UN Task Force meeting in Murcia advances strategic engagement on the social and solidarity economy
The Fifth UNTFSSE Technical Symposium convened Members, Observers, Governments and partners in Murcia to take stock of progress and discuss strategic priorities for the Task Force in the coming two years, while drawing on Murcia’s territorial experience and highlighting Spain’s leadership in advancing the social and solidarity economy.
8 December 2025
Murcia, Spain (ILO News) – Representatives of UN agencies, governments, and global networks convened in Murcia for the Fifth Technical Symposium of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE).
The fifth technical symposium reviewed progress on the Task Force’s Strategic Action Plan (2024-26). Taking into consideration the profound shifts in the multilateral landscape, it was agreed that the Task Force’s strategic priorities must be reassessed and recalibrated to effectively address the challenges of the coming two years. These revised priorities will also shape the forthcoming report of the UN Secretary-General on promoting the Social and Solidarity Economy for sustainable development, providing a critical foundation for deliberations among Member States.
Hosted by the Government of Spain, the Region of Murcia, the Municipality of Murcia, and local SSE actors such as UCOMUR, the symposium also examined how territorial experiences can shape global policymaking and how international frameworks, most notably the UN General Assembly resolutions on promoting the SSE for sustainable development, help countries scale successful local models. Participants underscored Spain’s leadership and the Region of Murcia’s exemplary role in demonstrating how territorial approaches to the SSE foster quality employment, resilience, and inclusive development, while guiding ongoing UN engagement worldwide.
By grounding our exchanges in real experiences from Murcia, Spain and beyond, we can strengthen the contribution of the social and solidarity economy to build more inclusive, resilient and sustainable economies and societies, Simel Esim, Chair of the UNTFSSE and Head of the ILO Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy Unit.
Spain shared its extensive experience in advancing the SSE through national strategies, cross‑ministerial coordination, and support for regional and local institutions. Participants noted that Spain’s model—connecting national policy with strong territorial ecosystems—offers valuable guidance for UN agencies and Member States seeking to expand community‑centered development.
The social economy has shown its capacity to create stable employment and strengthen territorial cohesion, Jaime Iglesias Sánchez Cervera, Special Commissioner for the Social Economy of Spain.
Spain’s territorial experience is proving highly relevant to global debates on inclusive and resilient development through the Social and Solidarity Economy. In 2025, the International Year of Cooperatives, Murcia showcased cooperative projects, innovation clusters, youth and women’s entrepreneurship, social services, and public–community partnerships—demonstrating how territorial commitment to the SSE can translate global principles into tangible local outcomes.
As Spanish Capital of the Social Economy in 2025, the Region of Murcia shows how territorial commitment to the social economy can improve competitiveness, innovation, inclusion, sustainability and job creation, offering lessons for other regions, Juan Antonio Pedreño, President of UCOMUR, CEPES and Social Economy Europe.
Participants emphasized that the synergy between Spain’s territorial approaches and global guidance provides a strong foundation for glocal development—linking community knowledge with national policy and international cooperation. UN agencies highlighted that such alignment is essential for SSE solutions that generate decent work, advance ecological and digital transitions, and promote balanced territorial development.
Looking ahead, the task force will prepare its Strategic Action Plan for 2026–27 building on the fruitful discussions in Murcia. This forward-looking agenda will ensure that the Task Force remains responsive to evolving multilateral dynamics while continuing to position the SSE as a driver of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development worldwide.