Global Action: Promoting Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems
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In 2020, the OECD launched the Global Action “Promoting Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems”, funded by the European Union’s Foreign Partnership Instrument, to support the development and internationalisation of the social and solidarity economy. The Action focuses on two critical policy levers that can help unlock the potential of the SSE, namely legal frameworks and social impact measurement, while considering the entire policy ecosystem as a framework.
What's new
Inclusion, innovation and inspiration: Shaping our future with the social and solidarity economy
Growing inequalities, social challenges and environmental imperatives are at the top of political agendas. In this context, the SSE has emerged as a key lever for building more inclusive and sustainable economies and societies. Join us in-person in Paris or online to exchange ideas on how the SSE can shape our future.
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Social Economy Legal Frameworks Guide
This international policy guide providesstep-by-step guidance, success factors and "pitfalls to avoid" to help policy makers i) assess why and when legal frameworks for the SSE are needed; ii) select legal options and involve stakeholders; iii) evaluate the performance of laws, and, iv) foster international peer learning on this topic.
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Social Economy Impact Measurement Guide
This international policy guide presents how policy makers can support social impact measurement for the social and solidarity economy by: (i) improving the policy framework, (ii) delivering guidance, (iii) building evidence and (iv) supporting capacity.
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Global Action topics
Legal frameworks
Legal frameworks have a significant impact on the visibility, recognition and development of the social and solidarity economy.
This work explores: 1) why and how countries adopt legal frameworks to support social and solidarity economy organisations, 2) what the different trends and legal options are and 3) how policy makers can evaluate the performance of or need for legal frameworks.
The overall objective is to inform tailored measures and policies that could support social economy development.
Read the new policy guide on legal frameworks for the social and solidarity economy
Read the report: Legal frameworks for the social and solidarity economy
Social impact measurement
There is pressing need to clarify the concept and practice of social impact measurement, in order to promote a shared understanding and increased uptake by all actors in the SSE ecosystem. Despite significant progress and growing attention to harmonisation, there is not yet a universally agreed approach for social impact measurement.
This work stream explores: 1) current social impact measurement practices among SSE organisations, 2) the methodologies best suited to capture the social benefits of the SSE and 3) policy initiatives to foster a social impact measurement culture and practice in the SSE ecosystem.
The overall objective is to identify what policies and methodologies can help the social economy assess its value.
Read the new policy guide on social impact measurement for the social and solidarity economy
Read the report: Social Impact Measurement for the Social and Solidarity Economy
Internationalisation
Internationalisation is a common strategy for social and solidarity economy organisations to scale and increase their social impact. However, when moving across borders, SSE organisations face many challenges often more pronounced than those faced by commercial enterprises.
The objective of this work stream is to identify the key factors driving SSE organisations to internationalise, the main reasons and obstacles that prevent them from doing so, as well as the relevant policy instruments to support SSE internationalisation.
Women and the SSE
The SSE provides employment opportunities to many women. The Global Action examines the various challenges faced by women in the workforce and leadership, and the factors that could further increase inclusivity and equality within and by SSE organisations. The objective is to explore policies and initiatives led by national and sub-national authorities and identify innovative and inclusive practices adopted by SSE organisations.
Youth-led social enterprises
As policy makers increasingly act to support social enterprises and the social economy more broadly, it is important that they also provide tailored support to youth-led social enterprises that have specific needs and face distinct challenges.
This work stream examines the opportunities and challenges faced by youth-led social enterprises, and how current and future policies could better support them.
Peer-Learning Partnerships (PLPs)
Perspectives from the Peer-learning Partnerships
Peer learning is a powerful way to stimulate collective thinking and develop innovative solutions to the social and environmental challenges we now face.
The Peer-learning Partnerships (PLP) were developed to encourage knowledge sharing on the importance of building and reinforcing conducive ecosystems for SSE development across the work areas relevant to the Global Action. Composed of six consortia co-ordinating over 130 partners, the PLPs provide a peer-learning platform for SSE stakeholders and organisations to exchange lessons, experiences and methodologies with peers from other countries, in view of developing activities of mutual interest.
- The Spanish Social Economy Employers’ Confederation (CEPES) leads the Legal Ecosystems for Social Economy Peer-Learning Partnership (PL4SE) project, a consortium of 26 organisations from 7 countries examining SSE legal frameworks.
- Le French Impact leads the Social Impact Measurement for the SSE project, a consortium of 18 organisations from 9 countries focused on the integration of development metrics into SSE impact assessment methodology.
- The Impact Hub network leads a consortium of 23 organisations from 11 countries on Internationalisation and Women Inclusion in Social and Solidarity Economy Enterprises.
- Social Value US, with 26 partners from 13 countries, leads Putting Stakeholders in the Center: A Global Research and Feedback Initiative About Applying Best Practices for Measuring and Managing Social and Environmental Impacts.
- UpSocial together with Ashoka lead Respond Rebuild Reinvent (RRR): Peer-Learning Partnerships on SSE Ecosystems co-ordinating partners from 11 countries to support local authorities in improving cross-sectoral collaboration with SSE ecosystems.
- DIESIS network leads the Social Solidarity Economy International Learning and Knowledge (SILK) Community of Peers, a consortium of 23 partners and two individual experts from 13 countries.
Discover the 6 consortia
Mathias Cormann, OECD Secretary-General
The Social and Solidarity Economy: From the Margins to the Mainstream
About this project
Growing inequalities, persistent unemployment and environmental imperatives have come to the fore as priority policy issues, even more so in light of COVID-19.
In this context, the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) can contribute to building more inclusive and sustainable economies and societies. The SSE has indeed proved to be a longstanding agent of inclusive growth.
Despite the increasingly recognised importance of the SSE, many countries still struggle to develop conducive ecosystems and access good practices.
As part of the OECD and EU strategic objectives to promote inclusive, smart, resilient and sustainable growth, this project aims to:
- Support the SSE, including social enterprise development and internationalisation
- Raise awareness and build capacity to conducive national and local ecosystems for SSE development
- Promote knowledge-sharing and other exchanges at the international level
The Action targets more than 30 countries including all EU countries as well as Brazil, Canada, India, Korea, Mexico and the United States.
Past events
2023
- 20 - 21 March, Hybrid Summit: Inspiration, innovation and inclusion: Shaping our future with the social and solidarity economy | Watch the replay | Highlights
2022
- 22 November, webinar: Social entrepreneurship meets the common good economy | Watch the replay in German
- 16 November, webinar: Launch of the OECD Recommendation on the Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Innovation | Watch the replay
- 9 November, webinar: Unlocking the potential of youth-led social enterprises | Watch the replay
- 15-17 June, conference: OECD Local Development Forum | Several sessions on the social economy | Watch the replay
- 4 June, conference: Trento Economy Festival session "What is the role of the social economy? | Discover the programme
- 24 March, virtual event: OECD March on Gender webinar: Advancing gender equality through the social economy
2021
- 2 December, virtual event: Mainstreaming the Social and Solidarity Economy: Perspectives from the Peer-learning Partnerships
- 13-16 September, virtual event: The Social and Solidarity Economy: From the Margins to the Mainstream | Highlights
- 20 May, virtual event: OECD Global Action: international learning opportunities for the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) through the Peer Learning Partnerships
- 25 January, virtual event: Social Impact Measurement for the Social and Solidarity Economy | Highlights
2020
- 10 December, virtual event: Leveraging Legal Frameworks to Scale the Social and Solidarity Economy |Highlights
- 16 April, virtual event: OECD Global Action to promote the social and solidarity economy | Watch the replay
OECD & the SSE
Explore our analysis on social economy, entrepreneurship and innovation, based on more than 20 years of research in the field.
Contact us
Interested in learning more about the project or in getting involved?
