This webinar is aimed at the FfD4 negotiators. The webinar’s objective is to follow up on UNGA resolution 79/213, adopted in December 2024, that “encourages Member States to consider how the social and solidarity economy could contribute to and feature in relevant upcoming multilateral processes, such as the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development”.

Webinar Details

Date: Monday, May 19, 2025.
Time: 15-16: 30 CEST (Check your local time).
Zoom registration: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/zGHyPXSsQCqkbLTexNgQlg

Organized by: the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Financial Access and Support for SSE entities of the United Nations inter-agency Task Force on the Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) and the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS).

With the collaboration of: Ibero-American Network for the Promotion of Social and Solidarity Economy, Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, Government of France, Second Vice Presidency of the Government, Ministry of Labor and Social Economy of Spain, Special Administrative Unit of Solidarity Organizations, Ministry of Labor of the Colombian Government

With the support of: Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation of the Government of Catalonia (ACCD)

Background

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution77/281 on “Promoting the social and solidarity economy for sustainable development”, adopted in April 2023, recognizes the contribution of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) to the multiple dimensions of sustainable development and encourages a range of policies at local, national, regional and global levels, including to address the financial challenges faced by SSE entities to develop and scale up their contribution to sustainable development.

The 2024 resolution further calls on member States to “facilitating access for social and solidarity economy entities to financial services and funding, and capacity-building; and for the FfD4 process and its follow up to “Encourages multilateral, international and regional financial institutions and development banks to support the social and solidarity economy, including through existing and new financial instruments and mechanisms adapted to all stages of development”.

Noting that SSE language had not been reflected in the first draft of the FfD4 outcome, which will be the basis for Part 1 of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee (PrepCom 4) negotiations.

This webinar will firstly take stock of the current negotiations as of mid-May, reviewing progress with Member States and civil society organizations advocating for the inclusion of SSE ahead of the mid-June PrepCom[1]. It will also discuss possible ways forward to reflect the mandate of Resolution 79/213. (Possible amendments with supporting arguments based on the first draft FfD 4 outcome document are included in Annex 2). Secondly, the webinar will be the opportunity to share practical ways to optimally scale up financing of SSE, especially in developing countries, based on the report of the TWG  and a UNTFSSE Policy Brief “Financing for development: Unlocking the potential of the social and solidarity economy”(forthcoming).

The of role of SSE for resilient, inclusive and sustainable economies, in addition to being recognized in the  two UN resolutions, was also recognized in the ILO resolution on decent work and SSE, the OECD Recommendation on SSE and social innovation, the European Commission Social Economy Action Plan,  the African Union’s Ten-year SSE Strategy and Implementation Plan, and the creation of the Ibero-American Network for the Promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy (RIFESS). This makes it imperative to include SSE in the FfD4 outcome and its follow-up.

Programme

Introductions

Ms. Chantal Line Carpentier (Moderator), Head, Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Division on International Trade and Commodities, UNCTAD, and Chair of the TWG of the UNTFSSE –Welcoming address.

Ms. Sandra Moreno Cadena, Executive Secretary of the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) – Framing SSE in the FfD4 process.

Part 1. State of FfD4 negotiations on the inclusion of SSE and possible ways forward

Speakers

Ms. Mónica Colomer, Ambassador at Large for Financing for Development, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Spain.

Mr. Jaime Iglesias Sánchez-Cervera, Special Commissioner for the Social Economy, Ministry of Labor and Social Economy, Second Vice Presidency, Spain.

Mr. Maxime Baduel.Ministerial Delegate for the Social and Solidarity Economy, Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, Government of France. 

Mr. Mauricio Rodriguez, National Director of the Special Administrative Unit of Solidarity Organizations, Ministry of Labor of the Colombian Government; Coordinator of the Ibero-American Network of Governments for the Promotion of the SSE.

Dr. Abbas Kadhim Obaid, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Permanent mission of Iraq to the United Nations in New York. (TBC).

Dr Sabelo Mbokazi, Head, Labour, Employment and Migration Division of the African Union Commission (tbc).

Discussion

Part 2. Practical ways to scale up SSE financing in the Global South

Mr. Víctor Meseguer Sánchez, Deputy Director General of Abacus Cooperative and former International Consultant on SSE, UNCTAD – Presentation of UNTFSSE report: “Strengthening Access to Finance and Support for SSE entities: a collection of good practices”.

Mr. Yvon Poirier, Special advisor on advocacy and governance at RIPESS – Presentation of concept note “Implementing UN recommendations for SSE financing: Proposals for an intermediary organizational approach”.

Discussion

Closing remarks

Ms. Simel Esim, Head, Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy Unit, ILO, and Chair of the UNTFSSE.

Join us!

Join this dialogue to advance the mainstreaming of the social and solidarity economy in the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4).

Date: Monday, May 19, 2025.
Time: 15-16: 30 CEST (Check your local time).
Zoom registration: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/zGHyPXSsQCqkbLTexNgQlg