Building Croatia's Social Economy: Insight into ACT Group's Mission and Impact

ACT Group (AG), a prominent Croatian NGO, has been at the forefront of fostering sustainable
and impact business practices for over two decades. Founded with a deep commitment to
supporting social and impact entrepreneurship, AG is a dynamic ecosystem builder, both within
Croatia and the CEE region. AG’s core mission centres on catalysing social and impact
entrepreneurship by providing the necessary tools, mentorship and market guidance for
entrepreneurs aiming to drive positive social change. By uncovering market niches for social
entrepreneurs, AG’s initiatives offer essential support that ensures the longevity and resilience
of enterprises dedicated to societal benefit.

AG’s approach to social impact and sustainability is uniquely holistic, addressing all facets of the
entrepreneurial journey from inception to growth and scalability. Whether through customised
incubation and accelerator programs or by assisting organisations in identifying their social
value proposition, ACT Group is dedicated to transforming entrepreneurial ideas into
sustainable enterprises that deliver measurable positive impact.

Our approach is built on three pillars: (1) enhancing impact capacity within organisations to drive
social value over profit, (2) fostering innovative, agile, and sustainable practices through a social
innovation lens, and (3) maximising impact by using impact measurement, data, and evidence
to inform cross-sectoral impact management.

For more information, visit the ACT Group's web page:

Link to the website.

ACT Group Key Focus Areas and Support Services

ACT Group is in service of all relevant stakeholders in the inclusive and regenerative economy and thus we support three different sets of beneficiaries:

1. Supporting Social Entrepreneurs through Tailored Programs

AG has crafted a unique model of support for social and impact entrepreneurs, focusing on
individual mentorship and tailored incubation and acceleration programs. Unlike traditional
entrepreneurship support programs, AG’s initiatives emphasise a personalised approach,
ensuring that entrepreneurs receive guidance specifically adapted to their needs, capacities,
and the challenges they face. These support programs provide skill-building, mentorship, and
access to essential resources, enabling entrepreneurs to thrive in competitive markets while
delivering positive societal contributions. By guiding entrepreneurs through an individualised
journey, ACT Group strengthens their capabilities, scalability potential, and market resilience,
reinforcing AG’s broader mission to foster sustainable, impactful business models.

2. Innovation in Social Services

Social services in Croatia, like in many countries, face significant challenges in catering to
vulnerable populations, particularly elderly individuals and those with disabilities. AG recognises
these gaps in social services and has launched numerous projects aimed at reimagining and
enhancing service provision. Through partnerships and collaborations, AG is actively engaged
in identifying, designing, and testing innovative solutions to address the critical issues in the
social service sector. Their work in this area includes providing new tools and methodologies
that enhance the efficiency of service providers, improve the quality of life of beneficiaries, and
address systemic gaps in social service structures.

ACT Group’s work in this sector is instrumental, not only in creating more resilient social service
providers but also in bringing innovative and transformative approaches to care, support, and
inclusion for those who need it most. By focusing on structural improvements for organisations
and direct impact on beneficiaries, AG is setting a new standard for social services in Croatia
and beyond.

As an example of good practice by ACT Group, meet INnoClusion - an innovative,
transnational partnership project designed to drive impactful change for citizens with disabilities
and social service organisations. Through INnoClusion, ACT Group collaborates with partners in
Croatia and Germany to develop, test, and implement user-centred green and digital solutions
that enhance the quality of life for elderly people and people with disabilities while advancing
professional practices and environmental sustainability within social service organisations. The
project features four Living Labs, where social service providers, IT companies (primarily
startups and SMEs), and individuals with disabilities work together to co-create and refine
practical, sustainable solutions tailored to the needs of beneficiaries and service providers.
This initiative is not only expected to improve the social and professional lives of elderly people
and people with disabilities but also to create a lasting support ecosystem and sustainable
social business models for continued innovation. Importantly, the model will also be applicable
across Europe, providing a replicable framework for fostering inclusive, green, and digital
transformation in the social services sector.

The concept of Living Labs and the testing of social innovations within the INnoClusion project
are grounded in a demand study and needs assessment, carried out through comprehensive
qualitative research to pinpoint the real challenges and needs of social service providers and
their beneficiaries in Croatia and Germany. Key findings and identified needs are detailed in this
report.

3. Strengthening the Civil Society Organisations through Education and Training

In addition to supporting individual entrepreneurs and social service providers, ACT Group also
plays a crucial role in empowering Croatia’s civil society. AG offers comprehensive educational
programs aimed at building organisational capacity, skills, and impact awareness within the
social economy ecosystem. These programs target NGOs, social enterprises, and sector
enablers, with a particular focus on those in the Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE)
sector, and emphasise critical competencies necessary for sustainable impact, resilience, and
adaptability.

Starting this year, AG serves as the coordinator for Croatia’s National Competence Center for
Social Innovation, underscoring its commitment to supporting and advancing social innovation
across the nation. By equipping NGOs, social enterprises and other entities within a social
economy with the tools needed for effective management, governance, and strategic planning,
ACT Group is building a stronger, more effective social economy ecosystem that can
meaningfully contribute to societal well-being.

The Role of Social Innovation and Impact Management in the Social Economy

ACT Group’s services extend beyond traditional support; they include expertise in impact
measurement and management—an area of increasing importance within the social economy.
The European Commission, through initiatives like the Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP),
has highlighted the critical role of social innovation and impact management, particularly in
addressing systemic challenges and enhancing accountability within social enterprises. Impact
measurement, while complex, is essential to demonstrating tangible social value, optimising
organisational effectiveness, and securing the long-term viability of social initiatives.
AG’s commitment to impact measurement and management is both practical and strategic. By
offering specialised training in impact measurement, awareness-building, and capacity
development, ACT Group enables organisations to improve their impact, fostering transparency
and accountability. This expertise aligns with SEAP’s broader objectives, as the European Union
recognises that impact measurement is central to building a sustainable social economy. ACT
Group’s work in this domain is pioneering, as it provides Croatian organisations with the skills to
quantify their contributions to society, manage their progress effectively, and communicate their
impact to stakeholders. ACT Group is pioneering impact measurement in Croatia with support
from international networks and experts, including Social Value International, where they are
accredited as Level 1 Social Value Associate. 

Connect with ACT Group

As a support organisation of social entrepreneurship, innovation in social services, and NGO
empowerment, ACT Group continues to shape Croatia’s social economy landscape with a focus
on sustainable and measurable impact. Through tailored support for entrepreneurs, pioneering
projects in the social service sector, and educational initiatives for NGOs, AG is not only
supporting today’s social enterprises but also laying the groundwork for a more inclusive,
innovative, and resilient ecosystem. The alignment of ACT Group’s work with European Social
Economy principles underscores its vital role in the advancement of social innovation and
impact management in Croatia, setting an inspiring model for the broader region.

To learn more about ACT Group and its work or to connect, feel free to reach out via email: infoact-grupa [dot] hr (info[at]act-grupa[dot]hr)