ILO holds a regional advisory committee kick-off meeting toward strengthening the social and solidarity economy in Asia

The regional advisory committee kick-off meeting of the second phase of the project on strengthening the social and solidarity economy in Asia was held on August 11, 2022.

News | 29 August 2022
The objective of the meeting was to introduce the second phase of the project on strengthening the social and solidarity economy in Asia. In addition, the participants discussed the proposed research framework and methodology which will be used to map the social and solidarity economy landscape in six countries - Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Thailand, Vietnam.

Ms. Heejin Ahn, Technical Officer at the ILO’s Cooperatives, Social and Solidarity Economy Unit provided an overview of the project. She noted that the Conclusions concerning decent work and the social and solidarity economy, adopted at the 110th Session of the International Labour Conference in June 2022 calls for Members states to further the understanding of the social and solidarity economy and to consider its contribution to decent work. She stated that the first agreed tripartite definition of the social and solidarity economy at the international level will serve as the basis of the research framework.



She stated that the project aims to inform policymakers, workers’ and employers’ organizations and practitioners on the social and solidarity economy’s contribution to decent work and sustainable development and support policymaking efforts and implement capacity building activities in the six countries.

Mr. Benjamin R. Quiñones, Regional Consultant for this initiative presented the refined research framework and methodology from the first phase, and the outline of the national report.

During the feedback session, members provided suggestions to strengthen the research outputs such as highlighting the role of the social and solidarity economy to facilitate the transition from the informal to the formal economy, inclusion of the fundamental principles and rights at work, considering the role of the local government, and identifying elements for enabling policy environments for the social and solidarity economy entities.

The committee, comprised of ILO officials, representatives from international organizations, regional and national consultants and practitioners will prove inputs and validate research outcomes, ensure that the key findings are translated and applied during the capacity-building component, and disseminate project outputs at the regional level.

It will facilitate mutual learning by sharing good practices and perspectives to strengthen the social and solidarity economy in Asia and the Pacific region and build synergies with other relevant initiatives.

The next committee meeting is scheduled in November 2022. The findings of the research will be shared in an international conference in September 2023.