2018 High Level Forum SSE session with UNRISD, UN-DESA

17 Jul 2018, New York

In collaboration with UNRISD, UN-DESA, we are hosting a SSE session on “Localizing the SDGs trough Social and Solidarity Economy for Sustainable and Resilient Societies'' - an official side event of the 2018 High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The session will take place on 17th Jul 2018 in New York.

Moderated by GSEF SG Lawrencia Kwark, speakers will discuss new research evidence and local government experience of SSE, and the enabling conditions which are needed for it to succeed in diverse contexts. Please, come and join us!

•Time: 10.00-12.00
•Location: Church Center of the United Nations, 777 United Nations Plaza, 
New York, NY 10017
•Donor(s): Global Social Economy Forum
•Counterpart(s): UN-DESA Department for Inclusive Social Development, 
Global Social Economy Forum

As an integrated and balanced approach to development, social and solidarity economy (SSE) has the potential to function as an intelligent means of localizing the 2030 Agenda. In keeping with the mandate of the HPLF to provide guidance and recommendations on implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the panellists at this event will share knowledge and experience on how SE is contributing to realizing the 2030 Agenda’s vision of transformation, and achieving the goals and targets at the local level, in particular in cities.
Programme

Moderator Laurence Kwark, Secretary-General of the Global Social Economy Forum (GSEF)

Opening remarks

  • Ambassador Ham Sang-wook, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations

  • Daniela Bas, Director, Division for Inclusive Social Development, UN-DESA

Speakers

  • Ilcheong Yi, UNRISD Senior Research Coordinator: SSE as a means of localizing and implementing the SDGs: Spotlight on the social economy in Seoul

  • Marguerite Mendell, Professor, Concordia University: Co-construction of policies for SSE in Quebec

  • Georgia Papoutsi, Policy Coordinator at the International Co-operative Alliance: Cooperatives and the SDGs in local settings

More speakers will soon be confirmed and announced. Check back soon for updates!

Practical information

  • No registration is required for this event. However, we will welcome attendants on a first-come-first-served basis.

  • This event will be held in a satellite venue of the HLPF. See the map.

  • This event will be video and audio recorded. If you would like to be notified when the video and the podcast are online, please send an email with "Audio/video notification: HLPF Side Event” in the subject line to sergio.sandoval@un.org

Background

Several characteristics of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) mean that it aligns well with the integrated nature of the SDGs, and with building sustainable and resilient societies from the local level up. SSE is grounded in the principles of solidarity, social cohesion and collective action; activities build and strengthen localized circuits of production, exchange and consumption; environmental and social costs are internalized rather than externalized; and it is rooted in the local political economy.

Localizing the SDGs means translating them from a global vision into local realities for communities, households and individuals. Goals and targets need to be adapted to local realities, needs and priorities. But for that to be done, certain enabling conditions—related to institutional arrangements, political forces and economic possibilities—need to be present. Speakers at the side event will discuss the role of SSE in providing such conditions in diverse contexts. They will explore concrete cases where SSE has contributed to building more inclusive, democratic, resilient and sustainable communities, and how these experiences can be leveraged towards implementation of the SDGs.

*Description from UNRISD website