June 1, 2020
On 28 May 2020, the Spanish Minister of Labour and Social Economy Ms. Yolanda Díaz chaired the first meeting via video conferencing as President of the Monitoring Committee of the Luxembourg Declaration. The Spanish Government succeeded the French Government this year. Representatives of 14 Member States of the European Union were present, together with the European Commission, European Parliament, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), ESS France, Spanish Business Confederation of Social Economy (CEPES), Social Economy Europe (SEE), ILO, OECD […]
May 27, 2020
On 19 May 2020, the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on the Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) organized its 20th regular meeting since the establishment of the Task Force in 2013. The meeting brought together close to 50 participants including representatives from six member organizations (ILO, UNRISD, UNCTAD, UNDP-ART, UNDESA and OECD), eleven observer organizations (CIRIEC, EURICSE, EESC, GSEF, Euclid Network, Social Economy Europe, SSE International Forum, RIPESS, CSEND, EMES and ICA) and three resource persons. The discussions centred around COVID-19 and […]
April 29, 2020
On April 28th 2020, the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on the Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) organized a virtual meeting to discuss the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the social and solidarity economy (SSE) and its responses to the unfolding crises. The meeting brought together 40 participants including representatives from six member organizations (ILO, UNRISD, UNCTAD, UNDP-ART, UNDESA and UNHRC), 10 observer organizations (CIRIEC, EURICSE, GSEF, Euclid network, Social Economy Europe, SSE International Forum, RIPESS, CSEND, EMES and ICA) […]
April 7, 2020
With the unprecedented impacts on all aspects of our lives, COVID-19 has revealed the weakest links and blind spots of the social and economic systems within and between countries. As governments at all levels across struggle to cope with the crisis, various forms of Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) prove their responsiveness and effectiveness in addressing a wide range of problems of COVID-19. We learn every day about innovative ways SSE actors and practices contribute to filling the gaps of […]
March 5, 2020
The second technical symposium of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) took place in Trento (Italy) on 21 and 22 November 2019. It was organized by the International Labour Organization and facilitated by the ILO International Training Centre, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social and Solidarity Economy of the Luxembourg Government and hosted by EURICSE. Thirty-six participants took part in the event which included resource persons and representatives of 6 members […]
November 28, 2019
Abstracts for the next 4th EMES-Polanyi International Seminar are due on December 15th, 2019. This international seminar will be held at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS), Fondation Maison des sciences de l’homme! 🔍 Check the call for papers, submission link, registration and important dates. 📚 Download the 48 papers published so far from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd EMES-Polanyi seminars. This seminar is a co-organized COST Empower-SE Action, so funding will be available to selected participating authors with accepted papers (see the call […]
November 12, 2019
On 4 November 2019, the UNTFSSE, in collaboration with UNRISD, ICA, CIRIEC and Social Economy Europe, organized an expert workshop on the topic of “Opportunities and Challenges of Statistics on the Social and Solidarity Economy”, held in EESC’s office, in Brussels. This page gathers key resources related to this event. Key Messages The demand for statistics on SSE which is needed for social and political recognition and government support is growing. Despite important work by national statistical agencies and researchers […]
July 16, 2019
Pact for Impact is an initiative led by the High Commissioner of Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Innovation in France. It aims to create a Global Alliance that promotes and strengthens the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and the Inclusive Economy businesses and all stakeholders of social innovation. The two-day summit brought together 400 SSE stakeholders and government representatives from 50 countries. The 10 sessions at the event ranged from the SDGs, technology, and financing to measuring impact, youth and […]
July 4, 2019
Date: 25 – 26 June 2019 Time: 9.00-17.00 Location: Room II, III and IV at R3 South, ILO, Geneva. Enter through gate 4 (R2 North) Donor(s): Government of the Republic of Korea, represented by Statistics Korea; Ministry of Labour, Employment, Social Economy and Economic Solidarity of Luxembourg; UNRISD; ILO This event was part of a series of conferences resulting from the Call for Papers “Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals: What Role for Social and Solidarity Economy?” launched by the United Nations […]
February 25, 2019
Date: 24 Feb 2019 Time: 11.30 – 16.30 Location: Wonju Campus, Yonsei University, Republic of Korea This event is part of a series of conferences resulting from the Call for Papers “Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals: What Role for Social and Solidarity Economy?” which was launched by the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) in 2018 and organized by UNRISD. With the Call for Papers, the UNTFSSE aims to identify and mobilize research from different […]
July 13, 2018
The UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), member of the UNTFSSE is organizing this side event to the 2018 High Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York. Date: 17 July 2018 Time: 10.00-12.00 Location: Church Center of the United Nations (2nd Floor), 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017 Donor(s): Global Social Economy Forum Counterpart(s): UN-DESA Department for Inclusive Social Development, Global Social Economy Forum This event is open to the public. As an integrated and balanced […]
June 4, 2018
The United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) is launching a Call for Papers to assess the contribution of SSE to inclusive and sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on local contexts. Organized by UNRISD, in its role as coordinator of the Task Force’s recently established Knowledge Hub, the Call for Papers aims to identify and mobilize research from different regions and territories that critically examines the role of SSE as a means of implementation for the SDGs. […]
May 4, 2018
The UNTFSSE wishes to honour the lives of two colleagues, Jens Nilsson and Paul Singer, who regrettably passed away in March and April, respectively. They both in their own way contributed to the Social and Solidarity Economy as we know it. They each leave behind a legacy for those presently working in the field and for future generation of SSE leaders. Our thoughts are with their loved ones and all those who knew them. Jens Nilsson (1948-2018) By Miguel […]
June 22, 2016
WHY HAVE THE GSEF2016? Because more than 2,000 participants from every continent will be converging in Québec’s metropolis for to discuss and work on the central theme of the Global Social Economy Forum -GSEF2016: collaboration between local governments and the social and solidarity economy actors for the development of cities. DATE September 7-9, 2016 Palais des Congrès de Montréal Montréal, Canada Across the world, the social and solidarity economy (SSE) generates important economic, social, cultural, and environmental impact, and, more […]
June 20, 2016
In the latest Zero Draft New Urban Agenda, 18 June 2016, SSE is now included in paragraph 31. SSE was brought to the attention of the office of Habitat III, due to a letter sent to the office urging that SSE must be included in the New Urban Agenda. Below is the full letter in detail. We, Social and Solidarity Economy networks, Intercontinental Network for the promotion of Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS), Mont-Blanc Meetings/International Forum of Social and Solidarity Economy Entrepreneurs […]
February 3, 2016
On January 28 the UN Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) represented by Marie-Adélaïde Matheï participated in the first European Forum on Social and Solidarity Economy to present United Nations’ work on SSE. Hosted by the European Parliament the conference was the fruit of an initiative led and organized by the European United Left / Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) to turn their long time support for the SSE into one of its main strategic focuses for the current […]
December 22, 2015
The Luxembourg Ministry of Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy held on 3-4 December a conference on “Boosting Social Enterprises in Europe“. During its presidency of the Council of the European Union, Luxembourg has promoted social economy at the European level in the context of inclusive growth, quality job creation and social cohesion. The conference lead to the adoption of a declaration by the Governments of France, Italy, Luxembourg, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Spain towards a comprehensive ecosystem […]
December 15, 2015
The 7th Mont-Blanc Meetings – International Forum of the Social and Solidarity Economy Entrepreneurs that was held in Chamonix, France from November 26th to November 28th, and was a great success. The different sessions were a true space for exchange of ideas and concrete proposals. On the last day fo the forum a final declaration, an outcome of the contributions of the participants, was discussed and adopted.
December 10, 2015
Perhaps you already know that the City of Montreal and the Chantier de l’économie sociale co-organize the next Global Social Economy Forum – GSEF2016, to be held 7-9 September 2016 and which will focus on the collaboration between local governments and the social and solidarity economy (SSE) organizations for the development of cities. GSEF is pleased to announce that the call for proposals for the Forum is now open! Until January 3rd, 2016, we will receive submissions of initiatives to […]
December 10, 2015
Since the 2008 financial crisis, economic development has been reconsidered and innovative approaches are becoming increasingly relevant internationally. The ‘Social and Solidarity Economy’ (SSE) is a chief player among these approaches. Because SSE organizations pursue both economic and social objectives, they play a major role in creating and securing decent employment and income. ILO’s efforts on the SSE have been of various natures, from technical activities (advice on policy and law, access to finance, organizational development, capacity building, international networking, […]
December 4, 2015
From 26 to 28 November the 7th International Forum of the Social and Solidarity Ecomomy Entrepreneurs, organized by Les Rencontres du Mont-Blanc, took place in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France. Many participants of a diverse group of organization participated in these three days of righ exchanges, debates reflections and of sharing. Connections were fostered throughout the Forum, especially through the Project Place. On the 27th, members of the Leading Group and Task Force members and observers met informally over lunch, taking advantage of this […]
November 9, 2015
This last 26 September, Madani Koumare from RENAPESS Mali made the case for a paradigm shift and social solidarity economy during the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Summit 2015 in NY. Here are his speaking notes, reposted from www.ripess.org MADANI KOUMARE, Economist, President, National Network for the Promotion of Social and Solidarity Economy (RENAPESS-Mali), Member of the African Network for the Social and Solidarity Economy (RAESS), Member of the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) […]
September 29, 2015
This Monday, Paul Ladd, incoming Director of UNRISD and current Director of the UNDP Team on the Post 2015 Development Agenda, along with Gilbert Houngbo, Deputy Director General of ILO, Chantal Line Carpentier, Chief of UNCTAD in NY and Sharon Brennen-Halyock, Director of FAO in NY, represented the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on SSE at the high-level panel of the Leading Group on social and solidarity economy at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Observers of the Task Force, including RIPESS […]
July 30, 2015
From 13-16 July, the city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is hosting the 3rd International Conference on Financing for Development. The opportunity for the International Leading Group of the Social and Solidarity Economy to focus on the transformative potential of this economic model and on social and solidarity finance. A side event entitled “Social and Solidarity Economy for a Better Financing for Sustainable Development in the Post-2015 Agenda” sponsored by France, Colombia and Ecuador, was therefore organized by the Permanent Secretariat […]
July 28, 2015
The UN conference which was set to change the way finance relates to sustainable development did not deliver on its promises. But Civil Society was very present and compact, with more than 600 organisations and networks participating. Solidarity finance and economy are starting to be addressed. By Jason Nardi (RIPESS Europe and RIPESS Intercontinental board) With the next international financial crisis on the horizon (and the Greek debt crisis as main news, not only for Europe), the 3rd International Conference […]
July 24, 2015
UNRISD organized a workshop on “Social and Solidarity Finance: Tensions, Opportunities and Transformative Potential” on 11 – 12 May 2015, in collaboration with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and International Labour Organization (ILO). Experts tackled the following questions: What is Social and Solidarity Finance? Could it finance Social and Solidarity Economy? What is the Transformative Potential? This workshop brought together an interdisciplinary group of 29 experts—in the fields of alternative finance, economic sociology and the anthropology of money. They looked at the transformative potential of social and […]
July 24, 2015
The 5th edition of the ILO Academy on Social and Solidarity Economy will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from Monday 27th to Friday 31st July 2015. The 2015 theme is “Social Innovation in the World of Work“. The theme has been identified through a consultative process following the 2014 Academy in Brazil. South-South cooperation will remain a key aspect in this discussion and will be one of the main sub-topics of the 2015 Academy. This edition of the Academy will […]
July 10, 2015
The UN Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (TFSSE) is pleased to announce that the Leading Group on Social and Solidarity Economy will host a side event at the 3rd Conference on Financing for Development. It will take place on Monday 13 July 2015, 1:15 pm – 2:45 pm, Meeting Room N°1, Intercontinental Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The topic of the side event is Social and Solidarity Economy for a Better Financing for Sustainable Development in the Post-2015 Agenda. The event […]
June 18, 2015
Social Solidarity Economy and Sustainable Development Financing Contributions to the ICESDF 12 May Dialogue Session As the world becomes more and more interconnected, with capital flows over the states borders, it’s impossible to still consider the financial tools and architecture as being solely market-driven and oriented by private goals, interests and speculations1. We’ve seen consequences of this perspective such as fragilizing the poor, augmenting inequalities, and destroying the life conditions for future generations. That’s why financial tools and architecture should […]
May 29, 2015
«No one should be left behind». There is general agreement that this must be at the heart of the Post-2015 SDGs. This vision must also be at the heart of the Financing for Development (FfD) framework. This implies that the different types of financing, such as grants and loans, must also reach the communities and organisations, including the grassroots organisations, which are working to improve their own livelihoods. Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) and Financing for Development (FfD): A concept […]