community First: Impacts of Community Engagement project, a seven-year, SSHRC-funded initiative examining how campus-community partnerships can be designed to be of optimum benefit to community-based non-profit organizations in the fields of poverty reduction, food security, the environment and violence against women. The project network served over 300 engaged scholars and students and civil-society practitioners working across seven Canadian provinces. In addition, Professor Jackson served as volunteer Convenor of the 2015 Community, College and University Exposition (C2UExpo 2015), a conference that attracted 300 delegates from a dozen countries. He also co-founded Carleton’s multi-disciplinary Gender Equality Measurement Group.
Through his contract research, Dr. Jackson has advised and partnered with a wide range of public, private, philanthropic and non-profit organizations in all parts of the world. In recent years, for example, he has carried out evaluations and capacity building assignments on universities and social infrastructure for the McConnell Foundation and the University of Winnipeg, on gender lens investing for the Caribbean Development Bank, Australia Aid and the Canadian NGO WUSC, and on African scholarship programs in North American universities for the Mastercard Foundation.
An active, multi-disciplinary scholar, Professor Jackson has published and lectured in more than a dozen social-science fields, and his work has been cited in over 150 peer-reviewed journals. He serves on a wide range of academic and professional committees, including the editorial advisory boards of The Engaged Scholar Journal, the Journal of Sustainable Finance and Investment, and the Journal of Finance and Risk Perspectives. A former visiting lecturer at Trent, Victoria and Warsaw universities, he also holds appointments as an Adjunct Professor of education at the University of Ottawa and as Honorary Associate with the Institute of Development Studies in the United Kingdom.
As a volunteer, he chairs the Board of Directors of the Canadian arm of the non-profit Diamond Development Initiative, which works for better livelihoods for artisanal miners and their families in Africa. He is also a volunteer advisor to the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a farmworkers’ rights organization based in Southwest Florida, and creator of the award-winning Fair Food Program.
Ted Jackson has received the Karl Boudreault Award for Leadership in Evaluation, the Canadian Evaluation Society Award for Contribution to Evaluation in Canada, Carleton University’s Faculty of Public Affairs Teaching Excellence Award and its Award for Contribution to the University, the Community Development Society’s Current Research Award, and the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship. In 2018, he received a lifetime award for his promotion of participatory partnerships from the UNESCO Chair in Community-Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education.
Publications
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Articles in Refereed Journals
(2018). “Understanding and optimising the social impact of venture capital: Three lessons from Ghana” (with C. Barnett, P. O’Flynn, H. Ismaila and C. Agyeyomah). African Evaluation Journal 6(2), November 13, 2018, a335.
(2018). “Facing Challenges, Building the Field: Improving the Measurement of the Social Impact of Market-Based Approaches (with K. Harji). American Journal of Evaluation, 39(3), 1-6.
(2017). “Impact Investing: Measuring Household Results in Rural West Africa” (with K. Harji). ACRN Oxford Journal of Finance and Risk Perspectives, 6(4), 2017, 53-66.
(2016). “Exchanges: Conversation with Ted Jackson, Carleton University” (with N. Kahnenko-Friesen). Engaged Scholar Journal, 2(2), 125-131. (Interviewee).
(2013). “Evaluating Social Impact Bonds: Questions, Challenges, Innovations and Possibilities in Measuring Outcomes in Impact Investing.” Community Development: Journal of the Community Development Society. 44(5) 1-9.
(2013). “Interrogating the Theory of Change: Evaluating Impact Investing Where It Matters Most.” Journal of Sustainable Finance and Investment, 3(1), 95-110.
(2012). “Human Rights Training for Public Officials” (with M. Seydegart). Taiwan Journal of Human Rights, 1(3), 55-65, Published in Chinese.
(2010). “University Capital, Community Engagement and Continuing Education: Blending Professional Development and Social Change.” Canadian Journal of University Continuing Education, 36(2), 1-13.
Edited Books
(2013). Knowledge, Democracy and Action: Community-University Research Partnerships in Global Perspectives (edited with B.L. Hall, R. Tandon, J.-M. Fontan and N. Lall). Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press. 217p. Link here.
Chapters in Edited Books
(2015). “Microentrepreneurs in Economic Turbulence: The Alterna Savings Microloan Program” (with S Henry and C. Amadi. In J. Quarter, S. Ryan and A. Chan (eds). Social Purpose Enterprises: Case Studies for Social Change.” Toronto: University of Toronto, 142-161. (Chapter and Book supported by SSHRC-CURA grant). Book link.
(2014). “The Architecture of Engagement: Financing the Institutional Structures that Support Community-University Partnerships.” In C. Escrigas, B. Hall and R. Tandon (eds). Higher Education in the World 5. Barcelona: Global University Network for Innovation, 50-55.
(2013). “Building Blocks of Partnerships: Lessons from Case Studies from the South and North” (with R. Tandon). In B.L. Hall, E.T. Jackson, R. Tandon, J.-M. Fontan and N. Lall (eds). Knowledge, Democracy and Action: Community-University Research Partnerships in Global Perspectives. Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press, 17-32. (Chapters and Book supported by grants from SSHRC and IDRC). Book link.
(2013). “An Architecture Understood: Effective Support Structures for Community-University Partnerships” (with L.M. Gariba and E. Tok). In B.L. Hall et al (eds), Knowledge, Democracy and Action, 33-41. Book link.
(2013). “Agenda for the Future” (with B.L. Hall, R. Tandon, J-M Fontan and N. Lall). In B.L. Hall et al (eds), Knowledge, Democracy and Action, 199-205. Book link.
(2013). “Mixed Methods in Social Accounting: Evaluating the Micro-Loan Program of Alterna Savings Credit Union” (with M. Tarsilla). In L. Mook (ed). Accounting for Social Value. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 117-138. (Lead Co-Author). (Chapter and Book supported by SSHRC/CURA on the Social Economy (Southern Ontario Node), managed by OISE/University of Toronto). View book only.
(2012). “Each Verse a Universe.” In J.L. Turk and C. Wahl (eds). Love, Hope, Optimism: An Informal Portrait of Jack Layton by Those Who Knew Him. Toronto: Lorimer, 44-47. 2012. Also published in Carleton Now, September 2012.
(2011). “Afterword.” In P.V. Hall and I. MacPherson (eds). Community-University Research Partnerships: Reflections on the Canadian Social Economy Experience. Victoria: University of Victoria, 201-206. (Sole Author). (Chapter and Book supported by SSHRC/CURA on the Social Economy, managed nationally by the University of Victoria). Book contents.
Entries in Encyclopaedia
(2014). “Community University Research Partnerships.” In D. Coghlan and M. Brydon-Miller (eds), The Sage Encyclopedia of Action Research. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 163-166.
Articles in Non-Refereed Publications
(2018). “At the nexus of development and finance.” Au Courant, Global Affairs Canada, June 2018, 3.
(2016). “Mobilising Private Capital for Sustainable Development” (with A. Koenig). Great Insights Magazine (ECDPM), October-November 2016, 16-19.
(2013). “Impact Investing: A Growing Global Opportunity.” The Networker, January-March, 16-17.
(2012). “Innovations in Development Finance.” Monthly Developments, July, 53.
(2010). “Regrouping, Recalibrating and Reloading: Strategies for Financing Civil Society in Post-Recession Canada.” The Philanthropist, 23(3), 359-367.
(2008). “The CUE Factor: Community-University Engagement for Social Innovation.” Open Source Business Resource, September, 38-44.
Technical and Research Reports
(2019). “Social Enterprise and Higher Education Institutions: Optimizing Development Impact. World University Service of Canada, Ottawa. 33p. Link
(2019). “Catalytic Capital for Women’s Economic Empowerment: Report of the External Review of the Impact Investment Component of Investing in Women” (with K. Alvarez), Investing in Women Initiative, Manila. 73p. Link
(2018). “Catalyst for Sustainability: The Achievements, Challenges, Lessons and Prospects of the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation.” Summary Report and Full Report. UWCRC and the McConnell Foundation, Winnipeg and Montreal. 85p.
(2017). “Impact Investing: A Tool for New Partnerships for Sustainable Development. World University Service of Canada, Ottawa. 22p. Link
(2016). “Developmental Evaluation in Practice: Lessons from Evaluating a Market-Based Employment Initiative (with K. Harji).” Evaluation Office, Rockefeller Foundation, New York. 12p. (Equal Co-Author). Link
(2016). “Assessing Market-Based Solutions: Lessons from Evaluating a Youth Employment Initiative” (with K. Harji). Evaluation Office, Rockefeller Foundation, New York. 8p. Link.
(2016). “Innovative Finance for Health: Expanding Resources for Greater Impact.” (with L. Naji). Aga Khan Foundation of Canada, Ottawa. 7p. PDF.
(2016). “Private Capital for Sustainable Development: Concepts, Issues and Options for Engagement in Impact Investing and Innovative Finance.” (With A. Koenig and B. Carriere). Danida Evaluation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Copenhagen. 81p. Report.
(2015). “Streams of Social Impact Work: Building Bridges in a New Evaluation Era with Market-Oriented Players at the Table.” (With Six Others). Rockefeller Foundation, New York. 16p. Report.
(2015). “Youth at Work: Building Economic Opportunities for Youth in Africa.” (With Six Others). MasterCard Foundation, Toronto. 32p. Report
(2014). “Evaluation of SDC’s Governance Programming and Mainstreaming” (with J. Saxby and L. Nicholls), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Bern. Report.
(2013). “Assessing Impact Investing: Five Doorways for Evaluators” (with K. Harji). Evaluation Office, Rockefeller Foundation, New York. 4p. Thematic Brief
(2013). “Field-Building for Resilience: Ten Tactics for the Impact Investing Industry” (with K. Harji). Evaluation Office, Rockefeller Foundation, New York. 4p. Report.
(2013). “Purpose-Built Networks: Ten Crucial Choices in Designing Effective, Resilient Impact Investing Networks” (with K. Harji). Evaluation Office, Rockefeller Foundation, New York. 6p. Report.
(2013). “Measurement that Matters: Ten Steps for Assessing Social Impact” (with K. Harji). Evaluation Office, Rockefeller Foundation, New York. 4p. Report.
(2013). “Growing Supply and Demand Together: Ten Priorities for the Impact Investing Industry” (with K. Harji). Evaluation Office, Rockefeller Foundation, New York. 5p. Report.
(2013). “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights: A Call for Leadership by Canada” (with I. Smillie and S. Brown). McLeod Group, Ottawa. 11p. Report.
(2012). “Unlocking Capital, Activating a Movement: The Final Report of the Strategic Assessment of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Impact Investing Initiative” (with K. Harji). Rockefeller Foundation, New York. 107p. Report.
(2012). “Accelerating Impact: Achievements, Challenges and What’s Next in Building the Impact Investing Industry” (with K. Harji). Rockefeller Foundation, New York. 86p. Full Report – PDF. Executive Summary or full report.
(2010). “The Energy of Partnership: Carleton University’s Collaborations with Local Institutions.” Report of the Working Group on Local Partnerships, Carleton University, Ottawa. 20p.
(2009). “The Oxygen of Community: Report of the Initiative for Community-University Engagement,” Carleton University, Ottawa. 80p. Report
Book Reviews
(2011). “Bob Rae: Exporting Democracy: The Risks and Rewards of Pursuing a Good Idea.” International Journal of Not-for-Profit Law, 13(4), 98-100. Republished in Canadian Not-For-Profit News, 20(3), 2012, 23-24.
Journalistic Writing/Blogging
(2019). “Mainstreaming Gender in Development Finance in Belize” (with D. Beaulieu, N. Ewing-Goff and A. Palacio). NESsT Newsletter, December 10, 2019.
(2019). “Checking China’s Economic Excess in Africa: Institutional and Civic Strategies.” Posted on LinkedIn, July 16, 2019. Blog
(2019). “Tech Tonic: Are Development NGOs AI Ready?” (with B. Rowe). Posted on LinkedIn, May 7, 2019. Blog
(2018). “A unique approach on communities.” Winnipeg Free Press, October 22, 2018.
(2018). “Time to share the costs of participation in impact investing.” Institute of Development Studies, October 9, 2018.
(2018). “The TV studio as ecosystem launchpad: Innovation in impact investing in Sri Lanka.” The Daily Financial Times, Colombo, August 3, 2018.
(2017). “Canada’s DFI should lead on gender equality,” The Hill Times, September 11, 2017, p.12.
(2017). “Training and Curriculum for Evaluating Impact Investing” (with K. Harji). AEA 365 (American Evaluating Association), March 17, 2017.
(2016). “Sovereign Wealth: Two ways African governments can hold DFIs accountable.” Evaluation for Africa, April 26, 2016.
(2016). “Setting Standards for Evaluating Impact Investing: What Does Africa Want?” Evaluation for Africa, March 29, 2016. (with K. Harji).
(2016). “Marathon Champions Race Toward Peace in Kenya.” Huffington Post Canada, April 1, 2016.
(2016). “NFL Honors Nominees Remind Us Why Giving Back Matters.” Huffington Post Canada, February 5, 2016.
(2015). “From Fuzzy to Clear: Tips from Evaluating the Swiss and Dutch Governance Programs (with A. Bichsel, G. Dijkstra and K. ter Horst). AEA365 (American Evaluation Association), November 30, 2015.
(2015). “The Evaluation as Field Builder: Experiences with Impact Investing.” AEA365 (American Evaluation Association), September 16, 2015.
(2015). “Better Pensions for Non-Profit Workers: A Quebec Multi-Employer Plan that Works.” and “This Quebec Model Offers Better Pensions for Non-Profit Workers.” Huffington Post Canada, June 15, 2015.
(2015). “Policy from the bottom up.” Ottawa Citizen, May 24, 2015. (Sole Author).
(2015). “What is Post-Secondary Education For? To Build a Better World, Says C2UEXpo 2015” (with G. Briggs). Carleton Now, May 2015.
(2014). “Why the CRA is No Longer an Effective Instrument of Public Policy.” Huffington Post Canada, July 25, 2014.
(2013). “Translate Words into Deeds in Fight for Gay Rights” (with I. Smillie and S. Brown). Embassy Magazine Online, 11 March, 2013.
(2012). “How the LGBT Community Gets Down to Business.” Huffington Post Canada. September 12, 2012.
(2012). “Does a New President for Ghana Mean a New Direction?” Huffington Post Canada. July 31, 2012. Published first as “Black Star Beacon: What Ghana Does Next Matters.” The Mark. July 30, 2012.
(2012). “Can the World Bank be Transformed?” (with J. Sinclair). The Mark, April 1, 2012.
(2012). “Shake up World Bank chief selection and support emerging powers” (with J. Sinclair). Embassy, March 14, 2012.
(2012). “Simple Deal: Canada Gets Money, and China Gets Canada.” Huffington Post Canada February 13, 2012.
(2012). “Skating Towards the Corners.” The What Are You Skating Towards? Series. Al Etmanski’s Blog, February 8, 2012.
(2011). “Does the NHL Have Brain Damage?” Huffington Post Canada, December 11, 2011.
(2011). “Seven Questions You Should Ask About Federal Budget Cuts.” Huffington Post Canada, December 6, 2011.
(2011). “Social Gold: Strategies for Financing Non-Profits in a Turbulent World.” Al Etmanski’s Blog, November 6, 2011. (Sole Author). Also published in SocialFinance.org, November 24, 2011.
(2011). “Don’t Cut Program for Military Families: Spouses are the Key to Troop Reintegration.”Huffington Post Canada, August 3, 2011.
(2011). “K’naan, Iman and the Famine in Somalia: The Long Game Matters, Too.” Huffington Post Canada, July 27, 2011.
(2011). “Letter to Derek Jeter: How About Helping 30,000 Young People?” Huffington Post Canada, July 15, 2011.
(2011). “Feminism 2.0: ‘Lift as You Climb’.” Huffington Post Canada, July 10, 2011.
(2011). “Give Homophobia The Red Card: Cleaning Up Women’s Soccer by 2015.” Huffington Post Canada, June 30, 2011.
(2011). “Seeding Socialism: The Conservative Attack Against Unions and Young Workers.” Huffington Post Canada, June 22, 2011.
(2011). “Old Guys Rule: Experience Powers Bruins and Mavs to the Top.” Huffington Post Canada, June 16, 2011.
(2011). “Multipolarity: It’s Already Here.” Huffington Post Canada, June 8, 2011.
(2011). “Pro Athletes for Marriage Equality: Creating New Space.” Huffington Post Canada. June 2, 2011.
(2011). “Memo to the NDP: It’s Time to Get Global.” Huffington Post Canada, May 23, 2011.
(2011). “Men’s basketball dynasty leaves fan ‘awestruck.’” Carleton Now, May 2011.
(2011). “But What Should a Coalition Actually Do?” The Mark, May 1, 2011.
(2011). “What Would a Coalition Look Like, Anyway?” The Mark, April 8, 2011.
(2011). “Pathways Out of the Precariat.” The On Becoming Visible Series, Al Etmanski’s Blog, January 18, 2011.
(2010). “Why Canada Must Commit to Africa.” The Mark, November 22, 2010.
(2010). “Making homelessness history: showing what universities can do.” Carleton Now, May 2010. 2.
(2009). “Making a Difference that Matters: Moving the Community Agenda Forward.” Carleton Now, November, 2009. 2.