“Social and Solidarity Economy: Our common road towards Decent Work” - Reader for the ILO Academy on Social And Solidarity Academy 2011
Social and Solidarity Economy: Our common road towards Decent Work" - Reader in support of the Second Social and Solidarity Economy Academy, 24-28 October 2011, Montreal, Canada. The Reader brings together a series of articles to help build a common understanding of the concept of Social Solidarity Economy (SSE), with specific focus on issues regarding governance and organizational management, policy and networking in and for the organizations of the SEE. It also includes general information about the ILO and the social and solidarity economy initiative and articles on the relationship between SSE and the Informal Economy, Green Economy, Local Development and modalities of financing the SSE.
The social and solidarity economy (SSE) is a concept that refers to enterprises and organizations, in particular cooperatives, mutual benefit societies, associations, foundations and social enterprises, which specifically produce goods, services and knowledge while pursuing economic and social aims and fostering solidarity. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has built a long tradition and developed a thorough expertise on SSE enterprises and organizations (SSEOs). In its first year (1920), the ILO set up a Cooperative Branch, which still exists today (i.e. ILO Cooperative Programme, EMP/COOP). The first ILO official document making
reference to the social economy dates back to the proceedings of the 11th Session of the Governing Body (GB,
January 1922). In the 1980s, the ILO developed the concept of “social finance”, which covers a broad variety of microfinance institutions and services. In the 1990s, the ILO began promoting community-based protection
schemes and mutual benefit societies in the area of social protection. More recently, the ILO has become involved in the promotion of “social enterprises” and “social entrepreneurship”.
reference to the social economy dates back to the proceedings of the 11th Session of the Governing Body (GB,
January 1922). In the 1980s, the ILO developed the concept of “social finance”, which covers a broad variety of microfinance institutions and services. In the 1990s, the ILO began promoting community-based protection
schemes and mutual benefit societies in the area of social protection. More recently, the ILO has become involved in the promotion of “social enterprises” and “social entrepreneurship”.