Habitat III Outcomes: The New Urban Agenda

17-20 October, Quito, Ecuador

Habitat III, the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development took place in Quito, Ecuador from 17 to 20 October. With more than 30,000 participants, the conference officially adopted the New Urban Agenda, the historic blueprint to transform the ways of establishing sustainable urban development for the next 20 years.

Especially in the New Urban Agenda (in article 58), the social and solidarity economy was recognized as an international agenda through the collective efforts of international advocacy groups for SSE, including UNTF SSE, RIPESS, FMDV, MBM, INAISE, and GSEF.

“58. We commit to promote an enabling, fair, and responsible business environment, based on the principles of environmental sustainability and inclusive prosperity, promoting investments, innovations, and entrepreneurship. We also commit to address the challenges faced by local business communities, through supporting micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises and cooperatives throughout the value chain, in particular businesses and enterprises in the social and solidarity economy, operating in both the formal and informal economies.”

One of GSEF’s Steering Committee Member, the MBM and the International Leading Group on Social and Solidarity Economy (ILGSSE) also organized a side event on October 17, focusing on the central role of social and solidarity economy (SSE) to strategically implement the New Urban Agenda. Mayors, government officials, and civil society leaders gathered in the event, and promoted about the SSE as an innovative, inclusive, sustainable, and transformative approach to achieve the New Urban Agenda.