Building the social and solidarity economy through partnerships and networking Social and solidarity economy Academy Montreal, Canada October 2011

Why build partnerships and networks? Values of collaboration vs competition, responding to needs vs financial gain creates favorable conditions for SSE networks and partnerships Useful for all enterprises but crucial for the SSE

Why are they important? Need for recognition of the SSE’s specific characteristics and contribution to development –1895 International Cooperative Alliance –2000 Social Economy Europe –2007 Asian Solidarity Economy Network –2011 African Social and Solidarity Economy Network

Why are they important? Mapping the economic importance of SSE to gain visibility and recognition –Statistical recognition of the SSE by the European parliament –Participative mapping process in Brazil –ILO Action Plan calls for international observatory = Mapping initiative by RIPESS

Why are they important? Responding to specific needs –Traditional economic policy and instruments not adapted to SSE enteprises –Need to work together to access markets, capital, technical assistance etc –Banca Etica (Italy), CoopEst (central and eastern Europe)

Main forms of collaboration Partnerships: collaboration to achieve specific goals Networks: non-hierarchical structures based on common interests or needs Federations or confederations: formal structures predominant in traditional cooperative sector

Key stakeholders Social and solidarity economy enterprises National and regional governments Local development organisations and local governments Labour unions Employers associations Social movements International NGO’s Academic institutions and researchers

Example: the Quebec experience The social economy has emerged historically and experienced a renewed dynamism based on territory and local development processes Partnerships and networks at the local, regional,national and international level have been the basis for the growth of the social economy

Example: the Quebec experience In rural areas, the national rural policy supports: Partnerships at the local level between municipal governments, social economy, private sector Networks reinforce capacity, advocacy, dialogue Positive results: renewal of rural communities through new SE enterprises, citizen involvement, ongoing social dialogue, new public policy

Example: the Quebec experience In urban areas, community economic development corporations (CDEC) based on partnerships between private, social economy, labour, institutions, cultural actors, associations, 3 levels of government CDEC active in networks at a regional, national and international level Positive results: job creation, social dialogue, neighourhood revitalisation, social cohesion and inclusion, integrated urban development,

Some lessons from Quebec SSE enterprises have been a central tool for community revitalisation A favorable policy environment is essential Challenges for policy makers: integrated approach, bottom-up, broad range of stakeholders, ongoing process of innovation Challenges for civil society: cultural shift from opposition to proposition, capacity building, need for intermediary spaces

Interest and obstacles in engaging stakeholders Each stakeholder has objective and subjective interests in forming networks and partnerships Each stakeholder has objective and subjective reasons that create obstacles to their participation in networks and partnerships

Different types of networks and (con)federations Territorial networks or federations Sectoral networks or federations Juridical based networks or federations

Role and functions of networks and partnerships in supporting the SSE Representation, promotion and advocacy Common services Peer learning and exchange of expertise Projet development or creation of new development tools Commercial exchanges and access to markets Research and knowledge creation Strategic planning on a local, regional or national level

International structures of the SSE Institutionalised networks –International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) –World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) –International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) –CIRIEC

International structures of the SSE Sectoral networks –World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters –International Association of Investors in the Social Economy (INAISE) –Financial Alliance for Sustainable Trade (FAST) –International Center of Research and Information on the SSE (CIRIEC)

Emerging international networks Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social and Solidarity Economy (RIPESS): ( RIPESS Latin America-Caribean, RAESS (Afrique), RIPESS Europe, RIPESS North America, Asian Solidarity Economy Network) Mont Blanc Meetings (Rencontres du Mont Blanc)

Key findings Because of shared values, long history of networks and partnerships in SSE In return, these networks and partnerships have allowed the SSE to last and to develop

Key findings Many different forms of partnerships and networks based on historical and geographical context Emerging networks tend to be more horizontal structures Institutionalized networks tend to be more vertical

Key findings Advocacy and promotion are common to almost all networks In countries where the SSE is formally recognized, SSE networks involved in social dialogue Some networks build bridges with social movements

Key findings Within the emerging SSE, networks that practice inclusiveness have been the most successful in winning new public policy, participating in social dialogue and creating development tools due to their capacity to show the scope and the depth of the SSE

Key findings New networks are emerging due to a lack of flexibility of existing SSE structures to take into account new realities and new approaches Partnerships between institutionalised SSE and emerging SSE the exception rather than the rule

Key findings Building from the bottom up is characteristic of successful networks and federations Based on local and regional structures, they benefit from the support of a wide range of partners

Key findings Strength of networks is related to their capacity to respond to the priority needs of their members Most networks begin as advocacy groups but evolve to create services and development tools that in return strengthen networks and create greater capacity to act

Key findings Transparency and participatory governance is characteristic of dynamic networks Member participation is essential for successful networks

Key findings Networks play a key role in reinforcing the SSE through peer learning and learning from international experience International learning has been an enriching process for SSE actors across the globe