The social economy – Africa’s response to the global crisis

Pretoria (ILO News) – From Monday 19 to Wednesday 21 October 2009, the International Labour Organization (ILO) will be hosting a regional conference in Johannesburg (Birchwood Hotel & O R Tambo Conference Centre) on “The social economy – Africa’s response to the global crisis”. This conference will bring together social economy promoters and stakeholders from Africa, government representatives from 25 African countries, employers’ and workers’ organizations, social economy organizations from other parts of the world, and ILO representatives and specialists.

The objective of the conference is to adopt an action programme aiming at mobilizing the social economy in Africa in response to the crisis, at local, national and regional levels. Participants of the conference might consider initiating a process that might lead to a discussion on social economy at the International Labour Conference (ILC), the world forum in labour issues which convenes every year in Geneva. According to the ILO, the ILC would be the most appropriate forum to develop a universally accepted definition of the social economy, which is currently missing.

The Conference was opened on Monday 19 October at 9.00 am by:

• Mr. Ebrahim Patel, Hon. Minister for Economic Development of RSA
• Mr. Jerry Vilakazi, Business South Africa
• Mr. Bheki Ntshalintshali, COSATU
• Mr. Assane Diop, Executive Director, Social Protection Sector, ILO
• Mr Vic van Vuuren, Director, ILO Office in Pretoria

According to ILO’s Director-General, Mr Juan Somavia, “A key question is for countries to find the right stimuli for private and public enterprises, including social economy firms such as cooperatives and similar institutional forms, as well as for foreign capital and domestic savings, so as to promote entrepreneurship and initiative in enterprises within a sustainable development framework” (from the ILO Director-General’s report to the ILC “Tackling the global job crisis – Recovery through Decent Work policies” - 2009).

ILO’s commitment to the advancement of the social economy is grounded in the conviction that “lasting peace can be achieved only if it is based upon social justice” (ILO Constitution) and that in a globalized world “productive, profitable and sustainable enterprises, together with a strong social economy and a viable public sector, are critical to sustainable economic development and employment opportunities” (ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation).

The ILO has been supporting the social economy through normative action such as the ILO Recommendation 193 on the promotion of cooperatives; through technical activities (advice on policy and law, access to finance, organizational development, capacity building, international networking, etc.) and in different settings (informal and formal economy, rural and urban communities, a variety of economic sectors and sub-sectors) working with people at the grassroots as well as with decision makers in Government. In addition, the ILO has been establishing strong international partnerships with global social economy stakeholders, such as the International Cooperative Alliance, the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives, the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, and many others.

For information, interviews and accreditation please contact:

Guebray Berhane, ILO Regional Office for Africa, guebray@ilo.org + 27 11 897 0000 (room 827)

Alex Amerio – Communications Officer, ILO Pretoria Office, amerio@ilo.org mobile 076 369 524

Further information and conference programme are available on: Regional office for Africa