Members Guidelines

The Global Vision on Social Solidarity Economy (Feb. 2015) – which is the result of a long, ongoing process, culminated in the international meeting in Manila (2013), sets out the shared values and principles and the different approaches to SSE. In Europe the network has also been working on identifying the common practices and vision for solidarity economy.

In particular, the following objectives of RIPESS Europe were defined in the Foundation Congress in Barcelona (2011):
• Making the networks, actors and experiences of solidarity economy visible (internal and external visibility)
• Sharing experiences and good practices
• Developing and promoting economic cooperation between networks and actors of Solidarity Economy
• Building joint and shared projects
• Developing a collective intelligence
• Building a common voice
• Expanding to Northern and Eastern Europe, to achieve a greater cultural and linguistic diversity

 1) The promotion of territorial ecosystems and the support to the emergence of new networks.
2) The continuation of the effort to develop and recognize the solidarity economy, the co-construction of public policies, advocacy.
3) The creation and strengthening of alliances, both at the institutional level and with other transformative economy movements.
4) Strengthen the SSE foundations and the narrative of reclaiming economy in all its aspects.

The Strategic orientations document is available here

Members are the nodes and actors of the network, so it is up to them to have a live and vibrant community of exchanges and cooperation and to orient the strategy and action of the network. To do this, they can take part in coordination, in the working groups (now circles), invite and be invited at Solidarity Economy events or participate in common European-wide advocacy campaigns, suggest and lead specific actions, have peer-exchanges and convergence activities involving other members of the network.

The operation of the network relies on the work of the RIPESS Europe team, dealing with projects and intercooperation, communication, membership, alliances and cooperation with other networks/movements, advocacy and finances.

RIPESS Europe is a nonprofit association registered according to the law in Luxembourg in 2011. All the information on the RIPESS Europe’s mission and objectives, articles of association and rules and regulations can be found on the website (www.ripess.eu/governance). RIPESS Europe functions as a network with a light structure, allowing for the participation of members in most activities.

General Assembly
The main governing body is the General Assembly of all its members, which meets 2 or 3 times per year (in person and digitally) and elects the Coordination Committee.
Every 2 or 3 years the General Assembly is integrated in a larger event – the Solidarity Economy European Congress, hosted by one of the members. Since the founding Congress in Barcelona (September 2011), there have been other 6 General Assemblies (Lille 2013, Paris 2014, Berlin 2015, Paris 2016, Athens 2017, Zagreb 2018, Lyon 2019, Virtual 2020, Paris 2021, Wroclaw 2022, Paris 2023, Geneva 2024), three of which were also congresses.
The General Assembly is also a great opportunity to meet in person with other members and have the chance to discuss the strategy and the activities of the network as well as to share ideas and projects with other organisations.

Coordination Committee
The Coordinating committee meets 1-2 times a year in face-to-face meetings and works online for the rest of the time. Members who are not part of the Coordination Committee can participate and comment without voting rights.
The Coordination Committee consists of the representatives of the main working Circles (Ecosystems, Foundations, Movement building, Policy) which are the basis for the activities outlined in the Activity Plan of the Network approved by the General Assembly. Every working Circle proposes a coordinator who is a candidate at the Coordination Committee. Thus, the Coordination Committee consists of at least 3 members derived from the functional circles (communication, finance, knowledge) and 4 members representatives of the main working Circles.
The Coordination bureau consists of the Coordinators of the Network, the representatives of the functional circles according to the Statute of the Association (communication, finance) and the General Delegate with executive functions without voting rights.

Criteria:
• Agree and support Network’s Global vision, mission and strategy. All members according to their own means should facilitate all activities related to social solidarity economy and related concepts principles and practices.
• Have a professional or a volunteer occupation on issues related to cooperatives, community led initiatives, non (for) profit organisations in social solidarity economy – cooperative – self management field.

1. European Networks: formal or informal networks of European, sectorial or other types of associations
2. National/regional Networks: formal or informal networks at the country/regional level consisting of national or regional organisations or initiatives.
3. Supporters/ Promoters and policy making organisations who promotes SSE according to ILO and UNFSSE
4. Specialised members: other solitary institutions and associations, such as think tanks, research institutes, universities, supporting the aims and objectives of the Network
5. Ripess Europe has no individual members

1. Recognition: Being part of a growing network that represents many different instances, sectors, national and regional networks of SSE, at the grassroot and institutional level
2. Framing, enhance and expand the foundations of SSE.
3. Mutual learning experiences and collaborations that can take place thanks to the digital platforms and space framed by RIPESS Europe. 
4. Professional, social and economic empowerment through members collaborations and exchange.
5. Be part of the systemic change by contributing in connecting and multiplying experiences.

• Communication tools: Receive newsletters, articles, announcements, calls from Networks members and from allies such as Ecolise, GEN etc.
• Use Ripess Newsletter as a dissemination tool for your Network/Organisation activities. Use Ripess’ social media to promote your activities.
• Be part of the members mailing list, online forums and all online cooperation tools such as Nextcloud, Odoo and more.
• Capacity Building: have access in training / education activities co-promoted by RIPESS Europe and allying Networks. Use and access specific tools such as Moodle Edu.Ripess.eu
• Collaboration opportunities: Possibilities to participate in european projects developed by RIPESS Europe, RIPESS Intercontinental, allying Networks or consortium created by members.
• Webinars and other peer learning experiences.
• Support to build a national/regional SSE network.
• Shared advocacy: Policy making processes, advocacy processes and more.

• Be officially representive of the one of the member categories’ above.
• Agree with or consent to the Statute and Network’s voted strategic documents.
• General Assemblies participation: Be represented at the Network’s General Assemplies or other activities by at least 1 delegate.
• Ripess organsises 1 GA in person and one or two digital, annually. It is mandatory to have at least one attendance per 2 years in present or online in order to maintain full rights membership.
• Pay the annual membership fee (100€) and have a right to vote at the GA. The annual fee could be waved for very special reasons upon request and after CoCo’s approval.

• Participate in a working thematic Circle, at the intercooperation activities and more opportunities shared.
• Content creation and information diffusion such as newsletters, materials, advocacy papers produced by RIPESS.
• Help to build and strengthen alliances on the ground, by involving their members in initiatives related to RIPESS and the European dimension of SSE
• Communicate the vision of SSE and promote the networks activities (through your website, social media, articles, events or publications
• Initiate and participate in the projects with other RIPESS Europe members
• Host a meeting of the Coordination committee (and a public event)

• Each member has the right to lead a working circle and be candidate for the Coordination Commitee
• Each member has the right to actively participate, contribute, influence Networks strategy, priorities, representation
• Share your organisations’/publications and documents through socioeco.org

To apply for membership in RIPESS Europe, you may fill in the application online (https://ripess.eu/en/governance/how-to-become-a-member) and consider participating in some event such as the General Assembly meetings, as observers.
You can also contact the RIPESS Europe team to have more information and respond to your questions.
Contact info@ripess.eu and we will contact you!