September 2014: The UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy has released a position paper outlining how the post-2015 development agenda can incorporate the role of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). ‘Social and Solidarity Economy and the Challenge of Sustainable Development’ argues that SSE holds great potential for advancing socially sustainable development. The publication was announced in the September 2014 issue of the UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) newsletter.

The position paper defines SSE as “the production of goods and services by a broad range of organizations and enterprises that have explicit social and often environmental objectives, and are guided by principles and practices of cooperation, solidarity, ethics and democratic self-management.” This concept, it states, can: guide an informal economy to decent work; green the economy and society; spur local economic development; promote sustainable cities and human settlements; lead to women’s empowerment and well-being; ensure food security and smallholder empowerment; support universal health coverage; and catalyze transformative finance.

The paper calls for the post-2015 development agenda to recognize the role of SSE enterprises and organizations in sustainable development, while promoting the knowledge of SSE networks. It underlines the need for a supportive policy and institutional environment for the SSE that gives primacy to social objectives. [Publication: Social and Solidarity Economy and the Challenge of Sustainable Development] [UNRISD Webpage on Post-2015]