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Often cited as a social innovation within the “Quebec model”, “co-construction” refers to a repertoire of experiences involving the sharing of resources and decision-making in the elaboration of policies between state and community-based organisations. Yet, gendered dimensions in the implementation of “co-construction” facilitate social innovation in these organisations. Based on an ethnographic study carried out in 2017-2018 – combining semi-directed interviews with employees of family community-based organisations and participant observations in local community meetings in a low-income neighbourhood in Montreal –, this article analyses the sharing of social responsibilities, where a majority of women (social workers, volunteers, and interns) are involved. By questioning the use of the concept of “co-construction”, it brings visibility to the work of actors in the field and to the gendered dimensions of this labour, still little documented in social work literature.