On behalf of the UNTFSSE, ILO presents Secretary-General's Report on the Social and Solidarity Economy at UN General Assembly's 79th Session

NEW YORK (ILO News) - On behalf of the 91×ÊÔ´È«¼¯ (ILO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), as co-chairs of the , Yasin Samatar, Senior Multilateral Cooperation Specialist at the ILO’s New York office, presented the  at the Second Committee of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (). The report was introduced under Item 18k: Promoting the Social and Solidarity Economy for Sustainable Development.

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During the presentation, Mr. Samatar emphasized the essential role the SSE plays in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The report, prepared pursuant to , offers an in-depth analysis of the SSE’s contributions to sustainable development, documenting how SSE entities, such as cooperatives, mutual societies, social enterprises, associations which embody values intrinsic to their functioning, consistent with care for people and planet, equality and fairness, interdependence, self-governance, transparency and accountability, and the attainment of decent work and livelihoods. These values are central to fostering more inclusive, resilient, sustainable economies and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.

The report highlights contributions from 17 governments, eight UN entities, six international non-governmental organizations, and a variety of stakeholders, emphasizing the collective global commitment to advancing the SSE. It reflects on how SSE entities contribute significantly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities),  and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Mr Samatar noted that SSE entities play a pivotal role in addressing pressing global challenges by advancing inclusive economic growth, promoting decent work, and fostering sustainable practices. They help ensure the viability of local economies, improve access to essential services, address global challenges like climate change while ensuring social inclusion, empower marginalized communities  while contributing to a more resilient and equitable society.

The report notes several recommendations for Member States, the UN system, and other stakeholders among them :

• Encourage Member States and international bodies to ensure a conducive environment consistent with the nature and diversity of the social and solidarity economy to harness the fullest potential of all types of social and solidarity economy entities to contribute to sustainable development, including advancing inclusion and decent work, through coherent measures and frameworks to facilitate tailored financial and non-financial support to social and solidarity economy entities, notably through leveraging instruments and mechanisms adapted to all stages of development from multilateral, international and regional financial institutions and development banks;
• Foster cooperation across relevant settings within and outside the United Nations, including the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, to support the exchange of replicable good practices and lessons learned in promoting the SSE, including through South-South and triangular cooperation initiatives, to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and support the creation of decent jobs, primarily in the green, digital and care economies, and to extend social protection to people who are excluded; Recognize the contribution of the social and solidarity economy as a crucial vehicle to mobilize the furthest behind towards achieving inclusive and sustainable development and encourage Member States to consider how the social and solidarity economy could contribute to and/or feature in relevant upcoming multilateral processes, such as the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, the Second World Summit for Social Development and the second International Year of Cooperatives in 2025
• Encourage all United Nations development entities to mainstream the social and solidarity economy in their planning and programming, including through enhancing research, statistics and knowledge management on the social and solidarity economy and by providing targeted policy advice, technical support and capacity development services in accordance with their mandate;  

In concluding, Mr. Samatar reiterated the need for Member States to adopt the recommendations outlined in the report, foster environments that enable SSE entities to thrive, and integrate the SSE into local, national, and global development strategies.

The recommendations set forth in the Report offer practical pathways to build inclusive, resilient economies that prioritize people and the planet over profit. The UN Inter-Agency Task Force on SSE will continue to provide a platform for fostering partnerships and sharing knowledge and experiences said Yasin Samatar, Senior Multilateral Cooperation Specialist at the ILO Office for the United Nations.

We call upon Member States to take decisive action by adopting these recommendations, fostering a conducive environment for SSE entities, and integrating the SSE into local, national, regional, and international development strategies. 
Yasin Samatar, Senior Multilateral Cooperation Specialist, ILO Office for the United Nations.

We hope the Report and the actions taken during this session will help harness the full potential of SSE entities to advance inclusion, decent work, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, also said Yasin Samatar.

Watch the on UNTV.

91×ÊÔ´È«¼¯ the UNTFSSE:

The UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) aims to raise the visibility of Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) within the UN system and beyond. The Members and Observers of the Task Force have committed to undertake collaborative activities to enhance the visibility of SSE entities, promote knowledge exchange, establish enabling institutional frameworks, and bolster international cooperation in accordance with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UNTFSSE is currently co-chaired by ILO and UNCTAD.