OECD Global Action: Promoting Social & Solidarity Economy Ecosystems

Social and solidarity economy (SSE) entities are increasing their economic contribution in many countries, but do we know how much?

The OECD has gathered data and information on SSE size, scope and reach in 34 countries to further support SSE development and monitor its effectiveness

Legal frameworks have a significant impact on the visibility, recognition and development of the social and solidarity economy.

This work addressed:

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.

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 addressed:

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.

Platform cooperatives have the potential to reshape the digital economy by putting power back into the hands of users, workers and local communities. By combining digital tools with shared ownership and democratic decision-making, they can foster better distribution of value among their members and users, provide better working conditions, and support local development.

The Action pursued two workstreams around this topics:

1. Insights into platform cooperatives and employment and
2. Their contributions to local development. 

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 Action's 2023 report aims 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.

The social and solidarity economy (SSE) provides value added for policy makers and refugees alike.

The SSE's value added derives from three main factors:

1. Participatory and locally rooted governance, which help design protection and reception services, also helping with social and work integration,
2. Responsibe and innovative solutions, through volunteering and citizen initiatives, and
3. Its holistic and people-centred approach.

The SSE provides employment opportunities to many women. The Global Action examined 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 was to explore policies and initiatives led by national and sub-national authorities and identify innovative and inclusive practices adopted by SSE organisations.

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 examined the opportunities and challenges faced by youth-led social enterprises, and how current and future policies could better support them.

The acquisition of goods and services plays a pivotal role in harnessing the potential of the social and solidarity economy to generate meaningful social impact. Social procurement, encompassing the acquisition of goods, services, and works by both public and private entities, is a strategic approach aimed at fostering positive social outcomes. The Action work undertaken in this area delved into the intricate process of cultivating social benefits through social procurement, while also examining the prevailing global trends and challenges in providing access to markets for entities within the social and solidarity economy.

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.

Discover the 6 consortia: CEPES, DIESIS, French Impact, Social Value, Impact Hub, Up SOCIAL

• How can the social and solidarity economy help refugees along their journey? (November)
• Platform cooperatives: Good jobs and great places  (October)
• Inspiration, innovation and inclusion: Shaping our future with the social and solidarity economy (March)

• Social entrepreneurship meets the common good economy (November)
• Launch of the OECD Recommendation on the Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Innovation (November)
• Unlocking the potential of youth-led social enterprises (November)
• OECD Local Development Forum | Several sessions on the social economy (June)
• Trento Economy Festival session "What is the role of the social economy? (June)
• OECD March on Gender webinar: Advancing gender equality through the social economy (March)

• Mainstreaming the Social and Solidarity Economy: Perspectives from the Peer-learning Partnerships (December)
• The Social and Solidarity Economy: From the Margins to the Mainstream (September)
• OECD Global Action: international learning opportunities for the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) through the Peer Learning Partnerships (May)
• Social Impact Measurement for the Social and Solidarity Economy (January)

• Leveraging Legal Frameworks to Scale the Social and Solidarity Economy (December)
• OECD Global Action to promote the social and solidarity economy (April)