Social and Solidarity Economy

Recent global economic and political instability has served to underline the shortcomings of our current development system and further confirm the necessity for an alternate or complementary development paradigm. The social and solidarity economy (SSE) is a viable solution to re-balancing economic, social and environmental objectives.

Social and Solidarity Economy

Although there is not an official definition proposed by ILO yet, the ILO Regional Conference on Social Economy, Africa’s Response to the Global Crisis (October 2009) defined the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) as a “concept designating enterprises and organizations, in particular cooperatives, mutual benefit societies, associations, foundations and social enterprises, which have the specific feature of producing goods, services and knowledge while pursuing both economic and social aims and fostering solidarity”.

The ILO and the Social and Solidarity Economy

The ILO boasts a long tradition and experience in the SSE. In fact, the ILO’s Cooperatives Unit was established in 1920, one year after the ILO’s creation, and the first official document to make direct reference to enterprises in the social economy dates back to the year 1922.

The ILO’s commitment to the advancement of the SSE is grounded on its Constitution, on the ILO Promotion of Cooperatives Recommendation, 2002 (No. 193), on the 2008 ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization and on the 2019 Declaration for the Future of Work in which it is indicated that the ILO should concentrate its effort in “supporting the role of the private sector as a principal source of economic growth and job creation by promoting an enabling environment for entrepreneurship and sustainable enterprises, in particular micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as cooperatives and the social and solidarity economy, in order to generate decent work, productive employment and improved living standards for all”.

In February 2019, at the Social Economy National Consultation Conference held in Durban, South Africa, the ILO Director-General Guy Ryder reflected on the relevance of SSE organizations and their value-driven, human-centred approaches in addressing the challenges in the changing world of work. “Social and solidarity economy organizations are well positioned to become an essential part of the tool kit for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in general and for better localizing the SDGs in particular. Building on their value-driven and human-centred approaches, they can help build a new economy strives for social justice and decent work.” said Mr Ryder. His full speech is available here.

United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE)

The UNTFSSE was established to raise the visibility of the SSE in international knowledge and policy circles as it holds considerable promise for addressing the economic, social and environmental issues faced by today’s world. The SSE is an important approach for the integrated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. Thus, the UNTFSSE works to support the SSE as a means of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), acting as a hub for inter-agency coordination and knowledge sharing on how to replicate, scale up and build an enabling environment for SSE. The UNTFSSE also serves as a conduit for civil society voices to interface with policy making. Currently chaired by the ILO, the Task Force has 18 UN Agencies and the OECD as members and 13 civil society organizations as observers.

The ILO Social and Solidarity Economy Academy (SSE Academy)

The SSE Academy is an interregional training opportunity gathering practitioners and policymakers from all around the world, to share their experiences, best practices and challenges from their work in the SSE. Organized together with the ITC-ILO, the training seeks to provide a better understanding of the concept of SSE, discuss the relevance of SSE as a development alternative and its relation to the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda, and further build and strengthen networks of SSE practitioners. The first SSE Academy took place in Turin (Italy) in 2010. Since then, eleven SSE Academies have taken place in Montreal (Canada), Agadir (Morocco), Campinas (Brazil), Johannesburg (South Africa), Puebla (Mexico), San José (Costa Rica), Seoul (Republic of Korea) and Luxembourg City (Luxembourg), Turin (Italy), and Madrid (Spain).

The Collective Brain

The Collective Brain is a virtual multilingual interactive space which aims to enrich the ILO Academy on Social and Solidarity Economy and to facilitate exchanges and cooperation beyond the face-to-face interactions during the academy. Its main purpose is to allow current, former and future participants and other key players in the field of SSE to remain engaged, cooperate and deepen their knowledge through an online platform in spite of geographical distances and language barriers. A forum is available to all users. Various documents and publications on the SSE are available, along with the SSE Academy Collections. News is also shared on the platform.

Project Highlights

The ILO’s Cooperatives Unit is technically backstopping the following projects on cooperatives and the wider SSE.
In addition, the Cooperatives Unit is undertaking multi-country research initiatives to enhance the role of SSE given the magnitude of the changes affecting the world of work, and the challenges posed by social finance.

Publications

Country case studies on public policies for the SSE
  • Comparative analysis of seven countries: Brazil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, the Philippines, South Africa, the Republic of Korea and Italy (October 2017) (English)
  • Europe (November 2016) (English, Spanish)
  • Brazil (November 2016) (Spanish)
  • Costa Rica (November 2016) (Spanish)
  • Nicaragua (August 2016) (Spanish)
  • Philippines (August 2016) (English, Spanish)
  • South Africa (March 2017) (English)
  • Republic of Korea (June 2017) (English)
  • Tunisia (March 2020) (English, French)
Multi-country studies on the role of the SSE in the world of work
  • The contribution of SSE and social finance to the future of work (March 2020) (English, French)
  • Financial Mechanisms for Innovative Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems - Executive Summary (November 2019) (English, French, Spanish, Italian)
  • Financial Mechanisms for Innovative Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems - Full Report (November 2019) (English)
  • Social and Solidarity Economy and the Future of Work (September 2017) (English, Spanish, Italian)
Studies on the SSE from a South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) perspective
  • Mapping the SSE Landscape in India and Brazil through South-South and Triangular Cooperation: Gender-Based Initiatives in Social and Solidarity Economy (July 2016) (English)
  • Social and Solidarity Economy in Asia: A South-South and triangular cooperation perspective (November 2015) (English)
  • Social and Solidarity Economy and South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean: Contributions to Inclusive Sustainable Development (December 2014) (English, Spanish, Portuguese)
Many other publications on past SSE Academies and related topics are also available in the following ‘further information’ section.

Past Events

News items
The relationship between cooperatives and the wider SSE was explored during two events around the World Cooperative Congress The relationship between workers’ organizations and cooperatives explored at the World Cooperative Congress A set of papers on “Financial Mechanisms for Innovative Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems” is now available from the ILO The ILO holds launch event for its project on the development of cooperatives in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) ILO COOP/SSE discusses WIEGO report on enabling social protection in the informal economy through worker-led schemes in Africa The UNTFSSE organized a session as part of the 8th EMES conference on statistics The ILO and the UNTFSSE participated in European Social Economy Week 2021 The UN Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) held its 37th regular meeting Building back better: the social economy as a driving force for change The ILO DG participated in the OECD high-level conference on SSE UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) releases new research on SSE statistics ILO COOP/SSE holds follow up activities as part of the project on Strengthen Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) policy in Asia Registration is now open for the 12th edition of the ILO Academy on Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) ILO and the UNTFSSE will participate in the OECD event “The Social and Solidarity Economy: From the Margins to the Mainstream”
Video
Exploring Social and Solidarity Economy’s (SSE) Development in Asia
News items
The cooperative statistics component of the ILO project on Strengthening SSE Knowledge Base in Asia was featured at the third Social Economy Fair in Korea ILC Daily Show features questions and answers on cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy Members and observers of the United Nations Task Force on the Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) co-organized a session at the Vth World Forum on Local Economic Development The PAJESS project participates in a session of the Vth World Forum on Local Economic Development The ILO participates in a UN Expert Group Meeting on cooperatives and the COVID19 pandemic Call for expression of interest – Strengthening Social and Solidarity Economy Policy in Asia - Final internal evaluation ILO COOP/SSE participates in the Strategic Workshop “Toward an action plan to eliminate child labour and to promote decent work in solid waste management systems in Mexico” The Validation Workshop of the evaluation of the potential of the Social Economy in Cameroon was held virtually on 27 April 2021 MoU signed between ILO and Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labour to promote SSE on a global scale The UN Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) held its 35th regular meeting UNTFSSE participates in the relaunch of the Pact for Impact Alliance ILO and UNTFSSE participated in a Conference on Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and creation of jobs in the EU The 110th Session of the International Labour Conference in 2022 will hold a general discussion on Decent Work and the Social and Solidarity Economy Joint UNTFSSE-SEE event in the framework of European Social Economy Summit ILO COOP/SSE participates in a seminar on cooperatives and the global COVID19 pandemic at the second Global Youth Forum (GYF 2021) The UNTFSSE project on the Knowledge Hub funded by the Government of Luxembourg The UN Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) held its 34th regular meeting ILO COOP/SSE participates in a Webinar on Sustainable Development and Culture organized by the Mediterranean Academy
Events
Strengthening Social and Solidarity Economy Policy in Asia - Capacity Building Workshop ILO COOP/SSE 100 Webinar V – “SSE momentum: Finance for Inclusion and the Future of Work during Covid-19 pandemic”
Press release
ILO launches FORTER'ESS project to promote decent work through women-led social and solidarity economy organizations in Tunisia
News items
Call for expression of interest – Study on mapping SSE in six countries in Asia Call for expression of interest – Study on social innovation through SSE in Africa Second Meeting of the Steering Committee for the Jordan Cooperative Development Strategy is held Lessons from the Social Economy Policy project in South Africa: Understanding diversity Launch of FORTER'ESS Project - Strengthening the resilience and promotion of decent work of women-led SSE organizations in Tunisia Joint COOP/SSE/Social Finance research initiative on Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and social innovation in Africa Social and Solidarity Economy highlighted as an alternative model of growth in the UN Secretary General’s Report on “Socially just transition towards sustainable development: the role of digital technologies on social development and well-being of all” Lessons learned from Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) policy development in South Africa: One-size does not fit all ILO participated in the High-Level Meeting on the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) in the European Union ILO and UNTFSSE participate in the second meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Luxembourg Declaration under the Spanish Presidency UNTFSSE participates in the Side event 2020 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD): “Building Back Better: Action Toward a Disability-Inclusive, Accessible and Sustainable Post-COVID-19 World” The UN Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) held its 33rd regular meeting ILO COOP/SSE 100 Webinar V - SSE momentum: Finance for Inclusion and the Future of Work during Covid-19 pandemic The ILO chaired a session on civil and public initiatives to consolidate the SSE at the GSEF Global Virtual Forum A joint initiative of the UNTFSSE and SOCIOECO: online archive on social and solidarity economy (SSE) laws UNTFSSE participates in the closing plenary session of the GSEF Global Virtual Forum The UNTFSSE virtual event on “Why does SSE matter for the Agenda 2030 and the recovery post COVID-19?” was held on 21st October 2020 The UN Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) held its 32nd regular meeting UNTFSSE participates in the launching of the MedTOWN conference UNTFSSE participates in the closing session of the first edition of the Digital Mont Blanc Meetings KoSEA and ILO convene a second virtual interim research workshop with country researchers for the ILO project on strengthening SSE policy in Asia First training session “Social economy: tool for decent work creation and social inclusion” organized by ITC-ILO in cooperation with ILO and Euricse
Project
Dignità in campo in Italy
News items
The second Social Economy Fair of Korea held in Daejeon this year The UN Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) held its 31st regular meeting on July 21, 2020 The UNTFSSE virtual event: “What role for the Social and Solidarity Economy in the post COVID-19 crisis recovery?” The Tunisian Parliament adopts a bill on the social and solidarity economy
Publication
UNTFSSE statement on “What role for the Social and Solidarity Economy in the post COVID-19 crisis recovery?” [pdf 152KB]
News items
ILO and UNTFSSE participate in a webinar on the co-construction of SSE public policies UNTFSSE special meeting on COVID-19 and other matters ILO Enterprises Director speaks at a webinar on increased importance of the SSE in the aftermath of COVID-19 ILO and UNTFSSE participate in the first meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Luxembourg Declaration under the Spanish Presidency
Articles
Recent developments in Cameroon’s social economy law and policy Interview with Michele Pellegrini: The experience of a social cooperative, Cadore in Italy
News items
UNTFSSE members and observers discuss COVID-19 responses and work-plan priorities An ILO project on strengthening SSE policy in Asia convenes a virtual interim research workshop
Statement
Social enterprises play a key role in a decent future of work
News items
ILO Academy on Social and Solidarity Economy marks its 10th anniversary UNTFSSE special meeting on COVID-19
Publications
“Social and Solidarity Economy: Our common road towards Decent Work” [pdf 1985KB] The contribution of SSE and social finance to the future of work [pdf 2456KB] Financial Mechanisms for Innovative Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems - Executive Summary [pdf 2148KB] Financial Mechanisms for Innovative Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems - Full Report [pdf 1106KB]
News items
ILO contributes to a preparatory meeting of an international event “The Economy of Francesco” in Assisi, Italy The ILO SSE Academy in Spain highlights the potential of the SSE in shaping the future of work for all Uruguayan Chamber of Senators approves a law on the social and solidarity economy ILO COOP/SSE sends a message to the MedUp Project Peer Review Meeting in Tunis The Republic of Djibouti passes a law on the social and solidarity economy (SSE) ILO’s participation in the International Conference on Localizing the SDGs and Co-Constructing the Means of Implementation ILO shares its work on social economy in the Maghreb at the 11th Convergences World Forum Cooperatives can play key role in future of work Exchange of knowledge and experience on SSE public policies for local economic development in Spain
Projects
Research Project on "Financial mechanisms for Innovative Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems" SFP/COOP Joint Research Initiative on “The role of Social and Solidarity Economy and Social finance in sustainable development and the future of work” Development of a Social Economy Policy in South Africa (Government of Flanders & National Economic Development Department of South Africa) Promotion of Organizations and Mechanisms of Social and Solidarity Economy (‘PROMESS’) in Tunisia Professional integration of young people in Algeria through a stronger civil society
Article
Blog on social innovation and the social and solidarity economy
News items
Reflecting on the efficiency of Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) at the 8th Mont Blanc Meetings The ILO participates in the 4th World Forum on Local Economic Development to discuss roles of SSE in achieving SDGs at local level The 9th edition of the ILO Social and Solidarity Economy Academy in Luxembourg A dialogue between Greek and international cooperative and SSE leaders ILO SSE Academy in Seoul concluded successfully The 7th Edition of the ILO Academy on Social and Solidarity Economy Promoting social inclusion through social and solidarity economy Social innovation and the social and solidarity economy
Publications
Public policies for social and solidarity economy: Assessing progress in seven countries [pdf 2596KB] Social and Solidarity Economy and the Future of Work [pdf 1132KB] Public policies for the social and solidarity economy: Towards a favourable environment The case of the Republic of Korea [pdf 615KB] Public policies for the Social and Solidarity Economy: Towards an enabling environment. The case of South Africa [pdf 746KB] Public Policy in the social and solidarity economy: Towards a favourable environment - The case of Europe [pdf 3126KB] Public policies for the Social and Solidarity Economy: Towards a favourable environment The case of the Philippines [pdf 1826KB] The Social and Solidarity Economy [pdf 1254KB] Campinas 2014 Social and Solidarity Economy Reader: Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Development [pdf 51390KB] Social and Solidarity Economy and South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean: Contributions to Inclusive Sustainable Development [pdf 1670KB] Social and Solidarity Economy in Asia: A South-South and triangular cooperation perspective [pdf 1564KB] “Social and Solidarity Economy: Building a Common Understanding” [pdf 2155KB] Social and Solidarity Economy: An opportunity to enhance youth employment [pdf 1044KB] « Économie sociale et solidaire : construire une base de compréhension commune » [pdf 2170KB]