The 12th edition of the ILO Global Academy on Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) took place between 15 and 26 of November 2021, online. This year’s Academy was hosted by Portugal, where the SSE has been playing a prominent role in social and economic development in recent years. The 200 participants to the Academy came from ILO's tripartite constituents, policy makers involved in SSE, practitioners from partner development agencies and international organizations, SSE entrepreneurs, practitioners, academics and researchers. Offered in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, the Academy was the result of a partnership between ILO, ITC-ILO and CASES (Cooperative António Sérgio for Social Economy). It focused on the role of the SSE in the face of the challenges and opportunities posed by a rapidly changing world of work, and in the context of the crises generated by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Academy also received support from CIRIEC, EURICSE, Government of Portugal and the UNDP.

The event lasted 2 weeks. Every day, participants joined high level panels, plenary sessions, study visits and electives. The agenda can be consulted here: eng - fr - es - pt.

The biographies of speakers and chairs can be consulted here: eng - fr - es - pt.

The organising team can be discovered here: eng - fr - es - pt.

To find out more about the sessions (including description, recordings, presentations, etc.) see below:

WEEK 1 (15-19 November 2021)

Official opening

High level panel 1: A human-centred recovery – impacts of and responses on the COVID-19 crisis

Plenary session 1: Social and Solidarity Economy: an overview, values and principles

Plenary Session 2: SSE main trends in the different regions and recent development on SSE policies

Plenary Session 3: SSE, decent work agenda and the Future of Work

Interactive Session: Study visits SSE Portugal (I) 

Elective 1: Promoting fundamental principles and rights at work in the SSE

Elective 2: Towards an inclusive and gender-transformative SSE: a thinking lab

Elective 3: SSE, just transition to climate-neutral and circular economy: innovative ways of production and consumption

Elective 4: SSE and South-South and triangular cooperation

WEEK 2 (22-26 November 2021)

Plenary session 4: Financial mechanisms for innovative SSE ecosystems

Plenary Session 5: The importance of statistical instruments in measuring the role of the SSE

Plenary Session 6: Localizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SSE as trigger of Local Economic Development

Interactive Session: Study visits SSE Portugal (II)

Marketplace - Networking with other Academy participants 

High level panel 2: Partnerships for an inclusive and sustainable development: SSE ecosystems beyond COVID-19 crisis 

Elective 5: SSE and formalization of the informal economy (including worker buyouts) 

Elective 6: SSE, Local Economic Development and social innovation

Elective 7: SSE as tool for social cohesion, peace and resilience (focus on refugees and IDPs)

Elective 8: SSE: Youth, education and new skills 

Official Closure 

You can find more information at: Academy on Social and Solidarity economy (12th edition) | ITCILO and on the SSE Collective Brain.