Euclid Network appointed to the UNTFSSE

Euclid Network (EN) is delighted to announce its appointment as observer to the United Nations Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE).

The UNTFSSE brings together UN agencies and other inter-governmental organizations, as well as umbrella associations of Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) networks as members and observers. Its aim is to raise the visibility of the SSE in international knowledge and policy circles, as the SSE holds considerable promise for addressing the economic, social and environmental challenges of our time in an integrated approach.  The former UNRISD Deputy Director, Peter Utting, describes the SSE as:

“Social and Solidarity Economy encompasses organisations and enterprises that: 1) have explicit economic and social (and often environmental) objectives; 2) involve varying degrees and forms of cooperative, associative and solidarity relations between workers, producers and consumers; 3) practice workplace democracy and self-management. SSE includes traditional forms of cooperatives and mutual associations, as well as women’s self-help groups, community forestry groups, social provisioning organisations or ‘proximity services’, fair trade organisations, associations of informal sector workers, social enterprises, and community currency and alternative finance schemes”.

As observer, EN will actively participate in the Task Force’s debates, and will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the topics discussed. EN is one of the fastest growing European networks for social enterprises and impact-driven leaders. Our network is also rapidly growing at the global level through our programmes in Russia, the Middle East and North Africa. Consequently, we are happy to join the UNTFSSE as an observer to help shape the international agenda on social enterprise and leverage the experience and expertise of our expanding community.

The taskforce organizes events at the UN and other international conferences; stimulates dialogue with policy makers; prepares and disseminates publications through the Knowledge Hub, and engages in collaborative projects involving the UNTFSSE members and observers. The most recent achievement of the UNTFSSEE is the launch of the Knowledge Hub, a platform that gathers research on the potential of the SSE for the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) put forward by the 2030 Agenda.

“We are happy to join the UNTFSSE as an observer to help shape the international agenda on social enterprise and leverage the experience and expertise of our expanding community.”