Article by Ripess Europe

On September 19, 2024, a significant milestone was achieved in Germany’s social and solidarity economy (SSE) landscape with the establishment of the Verbund Kooperatives Wirtschaften – Social Solidarity Economy Germany e.V. (VKW). This newly formed alliance unites ten founding organizations, each bringing decades of experience and commitment to cooperative economic practices. Collectively, they represent over 2,000 enterprises nationwide, spanning sectors such as agriculture, energy, research, digital platforms, and community development.

The founding members of VKW include:

VKW’s mission is to serve as a national network that connects, strengthens, and advocates for SSE actors across Germany. By fostering collaboration among diverse organizations, VKW aims to enhance the visibility of solidarity-based economic models and promote their adoption as viable alternatives to traditional profit-driven systems. The network emphasizes the importance of cooperative principles, democratic participation, and community empowerment in building a more equitable and sustainable economy.

Central to VKW’s vision are its core values: commitment to the common good, needs-based economic activities, civil society engagement, solidarity in economic relations, democratic participation, communal resource utilization, and self-empowerment. These principles guide the network’s efforts to create supportive frameworks for SSE initiatives, advocate for favorable policies, and facilitate knowledge exchange among members. Through these endeavors, VKW seeks to contribute to a transformative economic paradigm that prioritizes social well-being and environmental sustainability.

Additionally VKW is active in public policies formation and welcomes the National Strategy for Common Good-Oriented Enterprises and Social Innovation (SIGU), presented by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). This strategy recognizes the key role of common-good enterprises as drivers of social innovation and as important economic actors addressing societal challenges through entrepreneurial means. To expand this impact, VKW emphasizes the need for improved access to financial support, a stronger enabling ecosystem, and legal reforms.

In particular, VKW urges the continuation of the Nachhaltig Wirken program with sufficient federal funding, the inclusion of social and ecological criteria in public procurement, a reform of nonprofit law to enable social enterprises to generate revenue, and the structural anchoring of solidarity-based economic models at the federal level. These steps are essential to secure long-term development and policy recognition for common good-oriented enterprises. VKW also endorses the demands outlined by the Social Entrepreneurship Network Germany (SEND), reinforcing a broad alliance for systemic transformation.

The launch of VKW marks a pivotal step in consolidating Germany’s SSE movement, providing a unified platform for organizations dedicated to cooperative and solidarity-based economic practices. As the network continues to grow and evolve, it invites like-minded entities and individuals to join in shaping a more inclusive and resilient economic future. For more information and to become part of this initiative, visit www.kooperativ-wirtschaften.de.

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