Latin America and the Caribbean

The solidarity economy and fair trade movement in Latin America is an important emerging force in the democratic transformation of existing economic and social relations.

It was here that RIPESS was born. The international network of solidarity economy initiatives began in July 1997 in Lima (Peru), with a gathering of over 200 projects from 32 countries and spanning five continents. At this first meeting of the Globalisation of Solidarity, a joint declaration was published to protest the hegemony of the neoliberal development model. It proposed the recognition and development of solidarity in our economy as well as committing to building networks of solidarity economy in all countries.

Since then, networks and platforms of SSE have been built in Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico and Peru. There are also coordinating bodies in Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador and Colombia as well as in some Central American and Caribbean countries. Five Latin American solidarity economy and fair trade meetings have been organised (Cochabamba in 2005, Havana in 2007, Montevideo in 2008, Medellin in 2010, Rio de Janeiro in 2012 and Managua in 2015).

The objective of RIPESS LAC is the coordination of these networks and articulation of shared interests within an overall programme.

This involves producing, exchanging and consuming goods and services that meet the economic and social needs of both the local and the international communities and building harmonious relationships between economic actors. Social and solidarity economy thus reinstates the value of work rather than that of capital. It meets peoples’ and communities’ needs in a way that reaches beyond profit-making.

Solidarity economy models are based on democratic decision-making processes and a system of participatory management that is transparent and aimed at collective sharing of economic results as well as motivation, participation and long-lasting success.

The contribution of the this economy can be measured by its impact on local, national and international development, especially through the creation of permanent jobs, development of new services, improved quality of life, the contribution it makes to gender equity, environmental protection and ethical creation of wealth.