About the Task Force

 Aims

The United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) aims to raise the visibility of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) within the United Nations system and beyond.

Members and Observers of the Task Force collaborate to:

  • Support United Nations entities, upon request of Member States and in line with their mandates, in developing and implementing coherent and enabling policy frameworks for the SSE.
  • Facilitate partnerships and dialogue between UN entities, intergovernmental organizations, and international non-governmental organizations promoting SSE.
  • Foster coherence, cooperation, and coordination on SSE within the United Nations system and with financial institutions and development banks.
  • Strengthen research, statistics, and knowledge management on SSE across the UN system. 

History and context

The UNTFSSE was established in 2013 in response to growing calls within the United Nations system to rethink development in the context of multiple global crises and the post-2015 development agenda.

The founding meeting took place on 30 September 2013 in Geneva, convened by the International Labour Organization, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service, and United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, with participation from 14 agencies.

Following years of research and advocacy, the United Nations General Assembly adopted two landmark resolutions recognizing the role of SSE in sustainable development:

  • A/RES/77/281 (2023) – provides an official definition of SSE and recognizes its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • A/RES/79/213 (2024) – reinforces global recognition and calls for integrated policy approaches.

Governance

Membership of the Task Force is open to relevant entities of the United Nations development system and intergovernmental organizations with a mandate to promote the SSE.

Observers:

  • Participate in open meetings
  • Contribute to activities and technical work
  • Provide inputs when requested

The International Labour Organization serves as Secretariat and Chair of the Task Force.

The revised Terms of Reference (2024) are available here.

Who are we?

A multi-agency platform bringing together United Nations entities, intergovernmental organizations and partners to advance the social and solidarity economy worldwide.
24

Member organizations

18

Observer organizations

12+

Years of joint work

2013

Task Force established

Members

Members of the Task Force include UN entities as well as intergovernmental entities with a mandate to promote the SSE
  • African Union Commission (AU)
  • International Labour Organization (ILO)
  • Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
  • United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
  • United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
  • United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
  • United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
  • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
  • United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
  • United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
  • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  • United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
  • United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
  • United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
  • United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG)
  • United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
  • United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)
  • United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
  • World Bank
  • World Food Programme (WFP)
  • World Health Organization (WHO)

Observers

Observers of the Task Force include international non-governmental organizations with a purpose to represent, produce and share knowledge on, or promote the SSE or any of its components
  • Catalyst 2030
  • Centre for Socio-Eco-Nomic Development (CSEND)
  • Diesis Network
  • EMES International Research Network
  • Euclid Network
  • European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
  • European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers (FEBEA)
  • European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises (EURICSE)
  • Global Fund for Cities Development (FMDV)
  • Global Social Economy Forum (GSEF)
  • International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM)
  • Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS)
  • International Centre of Research and Information on the Public, Social and Cooperative Economy (CIRIEC)
  • International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)
  • Social Economy Europe (SEE)
  • Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF)
  • SSE International Forum (ESS FI)
  • World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)

Contact the UNTFSSE Secretariat

For general inquiries, partnerships, collaborations or requests, please contact the UNTFSSE Secretariat or send us a message using the form below.

Contact details

UNTFSSE Secretariat c/o ILO
4 Route des Morillons
CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland

Chair
Simel Esim — esim@ilo.org

Secretariat
Susan Bvumbe — coop@ilo.org

Knowledge Hub
untfsse_knowledgehub@un.org

Send us a message

Please use the form below to send an inquiry, request or message to the UNTFSSE Secretariat.