ENG-2012 — Page 223

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Social Welfare

and service agreements, through regular self-assessment reports submitted by NGOs and review/surprise visits conducted by the SWD.

The Lump Sum Grant Independent Complaints Handling Committee handles complaints related to the use of subventions and service quality that cannot be satisfactorily addressed at the NGO level.

Social Welfare Development Fund

A $1 billion Social Welfare Development Fund was launched in January 2010 for implementation in three three-year phases from 2010-11 to 2018-19 to support all subvented NGOs in carrying out training and professional development programmes, business system upgrading projects and service delivery enhancement studies. Under Phase 1 (2010-11 to 2012- 13), about $263 million was approved for 150 NGO applications.

Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged

The SWD-administered Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged was set up in 2005 to promote tripartite partnership among the welfare sector, the business community and the Government in helping the disadvantaged. Donations in money and in kind from the business sector are matched dollar-for-dollar by the Government to enable NGOs to carry out social welfare projects. By year-end, 141 NGOs had obtained matching grants totalling over $247 million to implement 573 welfare projects, benefiting over 800,000 disadvantaged persons.

Community Investment and Inclusion Fund

The Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) was established in 2002 to implement diversified social capital development projects in the community, promote trust and reciprocity between the public and different sectors, and build a cross-sectoral collaborative platform and mutual help network. By year-end, the CIIF had allocated funds of around $260 million to 250 approved projects, involving over 6,800 collaboration partners and around 750,000 people in Hong Kong.

A series of promotion and development programmes were launched in 2012, including the 'Social Capital Builders Award' which was awarded to 121 organisations/corporate bodies.

The second evaluation study of the CIIF's effectiveness was completed in 2012 and reaffirmed that the CIIF had achieved its goals and was successful in fostering mutual trust in the community and enhancing the community's social capital.

Elderly Commission

The Elderly Commission (EC) was set up in 1997 to advise the Government on policy and services for the elderly. Recently, emphasis has been placed on promoting 'active ageing' and advising on the means to enhance further long-term care services for the elderly.

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