Publications on Social and Solidarity Economy

Social Protection & Cooperatives Spotlight - Mobilizing social and solidarity economy units towards universal social protection

29 April 2022

This ILO Spotlight brief is jointly developed by the Social Protection Department and the Cooperatives Unit in the Enterprises Department. It focuses on mobilizing social and solidarity economy units towards universal social protection. The brief builds on the related section of the Office Report on “Decent work and the social and solidarity economy” prepared for general discussion at the International Labour Conference 110th Session, 2022 (paras 73 et seq.).

Cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy as vehicles to decent work in the culture and creative sector

28 October 2021

Recognizing the important role that the creative economy plays in social and economic progress, the UN General Assembly declared 2021 as the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development. The culture and creative sector (CCS), includes music production, movies, theatres and radio broadcasting, with many artists in the sector working in informal and precarious arrangements. With the COVID-19 pandemic, existing vulnerabilities have been further exacerbated, calling for attention to socially innovative organizing and business models in CCS. Social and solidarity economy (SSE) units, including cooperatives, mutuals, associations, foundations and social enterprises, can provide value and principle based services and livelihoods options to CCS workers. In light of the upcoming general discussion on SSE for a human-centred future of work at the 110th Session of the International Labour Conference, this brief highlights how SSE units in the CCS can contribute to advancing rights at work, improving quality of jobs, ensuring access to social protection, and fostering local economic development

Public Policies for the Social and Solidarity Economy and their role in the Future of Work: The case of Tunisia

31 March 2020

This paper studies the case of Tunisia, where a draft framework law on SSE has been formulated and supported by a tripartite process with ILO assistance. This paper aims to describe and explain the overall context and the evolution, from an historical and institutional standpoint, of the process that has fostered a more favorable policy framework. Moreover, it tackles the topic of the role that SSE can play in addressing the challenges of Future of Work in Tunisia.
The contribution of SSE and social finance to the future of work

23 March 2020

This publication is the result of a research project undertaken in collaboration between the ILO Cooperatives Unit and Social Finance Programme, with support from the Government of France. The research analyses various Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) initiatives around the world in light of the changes observed in the world of work. The research results highlight that regardless of the countries or the type of SSE organizations, SSE and its innovative financing mechanisms present a potential for creating and preserving decent jobs, creating wealth, reducing social inequalities, and advancing local development.

Financial Mechanisms for Innovative Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems - Executive Summary

14 November 2019

This report presents the results of the “Financial Mechanisms for Innovative Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems” project, designed to foster a better understanding of the different ways in which financial resources can be made available and accessed to support the growth of social and solidarity economy (SSE) organizations and their ecosystems. The project is supported by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social and Solidarity Economy of the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Financial Mechanisms for Innovative Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems - Full Report

14 November 2019

This report presents the results of the “Financial Mechanisms for Innovative Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems” project, designed to foster a better understanding of the different ways in which financial resources can be made available and accessed to support the growth of social and solidarity economy (SSE) organizations and their ecosystems. The project is supported by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social and Solidarity Economy of the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Public policies for social and solidarity economy: Assessing progress in seven countries

13 October 2017

This particular study is a comparative analysis of seven ILO case studies. In the first part, an overview of the public policies for social and solidarity economy in Brazil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, the Philippines, South Africa, the Republic of Korea and Italy is presented. The second part offers a comparative perspective of public policy for social and solidarity economy in terms of key instruments, achievements and limitations. Different pathways are identified and four specific challenges related to state capacity, policy coherence, participation and sustainability are examined.

Social and Solidarity Economy and the Future of Work

05 September 2017

This publication presents the main theoretical arguments and empirical evidence on the features and role of social and solidarity economy (SSE) organizations, specifically on its potential to create and preserve decent work. The publication also underlines the SSE’s capacity to create jobs in emerging sectors, for example in the silver economy, and to contribute to the formalization of the informal economy. Lastly, the policy implications of these various changes, and how they can support the growth and development of SSE in the future of work are addressed.

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