Building the social and solidarity economy through partnerships and networking

2. Social and solidarityeconomyAcademy Agadir Morocco April 2013 Building the social and solidarityeconomythroughpartnerships and networking

3. Whybuildpartnerships and networks? • Values of collaboration vs competition, responding to needs vs financial gain creates favorable conditions for SSE networks and partnerships • Useful for all enterprises but crucial for the SSE

4. Why are they important? • Need for recognition of the SSE’sspecificcharacteristics and contribution to development • 1895 International Cooperative Alliance • 2000 Social Economy Europe • 2007 AsianSolidarityEconomy Network • 2011 African Social and SolidarityEconomy Network

5. Why are they important? • Mapping the economic importance of SSE to gain visibility and recognition • Statistical recognition of the SSE by the Europeanparliament • Participative mappingprocess in Brazil • ILO Action Plan calls for international observatory = Mapping initiative by RIPESS

6. Why are they important? • Responding to specificneeds • Traditionaleconomicpolicy and instruments not adapted to SSE enteprises • Need to worktogether to accessmarkets, capital, technical assistance etc • BancaEtica (Italy), CoopEst (central and eastern Europe)

7. Main forms of collaboration • Partnerships: collaboration to achievespecific goals • Networks: non-hierarchical structures based on commoninterests or needs • Federations or confederations: formal structures predominant in traditionalcooperativesector

8. Key stakeholders • Social and solidarityeconomyenterprises • National and regionalgovernments • Local development organisations and local governments • Labour unions • Employers associations • Social movements • International NGO’s • Academic institutions and researchers

9. Youth, networks and SSE • In many countries, youthrepresent an important component of social economy networks • Social economy structures oftenneed to undertakespecific initiatives to involveyouth in networking: • The integration of the SSE in schoolcurriculaeis a strategicway to reachyouth

10. Example: the Quebecexperience • The social economy has emergedhistorically and experienced a reneweddynamismbased on territory and local developmentprocesses • Partnerships and networks at the local, regional,national and international level have been the basis for the growth of the social economy

11. Example: the Quebecexperience • In rural areas, the national rural policy supports: • Partnershipsat the local levelbetween municipal governments, social economy, privatesector • Networksreinforcecapacity, advocacy, dialogue • Positive results: renewal of rural communitiesthrough new SE enterprises, citizeninvolvement, ongoing social dialogue, new public policy

12. Example: the Quebecexperience • In urban areas, communityeconomicdevelopment corporations (CDEC) based on partnershipsbetweenprivate, social economy, labour, institutions, cultural actors, associations, 3 levels of government • CDEC active in networks at a regional, national and international level • Positive results: job creation, social dialogue, neighourhood revitalisation, social cohesion and inclusion, integratedurbandevelopment,

13. Youth networks in Quebec • A youth committee of the Chantier (national SSE organisation) brings together: • Regional youth organisations • Student organisations • Community organisations working with youth Specific communications tools and strategies, activities and exchanges are organised to reach youth The president of the youth committee is a member of the Board of Directors of the

14. Youth service cooperatives • In communitiesacrossQuebec, local networks have come together to support youth service cooperatives: • A first entrepreneurial experience for students (14-17) • Supported by local committees and national networks, including the trade union movement and the government

15. SomelessonsfromQuebec • SSE enterprises have been a central tool for community revitalisation, job creation and social cohesion • Multi-stakeholder networks have allowed the SSE to achieve a favorable policyenvironmentthrough constructive dialogue with a diversity of actors • Youth are attracted to the SSE because of the opportunities for creativity, access to meaningfulemployment and a sense of involvement in a broadermovement, including the international SSE movement

16. Interest and obstacles in engagingstakeholders • Eachstakeholder has objective and subjective interests in forming networks and partnerships • Eachstakeholder has objective and subjective reasonsthatcreate obstacles to their participation in networks and partnerships

17. Different types of networks and (con)federations • Territorial networks or federations • Sectoral networks or federations • Juridicalbased networks or federations

18. Role and functions of networks and partnerships in supporting the SSE • Representation, promotion and advocacy • Common services • Peer learning and exchange of expertise • Projet development or creation of new developmenttools • Commercial exchanges and access to markets • Research and knowledgecreation • Strategic planning on a local, regional or national level

19. International structures of the SSE • Institutionalised networks • International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) • World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) • International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) • CIRIEC

20. International structures of the SSE • Sectoral networks • World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters • International Association of Investors in the Social Economy (INAISE) • Financial Alliance for Sustainable Trade (FAST) • International Center of Research and Information on the SSE (CIRIEC)

21. Emerging international networks • Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social and SolidarityEconomy (RIPESS): ( RIPESS Latin America-Caribean, RAESS (Afrique), RIPESS Europe, RIPESS NorthAmerica, AsianSolidarityEconomy Network) • Mont Blanc Meetings (Rencontres du Mont Blanc)

22. Key findings • Because of shared values, long history of networks and partnerships in SSE • In return, these networks and partnerships have allowed the SSE to last and to develop

23. Key findings • Manydifferentforms of partnerships and networks based on historical and geographicalcontext • Emerging networks tend to be more horizontal structures • Institutionalized networks tend to be more vertical

24. Key findings • Advocacy and promotion are common to almost all networks • In countries where the SSE isformallyrecognized, SSE networks involved in social dialogue • Some networks build bridges with social movements

25. Key findings • Within the emerging SSE, networks that practice inclusiveness have been the mostsuccessful in winning new public policy, participating in social dialogue and creatingdevelopmenttools due to theircapacity to show the scope and the depth of the SSE

26. Key findings • New networks are emerging due to a lack of flexibility of existing SSE structures to takeintoaccount new realities and new approaches • Partnershipsbetweeninstitutionalised SSE and emerging SSE the exception ratherthan the rule

27. Key findings • Building from the bottom up ischaracteristic of successful networks and federations • Based on local and regional structures, theybenefitfrom the support of a wide range of partners

28. Key findings • Strength of networks isrelated to theircapacity to respond to the priorityneeds of theirmembers • Most networks begin as advocacy groups but evolve to create services and developmenttoolsthat in return strengthen networks and creategreatercapacity to act

29. Key findings • Transparency and participatorygovernanceischaracteristic of dynamic networks • Member participation is essential for successful networks

30. Key findings • Networks play a key role in reinforcing the SSE throughpeerlearning and learningfrom international experience • International learning has been an enrichingprocess for SSE actorsacross the globe