FIND ABOUT THE PARTNERS
1. Confederación Empresarial Española de la Economía Social (CEPES)
The Spanish Social Economy Employers’ Confederation (CEPES), established in 1992, is a nationwide employer’s confederation whose inter-industry nature makes it the largest representative institution for Social Economy in Spain, becoming a platform for institutional dialogue with the public authorities.
As the organisation that brings together the different economic activities that exist under the concept of Social Economy, CEPES comprises 29 organisations. All of these organisations are national or regional confederations and specific business groups that represent the interests of Co-operatives, Employee-Owned Companies, Mutual Societies, Social Integration Enterprises, Special Employment Centres, Fishermen’s Guilds and Associations in the Disability Industry, with more than 200 support structures at regional level.
CEPES exists as the single spokesperson that integrates and structures all confederate organisations. It defines itself as an economic and social stakeholder that acts on the market and that, through its activity, has an impact on society. It has its own legal standing and defends a business model that has its own specific values.
2. European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy (REVES)
REVES is the unique european organisation based on partnership between local and regional authorities and territorial social economy organisations.
Under "social economy" Reves considers cooperatives, mutual societies, associations, foundations and, more in general, all those organisations asserting the "primacy of individual and of social objective over capital, the voluntary and open membership, the democratic control by membership, the combination of interests of members/users and the general interest, the defence and application of the principle of solidarity and responsibility, the autonomous management and the sustainable use of most of surpluses".
Reves members are those local authorities or social economy organisation that are presently developing or are willing to develop policies to promote social and solidarity based economy, for a most fair, inclusive, participative and responsible society; a network of social innovation in terms both of methods and procedures based on co-construction and shared capacities of the members and their territories.
3. Social Economy Europe (SEE)
Social Economy Europe is the voice of 2.8 million social economy enterprises and organisations in Europe. We are the social economy reference point at European level.
We are a strategic partner to European institutions and have led on EU policy on the social economy. Created in November 2000 under the name of CEP-CMAF – the European Standing Conference of Cooperatives, Mutuals, Associations and foundations – with the purpose of establishing a permanent dialogue between the social economy and the European Institutions. In 2008, CEP-CMAF changed its name and officially became Social Economy Europe.
Since its foundation, Social Economy Europe is the secretariat of the European Parliaments Social Economy Intergroup.
4. SSE International Forum (ESS-FI)
SSE International Forum promotes Social Solidarity Economy within a pluralistic economy and on all continents. For over 10 years, this international network has proved to be a real think tank in three flieds of action:
- GATHER SSE leaders and major players, because sharing and the willingness to build together are at the core of this model;
- CO-CREATE sustainable and inclusive projects, because field initiatives provide clear evidence of SSE's social, civic, environmental and economic efficiency;
- INFLUENCE policies and agendas for SSE, because stronger international acknowledgement will further develop this efficient and resilient model on all continents.
Initiator and permanent vice-secretary of the International leading group on Social and Solidarity Economy (ILGSSE), SSE International Forum is accredited by the UN Economic Social Council (ECOSOC) and an observing member within the UN inter-agencies Task Force on SSE (UNTFSSE).
5. US Federation of Worker Cooperatives
The USFWC is the national grassroots membership organization for worker cooperatives. Our mission is to build thriving workplaces as sites of dignified jobs that advance economic democracy in all communities, across many industries. We build workers’ power by advancing cooperative workplaces through education, organizing, and technical assistance. Working class people of color lead the USFWC’s network of over 300 business and organizational members. We organize through local cooperative networks, including local chapters around the US, while building power with national and international political partners to advocate for economic justice rooted in community-based, shared ownership. Our trainers assist in crafting strategic plans; developing conflict resolution processes; confronting issues of power, oppression, and organizational culture; drafting policies; and devising plans for robust community engagement, all while supporting effective processes.
6. The Canadian CED Network
The Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet) is a national association that connects people and ideas for action to build local economies that strengthen communities and benefit everyone. CCEDNet's members include organizations, networks, and individuals across Canada who are strengthening sustainable and equitable local economies. Members are active across many sectors such as community development, social enterprise, rural development, co-operative development, employment development, and housing. Many are led by and serve people living in poverty, people with disabilities or facing gender discrimination, Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, newcomers, youth, and other individuals or communities facing systemic barriers to full and dignified participation in the economy and society.
7. International Cooperative Alliance (ICA)
The International Cooperative Alliance unites, represents and serves cooperatives worldwide. Founded in 1895, it is one of the oldest non-governmental organisations and one of the largest ones measured by the number of people represented: 1 billion cooperative members on the planet. It is the apex body representing cooperatives, which are estimated to be around 3 million worldwide, providing a global voice and forum for knowledge, expertise and co-ordinated action for and about cooperatives. The International Cooperative Alliance works with global and regional governments and organisations to create the legislative environments that allow cooperatives to form and grow. A total of 318 organisations from 112 countries are members of the International Cooperative Alliance. The ICA’s members are international and national cooperative organisations from all sectors of the economy, namely agriculture, banking, consumer, fisheries, health, housing, insurance, and industry & services. The ICA is the guardian of the Statement on the Cooperative Identity, which includes a definition, 10 values and 7 operational principles: it is the minimum common denominator for all cooperatives in all sectors and all regions. To implement its activities, the International Cooperative Alliance is organised with a Global Office based in Brussels, four Regional Offices (Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe), eight Global Sectoral Organisations (agriculture, banking, retail, fisheries, health, housing, insurance, and industry & services), and five Committees and Networks (gender, research, law, youth, and development).
8. COOPERATIVES EUROPE
Cooperatives Europe is the voice of cooperative enterprises in Europe.
On behalf of its 84 member organisations from 33 European countries across all business sectors it promotes the cooperative business model in Europe.
Its members represent 141 million individual member cooperators owning 176.000 co-operative enterprises and providing jobs to 4.7 million European citizens - a force for economic growth and social change.
9. International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM)
The International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM) is an international umbrella organisation of federations of health mutuals and other not-for-profit healthcare payers. It has 55 members from 28 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa and the Middle East. AIM members provide compulsory and/or supplementary health coverage to around 240 million people around the world, including close to 200 million people in Europe, on a not-for-profit basis. Some AIM members also manage health and social services. Collectively, they have a turnover of almost €300 billion. AIM members are either mutual or health insurance funds. They are: private or public legal entities; solidarity based; not-for-profit oriented organisations: surpluses are used to benefit the members; democratically-elected members play a role in the governance of the organisation.
10. European Network of Social Integration Enterprises (ENSIE)
The European Network of Social Integration Enterprises, ENSIE, represents the interests of national and regional networks of ‘Work Integration Social Enterprises’ (WISEs) striving for more inclusive and integrated forms of employment at European level. WISEs are defined by three identifying principles: they are enterprises whose main objective is the social and professional integration of disadvantaged people; they are enterprises at the core of the economic system, and they developed a strong pedagogical dimension.”
At the moment, ENSIE gathers 29 national and regional networks, representing 21 countries of the European Union, Serbia, and Moldovia. All these networks pursue, in a manner adapted to local constraints, objectives of social integration of disfavoured publics. Together, they totalise some 3,000 WISEs, and more than 300,000 salaried persons.
11. Democracy at Work Institute (USA)
The Democracy at Work Institute was created by the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC) to ensure that worker cooperative development in economically and socially marginalized communities is adequately supported, effective, and strategically directed.
It is the only national organization dedicated to building the field of worker cooperative development. Through research, education and relationship-building, it meets the need for coordination of:
- existing resources
- development of standards and leaders
- critical discussion of models and best practices, and
- advocacy for worker cooperatives as a community economic development strategy
The Institute brings both a birds-eye view of the national stage and an experiential on-the-ground understanding of cooperative business, making sure that our growing worker cooperative movement is both rooted in worker cooperatives themselves and branches out to reach new communities of worker-owners.
12. DIESIS s.c.
Diesis Network supports the development of the social economy, social entrepreneurship and social innovation in Europe through the implementation of knowledge-based activities, such as training, project design, consultancy and advisory services, technical assistance and research. Diesis is one of the widest EU networks specialised in supporting social economy and social enterprise development covering 20 countries through major national federations and national support networks associating more than 80,000 organisations and 1.2 million workers. Diesis is quoted by the European Parliament as a good practice example of fostering the institutional and social visibility of the social economy.
Diesis Network works in partnership with European thematic networks and platforms such as ETUC, REVES, Social Economy Europe and EMES. It is also a member of CECOP. DIESIS also provides expertise to the ESF Social Economy Thematic Network, which assists Member States on the transnational aspects of the ESF.
Diesis Network takes part in the European Migration Forum, organised by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee, a platform for dialogue between civil society and the European institutions on issues relating to migration, asylum and the integration of third-country nationals.
13. Italian Government - Director General for Third Sector and CSR - Ministry of Labour and Social Policies
14. Spanish Government - Director General for Self-Employment, Social Economy and CSR. Ministry of Labour and Social Economy
15. Government of Canada - Employment and Social Development Canada
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) works to improve the standard of living and quality of life for all Canadians. We do this by promoting a labour force that is highly skilled. We also promote an efficient and inclusive labour market.
16. Government of Brazil- Ministry of Economy. Subsecretaria de Inovação e Transformação Digital
The National Strategy for Investments and Social Businesses (ENIMPACTO) is an articulation of agencies and entities of the federal public administration, the private sector and civil society with the objective of promoting a favorable environment for the development of investments and social businesses. It is structured around five strategic axes:
- Expansion of the capital offer for social businesses;
- Increase in the amount of social businesses;
- Strengthening of intermediary organizations;
- Promotion of an institutional and normative environment favorable to investments and social businesses; and
- Strengthening the generation of data that provides more visibility to investments and social businesses.
17. Korea Social Enterprise Promotion Agency
KoSEA is a public institution under the Ministry of Employment and Labor and was established in December 2010 pursuant to Article 20 of the Social Enterprise Promotion Act.
With the aim of laying a foundation for growth and independence of the social economy, KoSEA assists social economy enterprises with commercialization, provides consulting and supports the development and operation of social economy networks.
KoSEA helps social economy enterprises to grow in stability and helps create a sound social economy ecosystem, thereby infusing hope into society.
KoSEA is committed to serving as a channel of communication for all interested parties, an active champion of community-centered ecosystems and an all-round supporter that links policy with practice.
18. Global Social Economy Forum (GSEF)
The Global Social Economy Forum (GSEF) is a global network aimed at promoting the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) as a strategy for the sustainable local economic development of cities and regions and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through their localization. GSEF accompanies local governments across the world in the collaboration process with SSE actors towards the co-creation of public policies and the establishment of sustainable ecosystems conducive to the development of SSE, through projects and activities in various areas including capacity-building & training, knowledge exchange & networking, research and publication, and advocacy. Established in 2014, GSEF brings together, as of April 2021, 78 members on the 5 continents coming from 37 countries, including 26 local governments & local government networks and 30 SSE networks.
19. Réseau des collectivités Territoriales pour une Économie Solidaire (France)
The Network of Local Authorities for a Solidarity Economy (RTES) brings together local authorities committed to the development of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) on their territory.
In 2021, the network brings together more than 170 local authorities: regional councils, departmental councils, metropolises, inter-municipalities and municipalities, which have expressed the need for a space for exchange and national coordination.
The members are committed to a charter, with the conviction that the SSE is able to provide answers to the economic, social and environmental needs of the territories.
20. Instituto Nacional de la Economia Social (INAES) - Mexico
INAES is a decentralized body of the Ministry of Welfare. Its purpose is to implement public policies for the promotion and development of the social sector of the economy, in order to strengthen and consolidate the Sector as one of the pillars of economic and social development of the country, through participation, training, research, dissemination and support to productive projects of the Sector.
21. Catalan Government
The General Directorate o Social Economy, the Third Sector and Cooperatives of the Generalitat de Catalunya, aims to promote policies aimed at promoting the social and cooperative economy, bring to light projects that generate quality employment rooted in the territory, improve the employability of vulnerable groups, to establish normative frameworks that identify the social economy as a mechanism for the transformation towards and an economic model focused on people and life.”
22. Region of Brussels Capital
Brussels Economy and Employment's mission is to develop a sustainable economy and employment in the Brussels-Capital Region (Belgium). It is one of six administrative bodies within the Brussels Regional Public Service. Our services are primarily focused on businesses and workers.
Our principal missions are:
- To develop the economy. We encourage sustainable economic development, taking into account the specific nature of the Brussels economy.
- To support employment. We support those creating employment in the Brussels-Capital Region.
- Brussels Economy and Employment offers services to entrepreneurs, self-employed and enterprises : grants, financing for calls for projects, financing for certified businesses, training support, etc.
- Businesses have to apply for certain authorisations with Brussels Economy and Employment like the accreditation “social enterprises”.
23. Puebla State Mexico. DG de Emprendimiento, Competitividad y Fomento Empresarial. Sub-Secretaría de Economía, Gobierno del Estado de Puebla
24. International Labour Organisation – Enterprise Department (ILO)
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that labour peace is essential to prosperity.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) boasts a long tradition and experience in the social and solidarity economy.
The ILO Recommendation on the Promotion of Cooperatives, 2002 (R.193) is one of the milestone which guides the ILO’s work on SSE. In addition to a number of technical activities conducted at country level to support the development of SSE (advice on policy and law, capacity building, international networking, etc.) the ILO, through its Cooperatives Unit established in 1922 (COOP), has undertaken considerable work at regional and global levels in the field of the SSE. For instance, the ILO has undertaken different country-level projects on SSE enterprises and organizations, among which in Tunisia, Algeria, and South Africa.
25. CIRIEC International
CIRIEC (International Centre of Research and Information on the Public, Social and Cooperative Economy) is a non-governmental international scientific organization.
Its objectives are to undertake and promote the collection of information, scientific research, and the publication of works on economic sectors and activities oriented towards the service of the general and collective interest:
- action by the State and the local and regional public authorities in economic fields (economic policy, regulation);
- public utilities;
- public and mixed enterprises at the national, regional and municipal levels;
- the so-called “social economy” (not-for-profit economy, cooperatives, mutuals, and non-profit organizations); etc.
In these fields CIRIEC develops activities of interest for both managers and researchers, offering opportunities for mutual enrichment.
