• The experience of CEPES in the field of Social Economy and a consortium that brings together 26 organizations from 3 continents are the reasons behind the OECD's decision to select the initiative led by CEPES - along with 5 other international actions – as one project that will contribute to a favorable global eco-system for Social Economy.
• This project is funded by the European Union.
• The project will run from April to October 2021 and involves representatives of national governments, local and regional authorities from three continents, as well as the main stakeholders representing social economy in different countries.
Madrid, May 12, 2021 - The Spanish Confederation of Social Economy Enterprises (CEPES) has launched with the support of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the funding of the European Union, the action “Legal Ecosystems for Social Economy Peer Learning Partnership”, a project that aims to foster laws and regulations that promote the Social Economy business model.
This global project is supported by an international consortium that brings together 26 national and ministerial public departments responsible for Social Economy in seven countries in three continents: Brazil, Canada, Korea, India, Italy, Mexico and Spain, represented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy which is actively involved in this project.
The initiative, which began in April and will run until October, also involves the participation of various local and regional governments, such as the Generalitat of Catalunya, the Brussels Capital Region, the State of Puebla (Mexico) and the French network of local entities working in favor of the Social and Solidarity Economy.
In addition, International Labor Organization (ILO), as well as the Global Forum of Social Economy (GSEF), that brings together local authorities from around the world, are also partners in this project.
On the other hand, CIRIEC-INTERNACIONAL represents the academic experts. Moreover, several Social Economy organizations besides CEPES, as Spanish employers' organization of this enterprise model, are also participating in the Project: the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives of the United States, the representative organization of the Social Economy in the EU 'Social Economy Europe', the International Cooperative Alliance, and the International Alliance of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM), COOPERATIVES EUROPE, the European Network of Social Integration Enterprises (ENSIE), a network for the local promotion of the Social Economy in Canada, DIESIS, a support center for cooperative entrepreneurs in the United States, and the European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy (REVES), a key actor in coordinating this project together with CEPES.
"This initiative undoubtedly confirms the interest on the Social Economy among organizations and governments around the world. Proof of this is the international recognition by the OECD and the European Commission supporting this ambitious and innovative project" underlines CEPES President, Juan Antonio Pedreño.
"It’s the first time that a project of this magnitude is undertaken to foster legal frameworks that promote the Social Economy. The project will also strengthen the international projection of the Spanish Social Economy, which already enjoys high recognition," concludes Mr. Pedreño after holding the first meeting of the consortium in which an important delegation from the OECD led by Antonella Noya, head of the Social Economy and Social Innovation Unit, took part in addition to all the project partners.
CEPES, as a representative organization of the Spanish Social Economy and as a key international actor, has played an important role in the design of this project, which was selected by the OECD along with 5 other projects.
The experience in the field of Social Economy and a large consortium that brings together key actors that will contribute to a favorable global eco-system for Social Economy are the reasons behind the OECD's decision to select the initiative along with 5 other international actions.
