Who we are
RIPESS LAC is a continental network that brings together various community-based, associative, co-operative and mutual organisations as well as citizens’ movements that work towards the implementation of solidarity economy in Latin America. We contribute the production and sharing of resources and knowledge that creates the basis of an alternative movement to the current capitalist system.


What we believe in
The mission of RIPESS LAC is to build and promote solidarity economy including the social and ethical dimensions in all economic activities. RIPESS LAC is convinced that the development of human capacities is essential to change the world and that it is possible to do so through the creation of solidarity-based networks.
Areas of work
RIPESS LAC work focuses on four main themes:
- Solidarity finance
- Fair trade and responsible consumption
- Advocacy and building public policies
- Development of coordination and economic inclusion mechanisms
This is linked to the following objectives:
- Contribute to strengthening SSE as a sustainable alternative and systemic change
- Influence and jointly build public policy with social movements and thus put forward proposals for important socio-economic and cultural change at national and regional level
- Communicate information from all SSE network actors and beyond
- Strengthen reflection on and dissemination of SSE.
Some Actions

Solidarity economy and fair trade meetings
RIPESS LAC has participated in the organisation of several meetings that brought together many SSE actors in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The 6 solidarity economy and fair trade meetings:
- 1st meeting: September 2005 in Cochabamba, Bolivia (es)
- 2nd meeting: February 2007, Havana, Cuba (es)
- 3rd meeting: October 2008, Montevideo, Uruguay (es)
- 4th meeting: July 2010 Medellin, Colombia (es)
- 5th meeting: June 2012, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (PT) + see video as well
- 6th meeting: April 2015, Managua, Nicaragua
Members
All networks and national coordination bodies of solidarity economy and fair trade can become members of RIPESS LAC. This includes la Mesa de Coordinación Latinoamericana de Comercio Justo, la Coordinadora Latinoamericana de Pequeños Productores de Comercio Justo, la Rel UITA)
Thus far 13 countries have member networks in RIPESS LAC. In Central America: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Salvador. In South America: Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru.

Pecosol – Plataforma de EconomÃa Solidaria de Centro América
Countries: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica





Movimiento de EconomÃa Solidaria y Comercio Justo de Bolivia
Country:Â Bolivia


Mesa Nacional de Trabajo cooperativo y solidario de Colombia
Country:Â Colombia

Mesa de Coordinación Latinoaméricana de Comercio Justo (MCLCJ)

Espacio ECOSOL
Country:Â Mexico
Resources
- Guia para el Mapeo y relevamiento de la EconomÃa Popular Solidaria en latinoamérica y Caribe
- Foro de profesionales para la economÃa social
- La historia de la economÃa social y solidaria en la historia de america latina y el caribe
- Por una integración solidaria de los pueblos de América Latina y el Caribe, Memoria del III Encuentro Latinoamericano de EconomÃa Solidaria y Comercio Justo
- Afirmando prácticas democráticas y estrategias solidarias para un desarrollo sustentable, Memoria del II Encuentro Latinoamericano de EconomÃa Solidaria y Comercio Justo – RIPESS Región Latinoamérica
- Intercambio visiones sobre una economÃa responsable, plural y solidaria
- Movimento de economÃa social y solidaria del Ecuador, Circuitos Económicos Solidarios interculturales
-
Regional Policy Frameworks of Social Solidarity Economy in South America, UNRISD, Marcelo Saguier, Zoe Brent, May 2013
Executive Committee
The regional management committee of RIPESS LAC is made up of:
- Alfonso Cotera – Mesa de Coordinación Latinoamericana de Comercio Justo (MCLCJ)
- Walter López – Plataforma de EconomÃa Solidaria Centroamericana (PECOSOL)
- Raul Luna – Grupo Red de EconomÃa Solidaria del Perú (GRESP)
- Luciano Mina – Fórum Brasileiro de EconomÃa Solidaria (FBES)
- Alicia Canaviri Mallcu – Movimiento de EconomÃa Solidaria y Comercio Justo de Bolivia
- Patricio Bravo – Movimiento de EconomÃa Solidaria del Ecuador (MESSE)
- Ana Leighton – Red de EconomÃa Solidaria de Santiago (Chile)
- Nicolás Cruz Tineo – Red de Organizaciones de EconomÃa Solidaria de República Dominicana (REDESOL)
- Altagracia Villarreal – Espacio ECOSOL México
- Luis Eduardo Salcedo – Mesa Nacional de Trabajo Cooperativo y Solidario de Colombia
Contact us
- RIPESS LAC: americalatinacaribe@ripess.org
Join RIPESS LAC
If your territorial, sectorial or inter-sectorial network or initiative would like to join RIPESS LAC, you are more than welcome to join. Your membership would strengthen the visibility of your organisation at continental level and would enable you to share your experience and practice with others.