Themes

Above all this forum is intended as a meeting place for people and ideas. All the activities in which participants will take part will be facilitated using a participatory and interactive approach. Just like the methods that it seeks to promote, this forum will work in the spirit of co-construction and dialogue.

Event objectives:

1. To bring together key players in the social and solidarity economy from countries across the North and South and their partners in government, labour movements, research institutes and international organizations.
2. To help strengthen partnerships between civil society and government that support the social and solidarity economy in the various participating countries.
3. To highlight successful partnerships, particularly in the development of public policy.
4. To encourage the exchange of ideas around the theme of the social and solidarity economy at the international and inter-regional level.

General themes of the forum:

The Social and Solidarity Economy
The social and solidarity economy complements the public and private sectors. It is part of a plural economy. The social and solidarity economy is made up of collective enterprises engaged in the production of both goods and services in the public interest. It collaborates with different levels of government.

In other words, the social and solidarity economy includes all non-profit organizations, cooperatives, mutual companies and associations. The activities of these organizations are based on values of solidarity and democracy and they contribute both to social well-being and economic growth. They respect the following functioning principles and rules:

• the main purpose of a social/solidarity economy enterprise is to serve its members or the community rather than merely generate profits;
• organizations are autonomous from the state;
• they integrate a democratic process of decision involving users and workers into its statutes and in its operations;
• people and labor are prioritized over capital in the distribution of its profits;
• activities are based on the principles of participation and individual and collective responsibility.

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