The United Nations (UN) has outlined the importance of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The SSE includes organisations like cooperatives, social enterprises, and mutual societies that prioritise social goals over profits, aiming to create a fairer and more sustainable world.

But why does SSE Matter for the 2030 Agenda? In answer to this question, the UN highlights several ways the SSE contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

1. Reducing Poverty and Creating Jobs: SSE organizations often focus on local communities, providing jobs and services to those most in need, which supports SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

2. Promoting Equality: By empowering marginalized groups and promoting democratic governance, the SSE helps reduce inequalities (SDG 10) and advance gender equality (SDG 5).

3. Encouraging Sustainable Practices: Many SSE entities focus on responsible consumption and production, directly contributing to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

4. Building Resilient Communities: The SSE fosters social cohesion and resilience, key to addressing global challenges like climate change, aligning with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

The UN suggests several actions to support the SSE in achieving the 2030 Agenda:

•    There is a need for Supportive Policies, where Governments should create favourable policies and legal frameworks for SSE organizations.

•    Education and Capacity Building is key with a need for continued investment in education and skills development for SSE actors being crucial.

•    This comes hand in hand with a need for improved access to finance and tailored financial products that can help SSE entities grow and scale their impact.

•    More research is needed to better understand the contributions of the SSE as well as international collaboration via global partnerships to help promote SSE principles worldwide.

This Position Paper of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy is available here.