After multiple rounds of dialogue and hard work together, we are very happy with the adoption of the resolution “Promoting the Social and Solidarity Economy for Sustainable Development” by the UN General Assembly on 18th April 2023.
This resolution is a transcendental milestone for the social economy, as it places it at the center of the international stage, reinforcing once again its importance in providing economic solutions with a positive impact on societies, especially in times of crisis.
In addition, it shows us a horizon of the economic model we want to achieve if we wish to live in a more just, equitable and humane world.
Recalling previous resolutions (such as the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, the New Urban Agenda, and the resolution entitled “Cooperatives in Social Development”) and within the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the resolution recognizes social entrepreneurship as a means to help combat poverty and transform society, emphasizing that inequalities have increased as a result of the covid crisis, climate change and geopolitical tensions, challenges for which transformative and comprehensive responses are needed. It also refers to the definition of social economy elaborated by the International Labor Organization in its resolution on decent work and the social and solidarity economy of June 2022, recognizing all those enterprises that act in accordance with the principles and values of the social economy.
In addition, the resolution emphasizes the contribution of the social economy to the promotion of international labor standards, with the aim of improving people’s quality of life and empowering workers to become more aware of their human and labor rights. It also highlights the particularity of the local roots of this type of enterprise, so important for the development of rural and vulnerable communities, and the fact that they favor the digital and green transition, social and environmental protection and the socio-political empowerment of communities, as well as innovation and democratic participation, all of which are fundamental to increasing the productivity levels of companies and societies.
It therefore encourages the countries that are part of the United Nations to develop strategies to promote the creation and development of social and solidarity economy enterprises, taking into account their context, focusing on the improvement of the specific legal framework, their visibility, tax incentives, access to financing and their participation in policy-making. On the other hand, it calls on the various entities that make up the United Nations to include the social economy as a key instrument in the planning of strategies to achieve the SDGs, supporting states in this task. At the same time, it encourages financial organizations and development banks to support social economy entities.
Finally, the resolution calls on the Secretary-General – in collaboration with the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy – to prepare a report with a view to including in the agenda of the 79th session the sub-item “Promoting the social and solidarity economy for sustainable development”.
