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GSEF at a glance

About

The GSEF - Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy - is an international association of local governments and civil society networks engaged in the promotion of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) as a mean to achieve an inclusive and sustainable local development. GSEF promotes various forms of SSE, including social enterprises, cooperatives, foundations, mutuals and self-help groups that put people over profit. GSEF believes that systemic changes start first at the local level based on the partnership between civil society, and the public and private sectors. Thus, GSEF is co-chaired by both a local government (represented by the mayor of the chair city) and a representative of civil society networks. As of September 2024, the GSEF brings together 90 members on 5 continents coming from 37 countries.

Find out more about GSEF members

Main activities

In between its biennial forum on social and solidarity economy, which has grown to become one of the biggest international social economy gatherings in the world, GSEF operates in 5 key areas :

Forums

GSEF organises biennial international forums with its member cities across the continents. It is one of the most prestigious international gatherings on social and solidarity economy, bringing together all stakeholders from international organisations, local/central governments and civil society networks. GSEF Forums serve as a platform for mutual learning, agenda setting, and knowledge exchange. 

  • GSEF2013 ‘New Discovery of Collaboration’ (5-7 November 2013, Seoul, Korea)
  • GSEF2014 [inaugural meeting]: ‘Solidarity for Change’ (17-19 November 2014, Seoul, Korea)
  • GSEF2016 ‘Local Governments and Social Economy Stakeholders – Allies for the intelligent and sustainable development of cities’ (7-9 September 2016, Montreal, Canada)
  • GSEF2018 ‘Social Economy and Cities – Values and competitiveness for an inclusive and sustainable local development’ (1-3 October 2018, Bilbao, Spain)
  • GSEF2021 'Local Governments and Social Economy: co-creation of paths for a green and inclusive economy' (4-8 October 2021, Mexico City, Mexico)
  • GSEF2023 'Transitioning from informal economies to collective and sustainable economies for our territories' (May 1-6, 2023, Dakar, Senegal)
  • GSEF2025: 'The SSE, a precondition for a just transition towards resilient territories1 and the well-being of their inhabitants' (October 29-31 2025, Bordeaux, France)

 

What is the Social and Solidarity Economy?

(Source: UNTFSSE - United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy)

Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) refers to the production of goods and services by a broad range of organizations and enterprises that have explicit social and often environmental objectives, and are guided by principles and practices of cooperation, solidarity, equity and democratic self-management. SSE, therefore, is fundamentally about crafting a form of economy that is centred on social protection and equality. The SSE movement that is growing worldwide is attempting to reassert social control over the economy by prioritizing social objectives above profit maximization, recognizing the key role of collective action and active citizenship for both economic and political empowerment of disadvantaged groups in society, and reintroducing notions of ethics, sharing, equity and democracy in economic activity.

Attachments: 
PDF icon GSEF Presentation EN 2024.pdf