All news: social and solidarity economy

Cooperative development

Field notes from Guyana’s coastline: Strengthening cooperatives and securing livelihoods in Guyana’s fisheries sector

The ILO and FAO are working side-by-side with fishing communities across Guyana to strengthen cooperatives, improve livelihoods, and promote decent work in the artisanal fisheries sector. Field visits and targeted training are helping fisherfolk...

International Day of Care and Support

ILO highlights the role of cooperatives and the social and solidarity economy in transforming care work and closing gender gaps

The ILO presents an analysis of how cooperatives and the social and solidarity economy offer sustainable and inclusive solutions to the care crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean.

International Year of Cooperatives

ILO highlights the role of the social and solidarity economy in advancing more human-centred measurement of progress

At an expert roundtable at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the ILO underscored how cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE) can inform global efforts to move beyond GDP, ensuring that measures of progress reflect human...

UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy

UN Task Force stresses need to safeguard progress as the social and solidarity economy gains recognition

At its 54th Regular Meeting, the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) welcomed the references to cooperatives and the social and solidarity economy in the agreed Doha Political Declaration. Members and Observers...

International Year of Cooperatives

ILO and Government of Senegal join forces to advance cooperative development

In partnership with the ILO, Senegal’s Ministry of Microfinance and Social and Solidarity Economy (MMESS) launched a workshop to build ministry staff capacity in cooperative development, leveraging ILO tools that can support the development of...

International Year of Cooperatives

ILO Rural Development Academy 2025 highlights social and solidarity economy approaches

The 2025 ILO Academy on Rural Development held a session on the social and solidarity economy (SSE). The participants explored how the SSE can advance decent work and inclusive rural development through global perspectives and country experiences...

International Year of Cooperatives

ILO highlights cooperatives’ role in advancing cultural rights and decent work at global cultural policy conference event

At a side event during the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development, the ILO underlined the role of cooperatives in advancing cultural rights, decent work, social justice and inclusive development, calling for their...

International Year of Cooperatives

Care provision through cooperatives spotlighted at South4Care launch

ILO highlighted cooperative care solutions grounded in ILO standards, providing examples from multiple countries and spotlighting a trade union–backed childcare cooperative initiative in Nablus in the State of Palestine.

Micro, small and medium enterprises set to power Zambia’s clean energy future

Over 40 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Zambia’s Eastern Province are set to benefit from a hands-on training in renewable energy technologies this October.

Advancing cooperative statistics: ILO unveils new information guide and insights from country pilots

The updated guidance and lessons from five-country pilot studies strengthen the knowledge base and support the development of future international standards on cooperative and SSE statistics

Spotlight Interviews with Co-operators

Interview with Nataša Žugić, Director of the housing cooperative "Pametnija Zgrada" (Smarter Building) in Belgrade, Serbia

“Spotlight Interviews with Co-operators” is a series of interviews with co-operators from around the world with whom ILO officials have crossed paths during the course of their work on cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE)....

International Year of Cooperatives

International experts forge ahead on global SSE and cooperative statistical frameworks

While the SSE statistics working group examined the statistical definition of social enterprise, the group on measuring economic contribution of cooperatives addressed accounting standards to enhance global comparability.

International Year of Cooperatives

2025 Gyeonggi-do Social Economy Expo in the Republic of Korea highlights global momentum for the social and solidarity economy

The ILO underscored the social and solidarity economy as a pathway to social justice and decent work, guided by human dignity and solidarity.

International Year of Cooperatives

ILO contributes to Euro-American dialogue on care and the cooperative difference

Short description: The ILO joined the webinar on “Care as Market Opportunity: The Cooperative Difference,” highlighting the potential of cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE) to address the global care gap, promote decent...

ILO Voices | Care economy

Our community now sees the value of care work

Yoraima Cristina Navarro Izquierdo is an Arhuaco leader and founder of Josa Peace Builders, an association of women weavers in Colombia. An ILO project has provided training on economic autonomy and recognizing care work, and is helping Yoraima and...

United Nations Day for South–South Cooperation 2025

South-South cooperation drives progress on decent work and social justice. On the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, the ILO highlights how countries of the Global South are joining forces to deliver innovation, solidarity, and shared...

Regional Forum

The ILO strengthens its commitment to the social and solidarity economy in Ibero-America

The ILO took part in a regional event in Bolivia that brought together representatives from 18 countries to promote public policies and mechanisms that strengthen the social and solidarity economy.

Care economy

Model by-laws unveiled as cooperative department commits to promote nationwide care cooperatives

With the aim of expanding quality, affordable care services and creating decent jobs—especially for women, this initiative will promote formalization of care work in Sri Lanka and empower cooperatives with clear governance frameworks.

International Year of Cooperatives

Strengthening institutional capacities on cooperative development in the State of Palestine

ILO supports new trainers from the Cooperative Work Agency and Al-Quds University.

Spotlight Interviews with Co-operators

Interview with Rose Karimi, Regional Director of the International Cooperative Alliance – Africa

“Spotlight Interviews with Co-operators” is a series of interviews with co-operators from around the world with whom ILO officials have crossed paths during the course of their work on cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE)....