Edited by Torino Social Impact

Policy & Practice

The international debate and best practices from around the world

25 September 2024

From the African Union, a Decade-Long Strategy on the Social and Solidarity Economy

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In 2024, the African Union adopted a decade-long strategy on the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), supported by the ILO, the International Labour Organization. The strategy was approved during the fifth session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Social Development, Labour, and Employment, held from July 29 to 31, 2024.

The plan, discussed by experts and representatives from Ministries of Labour, employers’ organizations, and workers in Africa, aims to promote decent work and social justice, aligned with global goals.

During the meeting, Jens Dyring Christensen, Senior Specialist for Sustainable Enterprises at the ILO, highlighted recent global and regional developments on the subject, including the adoption of a United Nations General Assembly resolution in 2023 recognizing the role of SSE in sustainable development.

The debate also brought to light the challenges and opportunities that SSE can offer to promote decent work and social justice in Africa. At the end of the meeting, African Union member states’ Ministers of Labour unanimously approved the African Union’s decade-long SSE strategy and its implementation plan, recognizing its potential.

Fanfan Rwanyindo Kayirangwa, the ILO Regional Director for Africa, concluded the ministerial session by praising the importance of SSE as a people-centered model. She pointed out that this is the second regional strategy of its kind, following the European Union’s 2021 action plan on social economy. Kayirangwa emphasized the relevance of the strategy in today’s global context, in line with G20 statements that mention SSE as a fundamental tool for decent work and the social and solidarity economy.

Overall, the document reflects the commitment of the African Union and the International Labour Organization to promote SSE for a thriving, inclusive, and prosperous society, aligned with the aspirations of Agenda 2063.

For more details, consult the dedicated section on the ILO website.