Noun. Saorsa (Scots Gaelic):freedom. salvation, redemption.
Today, there are well over 100 global organisations working on anti-slavery and ethical supply chain initiatives. With this said, understanding the scale and depth of this global challenge continues to be a challenge in itself. This is because of the fragmentation of data, with little data sharing occurring between the various parties in any consistent manner and format.
“It is widely acknowledged that measuring modern slavery is a difficult undertaking, not least because no single source provides suitable and reliable data on all forms of modern slavery” Global Slavery Index
Saorsa 2030 has a simple stated mission:
“To collaborate with global partners to develop the largest, most comprehensive, anti-slavery intelligent data platform in the world”
The International Social Enterprise Observatory (ISEO), funded by the Scottish Government, has worked with Saorsa 2030 since 2019. These discussions successfully led to the formation on 31st October 2019 of Saorsa 2030 as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), an ‘asset-locked’ social enterprise.
Saorsa 2030 has an ambitious aim, to develop the largest, most comprehensive, anti-slavery intelligent data platform in the world. The achievement of this aim will require a three phased development process.
- Phase 1: Develop a minimum viable product (MVP) and test its functionality.
- Phase 2: Conduct volume testing of the MVP with actual real-world audit data from a global delivery partner.
- Phase 3: Agree the technical specification for the go-to-market solution and secure the investment needed to develop it.
Saorsa 2030 has partnered with a range of local and global partners to take forward the development of its solution. These include The Mekong Club, a Hong Kong based NGO and leader in business led Modern Slavery Solutions; The Data Lab, Scotland’s Innovation Centre for data and AI; The University of Strathclyde, a leading academic institution with specialist technology & supply chain expertise; and The ICTI Ethical Toy Company, the Supply Chain Standards certification organisation for the global toy industry.
The ISEO’s work in supporting the development of Saorsa 2030 has also been match funded by Glasgow City Council, allowing us to provide in-depth developmental support which includes:
- Conducting market research into competitive global service offerings;
- Holding developmental workshops with Saorsa 2030, CEIS, and Scottish Enterprise to develop the future service offering;
- Detailed feasibility & outline business planning;
- Preparation of a key stakeholder and funder engagement plan;
- Support to consider legal and organisational structure options and support to set-up the new SCIO
- Securing of Phase 1 and Phase 2 investment funding and preparing the business case to secure Phase 3 funding.
The ISEO is continuing to support the development of Saorsa 2030 by engaging directly with key stakeholders and funders in Scotland, the UK and internationally as part of the Phase 3 development process in order to secure the final investment required to allow this ambitious and world leading social enterprise to take off. Watch this space…“From day one, the ISEO has provided consistently high-quality support to get us to where we are today. Quite simply, without this support we would not have made this progress. We look forward to continuing our relationship with ISEO as we look to enable a step-change in the fight against Modern Slavery”
David Capperauld, Saorsa 2030 Director
