Revitalizing the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy

UNRISD participated in a two-day meeting of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (TFSSE) at the FAO in Rome in early November which served to revitalize the Task Force and develop a new strategic plan for its future activities. The meeting comprised two parts: a one-day Technical Symposium attended by the UN members of the Task Force on 3 November, followed on 4 November by a day-long Conference on SSE as a means of implementation of the SDGs. UNRISD is a founder member of the Task Force and has been a driving force behind its development. Director Paul Ladd and Research Analyst Ibrahim Saïd attended, along with former Deputy Director Peter Utting.

The Technical Symposium was a closed workshop attended by representatives of seven UN agencies: UNRISD, FAO, UNDP, UNCTAD, ILO and UN-NGLS, as well as UNEP participating remotely. They carried out an agenda-setting exercise to position the unique contribution of Task Force members to the promotion of SSE in the context of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the process they identified areas of cooperation and complementarity between UN agencies at the national, regional and international levels to promote and support SSE.

An economy for people, the planet and a fairer world

The Strategic Plan developed at the meeting sets out a vision of an economy for people, the planet and a fairer world, with the Task Force’s mission to support SSE initiatives to realize their transformative potential and achieve the SDGs. A number of concrete measures to fulfil this mission are now envisaged, such as the creation of a knowledge hub and an advisory platform.

The Conference on the next day was attended by over 40 delegates representing governments, the European Commission, UN agencies and civil society organizations with observer status in the Task Force, such as the Rencontres du Mont-Blanc and RIPESS.

Conference discussions about future collaboration in three workstreams—Policy, Research and Partnerships—will inform the work of the Task Force to promote and support SSE as a means of implementation of the SDGs. During the Policy discussions participants shared information about work planned, or already in progress, to identify existing gaps and common actions ahead. The sessions on Research and Partnerships were an opportunity to make concrete the synergies of work within the Task Force for its members and observers, particularly at the national level.

Conference participants welcomed the new Strategic Plan for the Task Force, which was presented at the beginning of the event and served to frame further discussions during the day.

Organizations present at the Conference:

UN Entities
UNRISD
FAO
UNDP
UNCTAD
ILO
UNEP
UN-NGLS

Civil Society Observers
Rencontres du Mont-Blanc
RIPESS
Nexus Emilia Romagna
International Planning Committee on Food Sovereignty, Secretariat
Confcooperative, representing ICA
Global Fund for Cities Development (FMDV)
Urgenci; member of RIPESS
Global Social Economy Forum
EMES International Research Network
Legacoop, representing ICA
Society for International Development
The Fourth Sector Group

Governments
Greece: Alternate Minister of Labor, Social Security and Social Solidarity
France: Representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development
Ecuador: Minister from the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the United Nations Office at Geneva

European Commission: DG Growth