The social and solidarity economy (SSE) was the focus of a high-level dialogue held on the margins of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting aimed to promoting the recognition of SSE, strengthening international cooperation and advancing its contribution to decent work, social justice and sustainable development.
Organised by the Group of Friends of the Social and Solidarity Economy and the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE), the meeting took place on 26 September at the Instituto Cervantes in New York.
It combined an analysis of the UN Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of Resolution 79/213 with a ministerial dialogue aimed at sharing priorities, national experiences and opportunities for collaboration among countries.
The initiative forms part of wider international efforts to consolidate the social and solidarity economy as a means of advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This model encompasses entities such as cooperatives, associations, mutual societies, foundations and social enterprises that carry out activities in the collective interest, guided by the principles of solidarity, democratic participation and sustainability.
From political recognition to effective implementation
A central theme of the dialogue was the need to translate growing international recognition of the SSE into concrete measures. General Assembly Resolution 79/213, adopted in December 2024, promotes policies, legal frameworks and support programmes that strengthen these entities and facilitate their contribution to sustainable development.
The priorities discussed included developing appropriate regulatory frameworks, improving access to finance and support services, strengthening training in the social and solidarity economy, and the integration of the SSE into statistics and public policymaking processes. The importance of facilitating the participation of SSE stakeholders in dialogue and decision-making forums was also highlighted.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to share national experiences and explore ways to strengthen cooperation between governments and international organisations.
Group of Friends of the Social and Solidarity Economy
The Group of Friends of the Social and Solidarity Economy, co-chaired by Brazil and Senegal, is a voluntary intergovernmental cooperation platform designed to promote the exchange of experiences and coordination in relevant international processes. Since its launch in June 2026 at the headquarters of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the group has continued to expand its participation to include more countries.
