The Social and Solidarity Economy: From the Margins to the Mainstream. Highlights

The first high-level conference of the OECD Global Action: “Promoting Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems”, funded by the EU, was organised by the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities.

It brought together over 700 participants from 65 countries including governments, international governmental organisations, social and solidarity economy (SSE) organisations, civil society, the private sector, academia and the media. Discussions focussed on how participants are moving the SSE from the margins to the mainstream by identifying policies that support the recognition and development of the SSE, improving the way we measure the SSE and its impact, and promoting its benefits globally.

Participants recognised strong political momentum around the social and solidarity economy at international, national and subnational levels. Panellists, including the EU commissioner, ministers, ambassadors, international organisations and SSE networks, called on the OECD to develop international guidance on the SSE to help countries around the world. The OECD will endeavour to deliver principles that can guide policy makers as they develop policies for the SSE, building on over 25 years of pioneering work in the field.