The research orientation was held virtually on October 6 and 7, 2022 as part of the project on strengthening the social and solidarity economy in Asia - Phase 2. The objective was to inform and guide the national researchers in undertaking the mapping study on the social and solidarity economy landscape in five countries (Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Thailand, and Vietnam) in Asia and the Pacific.

On the first day, Ms. Simel Esim, Manager of Cooperatives Unit at the ILO introduced the Resolution concerning decent work and the social and solidarity economy, adopted at the 110th International Labour Conference, which encourages Member States to consider the contribution of the social and solidarity economy to decent work and inclusive and sustainable development. She remarked that this initiative is an important step to strengthen the regional and national stakeholders’ understanding around the social and solidarity economy.

Ms. Heejin Ahn, Technical Officer of Cooperative Unit at the ILO stated the objective of the project, which is to inform policymakers, workers’ and employers’ organizations and practitioners on the social and solidarity’s contribution to decent work and sustainable development and support policymaking efforts and implement capacity building activities.

Mr. Benjamin Quiñones, regional consultant, presented the analytical framework which will be used to map the social and solidarity economy landscape in five countries.

On the second day, two resource persons presented on assessing the social and solidarity economy’s contribution to Sustainable Development Goals and the role of the social and solidarity economy in facilitating the transition from informal to formal economy.

A round of exchanges ensured on the need for a flexible approach to accommodate the national context and engaging in a dialogue with stakeholders to strengthen national ownership and ensure sustainability of project outcomes.

The national committee will be established in each of the five countries. The national consultants will report on the outcomes of the discussion from the first national advisory committee and present the national workplan to the regional advisory committee in December 2022.