On 6, 7 and 8 December, join ESSFI at the key international event of the Social and Solidarity Economy!

Paris 6 October 2017 – Do you know what Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) is?

Composed of co-operatives, mutuals, associations, foundations and social enterprises, this other economy is a source of inspiration, innovation and employment. Available data shows that there are around 2 million traditional social economy entities in Europe only, accounting for approximately 10-12% of all European businesses which represents over 14.5 million jobs¹! In the world, co-operatives alone address the needs of 3 billion people².

These figures and economic weight prove that Social and Solidarity Economy has a major role to play facing the current global challenges such as the digital revolution, new modes of production and work and climate change. Indeed, the Social and Solidarity Economy embodies another process of creation and sharing of wealth, which extends the notion of efficiency to ecological, social, civic and political dimensions.

Aiming to understand these many facets, the association SSE International Forum organizes next 6, 7 and 8 December the 8^th edition of the Mont-Blanc Meetings (MBM). These three days of exchange will focus on the new efficiency of the SSE through plenary sessions, cross perspectives and collaborative workshops. An inspiring space to co-create projects, the Project Place, will also be open to all.

Organized in the French Geneva region in partnership with local actors³, the MBM are unique: they gather all stakeholders of the five continents (political representatives, international institutions, leaders of the SSE, project holders and researchers) to encourage the sharing of good practices, the construction of efficient solutions and the emergence of projects.

More information on ESSFI website and press kit

¹ http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/578969/IPOL_STU(2016)578969_EN.pdf, page 32
² http://www.entreprises.coop/decouvrir-les-cooperatives/la-cooperation-dans-le-monde/international.html
³ Pôle Métropolitain du Genevois Français, Annemasse Agglo et Communauté de Communes du Genevois

SSE International Forum promotes Social and Solidarity Economy within a pluralistic economy and on all continents. For over 10 years, this international network has proved to be a real think tank in three fields of action:

► GATHER SSE leaders and major players, because sharing and the willingness to build together are at the core of this model;
► CO-CREATE sustainable and inclusive projects, because field initiatives provide clear evidence of SSE’s social, civic, environmental and economic efficiency;
► INFLUENCE policies and agendas for SSE, because stronger international acknowledgment will further develop this efficient and resilient model on all continents.

Initiator and permanent vice-secretary of the International Leading Group on Social and Solidarity Economy (ILGSSE), SSE International Forum is accredited by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and an observing member within the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on SSE (UNTFSSE).

SSE International Forum promotes Social and Solidarity Economy within a pluralistic economy and on all continents. For over 10 years, this international network has proved to be a real think tank in three fields of action:

► GATHER SSE leaders and major players, because sharing and the willingness to build together are at the core of this model;
► CO-CREATE sustainable and inclusive projects, because field initiatives provide clear evidence of SSE’s social, civic, environmental and economic efficiency;
► INFLUENCE policies and agendas for SSE, because stronger international acknowledgment will further develop this efficient and resilient model on all continents.

Initiator and permanent vice-secretary of the International Leading Group on Social and Solidarity Economy (ILGSSE), SSE International Forum is accredited by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and an observing member within the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on SSE (UNTFSSE).