In recent years, the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) has gained a central place on the international policy agenda. Dozens of countries have adopted dedicated legislation, national strategies and financial instruments, supported by development banks and high-level declarations.
Three years after Resolution A/77/L.60, the United Nations Secretary-General has presented his second progress report. The central message is clear: political recognition is growing faster than effective implementation.
The challenge for the coming years will no longer be only to secure formal recognition of the social economy, but to translate it into genuinely operational institutions, accessible and adequate financing, reliable statistical systems and measurable results for communities and citizens.
The report highlights how the overall picture remains uneven, both across continents and between countries. For the European Union, the assessment can be considered positive, as most of the 63 actions included in the Social Economy Action Plan have been implemented, with at least €1.4 billion allocated through cohesion funds and €1.2 billion through the InvestEU guarantee fund.
At global level, one of the most significant developments of recent months has been the creation of the Group of Friends on the SSE, launched at the initiative of Brazil, Colombia and Spain. The Group is an open platform aimed at strengthening intergovernmental cooperation on the social economy, facilitating policy dialogue and the exchange of good practices and, more broadly, supporting multilateral processes. In July this year, the Group — which now includes more than 30 countries — published its first declaration, reaffirming governments’ commitment to supporting the social economy.
On September 25, 2026, in New York, the Group of Friends on the Social and Solidarity Economy, in collaboration with the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE), will meet to discuss the recommendations set out in the Secretary-General’s Report.
At a time of growing strain on the multilateral system, the Social Economy is an essential driver of social justice, decent work, inclusive and sustainable development, democratic participation and the building of resilient economic systems.
The conclusions of the report outline a clear agenda and set of objectives for the coming years:
- Strengthen a coherent legal and institutional environment, with clear responsibilities and the participation of Social Economy actors
- Enhance financial and non-financial support, while monitoring the impact and reach of interventions
- Integrate the Social Economy into sectoral development strategies — including employment, care, housing, agriculture, energy and culture — and promote social innovation
- Improve and harmonise data collection and statistical systems
- Strengthen the role of the Social Economy in multilateral processes and in the post-2030 agenda
For further information: https://unsse.org/
Read the full report: https://docs.un.org/en/A/81/288
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