Dear GSEF Members, Partners and Friends,
 

2021 has been a challenging year with the relentless COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather events due to climate change, rising poverty and unemployment, and widening inequality.

The unprecedented health, environmental, economic and social crises have affected not only the most vulnerable groups but also marked everyone’s lives, which call for responses based on solidarity and cooperation.

In the midst of persistent suffering and hardship, GSEF is continuously making progress in promoting Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) to tackle these challenges and in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Looking back at the year 2021, GSEF has made huge strides forward in terms of breadth and depth:

• At the General Assembly held on 5th October 2021, along with the Charter amendment, new governance of GSEF has been established with the elected Chair & Co-Chair Cities and Organizations as well as the Steering Committee member organizations for this upcoming term of 2021-2023.
• Both full and associate members from countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin and Central America who newly joined GSEF this year are more than welcome. You can find the most recent membership status here.
• GSEF, in collaboration with Mexico City and INAES, successfully organized GSEF 2021 with the theme of Local Governments and Social Economy: co-creation of paths for a green and inclusive economy in a hybrid format from 4th to 8th October. At GSEF2021, the Mexico City Declaration has been issued, which reaffirms the commitment that local governments and social economy actors must all work together to overcome the COVID-19 crisis.

As we head into 2022, GSEF Secretariat is in the process of transition from Seoul to Bordeaux. At this critical juncture, GSEF will continue to strengthen SSE to pave the way for a viable, resilient, people-centered, democratic, inclusive and sustainable post-COVID-19 development. Together, we can get there.

We hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday. We wish you a wonderful Seasonal Holiday and a very Happy New Year.


Laurence Kwark,
Secretary General, Global Social Economy Forum