On September 19, 2024 the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the African Union (AU) hosted a joint webinar to present the preliminary findings and recommendations of their recent study on the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) in Africa based on results of mapping studies conducted in six African countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Zambia.
In August 2024, the AU adopted its 10-year Social and Solidarity Economy strategy and implementation plan, a significant step toward recognizing and promoting the SSE as a vital element of Africa’s sustainable development. Developed with support from the ILO, this strategy reflects global and regional efforts to harness the SSE as a vehicle for decent work and inclusive growth. For more information on these updates from the African region, see ILO/AU brief on recent SSE developments (available in Arabic, English, French, Portuguese).
The joint webinar brought together policymakers, social partners, SSE practitioners, and academics to discuss the featured presentation by Ms Kerryn Krige, Senior Lecturer at the Marshall Institute, with inputs from Mr Frederik Claeyé, Associate Professor at ICHEC Brussels Management School, who shared the preliminary findings from the synthesis report of the six-country studies. The report highlighted the diverse SSE landscape, spanning formal entities like cooperatives and social enterprises, and informal groups such as self-help organizations. The presentation identified common challenges and opportunities across the countries, underscoring the SSE’s role in creating decent work and supporting community resilience, despite limited understanding around it.
