The social and solidarity economy (SSE) is gaining traction as a promising approach for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SSE enterprises operate across all sectors and integrate social, economic, and environmental objectives, contributing to all 17 SDGs. However, their impact on the SDGs depends on several factors, such as their unique characteristics and the socio-economic and environmental context in which they operate.
To ensure that SSE enterprises contribute to sustainable development’s social, economic, and environmental pillars effectively, national policies that actively support and strengthen SSE as a model for sustainable economic and social development are necessary. In April 2023, the UN General Assembly adopted a Resolution encouraging Member States to promote and implement such policies to enable SSE enterprises to contribute to the sustainability agenda.
Trade policy plays a crucial role in supporting SSE enterprises throughout the value chain. Governments have various policies available to them, including providing fiscal incentives, facilitating access to public funding, and integrating SSE considerations into public procurement systems.
To initiate a dialogue on how trade policy can help ensure that SSEs fully contribute to the sustainability agenda, this session brings together SSE actors, researchers, and relevant entities of the UN development system. The moderator will be Chantal Line Carpentier, while Ms. Elena Cima from the University of Geneva will speak about how trade policy can support sustainable economic growth while ensuring social equity and environmental protection.