The GSEF at the ICA Global Conference: The SSE and Cooperatives Working Toward Lasting Peace

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9 October 2026 - 9:04pm

The GSEF at the ICA Global Conference: The SSE and Cooperatives as Drivers of Lasting Peace

From 14 to 18 September 2026, the GSEF participated in the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Global Conference, held in Panama under the theme “Building Bridges: Cooperative Contributions for a Peaceful World”. Through the participation of its Secretary General, Aude Saldana, and a video contribution from Philippe Adaime, Co-founder and CEO of Fair Trade Lebanon, the GSEF conveyed a clear message: the SSE plays a vital role in transforming economic systems and creating the conditions for lasting peace.

From Bordeaux to Panama: Bringing the Declaration for Lasting Peace to the International Stage

On 16 September, Aude Saldana, GSEF Secretary General, spoke at the session “Building Bridges Through Advocacy – Positioning Cooperatives for Peace and Sustainable Development”, which explored the role of cooperatives in promoting peace and sustainable development.

Moderated by Joseph Njuguna (ICA), the session brought together Thomas Blondeel (International Cooperative Entrepreneurship Think Tank – ICETT), Maaret Cañedo Lohikoski (ILO), Andrew Allimadi (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs – UNDESA) and Doug O’Brien (National Cooperative Business Association – NCBA CLUSA).

Discussions focused on strengthening the recognition and influence of cooperatives in public policymaking and multilateral processes, particularly by documenting their economic, social and environmental contributions.

On this occasion, Aude Saldana presented the BordeauxGSEF2025 Declaration for Lasting Peace, adopted at the 7th GSEF Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forum, held in Bordeaux in October 2025.

The Declaration calls for a profound transformation of economic models to address the root causes of conflict and create the conditions for lasting peace:

“We therefore call on leaders to act responsibly, create the conditions for peace, and urgently commit to a transition towards a resilient, equitable, redistributive and democratic economic model, of which the Social and Solidarity Economy can be a foundation.”

By placing social justice, decent work, democratic governance and solidarity at the heart of economic activity, the SSE helps reduce inequalities, strengthen social cohesion and build community resilience.

This vision is also central to the GSEF SSE and Peace Working Group, which seeks to highlight how the SSE contributes to transforming economic systems and creating the conditions for lasting peace.

Building Bridges Between the Cooperative Movement and the Different Families of the SSE

The GSEF’s participation in the ICA Global Conference reflects an ongoing commitment to cooperation among the different families of the Social and Solidarity Economy. Cooperatives, mutual societies, associations, foundations, social enterprises and self-help groups share fundamental principles, including the primacy of people over capital, democratic governance and the pursuit of collective interests, as recognised in the international definition of the SSE adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2022.

This convergence took concrete shape in September 2021 with the establishment of the International Coalition of the Social and Solidarity Economy (ICSSE), bringing together the GSEF, the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM), the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF), and SSE International Forum. Together, these organisations advocate for the international recognition and development of the SSE.

At BordeauxGSEF2025, the Coalition organised a session dedicated to the role of the SSE in building lasting peace.

The ICA Global Conference in Panama builds on this collective mobilisation, strengthening ties between the different families of the SSE and their ability to speak with a united voice in support of economic system transformation.

Listen to the International Coalition of the SSE session on lasting peace – BordeauxGSEF2025

Fair Trade Lebanon: How Fair Trade Contributes to Building Peace

The SSE’s concrete contribution to peace was also illustrated through a video testimony by Philippe Adaime, Co-founder and CEO of Fair Trade Lebanon, a Lebanese organisation and GSEF member.

Founded in 2006, Fair Trade Lebanon supports the economic development of rural communities in Lebanon by working with producers and developing value chains based on fair trade principles.

Drawing on his experience, Philippe Adaime highlighted three essential ways in which fair trade contributes to peacebuilding:

Bringing communities together around shared economic interests, fostering exchange, dialogue and cooperation.
Creating interdependence across value chains, building economic relationships in which cooperation becomes more beneficial than conflict.
Strengthening producers’ dignity and future prospects through fair prices, pre-financed orders and long-term trading relationships.

Fair Trade Lebanon’s experience demonstrates how solidarity-based economic practices can help reduce vulnerabilities, strengthen ties between communities and create opportunities for long-term development.

Philippe Adaime summed up this message with a powerful call to action:

“Do not treat the Social and Solidarity Economy as the soft part of the peace agenda. It is its infrastructure.”

Supporting cooperatives and other SSE organisations, ensuring their access to markets, finance and fair prices, also means addressing the economic and social foundations of peace.

The Panama Declaration: A Renewed Commitment to Peace

The ICA Global Conference concluded with the adoption of the Panama Declaration, reaffirming the role of the cooperative movement in promoting peace, social justice, democracy and sustainable development.

Echoing the BordeauxGSEF2025 Declaration for Lasting Peace, the Panama Declaration reflects a growing convergence among international SSE movements around a shared conviction: building lasting peace also requires economic models grounded in solidarity, cooperation and social justice.

These commitments provide a strong foundation for continued dialogue with public authorities and international institutions, and for advancing the role of the SSE in peacebuilding and development policies.

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