Participation of the Network in the Social and Solidarity Economy Forum

The URUNANI Africa Network was represented by its focal points from Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the Global Social Economy Forum (GSEF), held in Bordeaux from October 29 to 31, 2025. The delegation participated in plenary sessions and workshops, and also led a roundtable discussion dedicated to international partnerships as a lever for addressing contemporary challenges in the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). 

Nearly 10,000 public, civil society, and economic actors gathered to exchange practices, policies, and tools aimed at promoting social justice, ecological transition, and democratic governance at both local and international levels. The Forum’s main objective was to strengthen cooperation between territories and networks in order to transform local initiatives into public policies and concrete projects. 

Discussions focused on six main areas: territorial governance and the role of local authorities; solidarity-based financing (local funds, impact investment, and innovative financial partnerships); international partnerships and decentralized cooperation for knowledge-sharing and capacity-building; inclusive employment and youth engagement, particularly social entrepreneurship; ecological transition and sustainable food systems, with special attention to short supply chains and environmentally respectful agriculture; and social innovation, with the goal of documenting and scaling up replicable practices. 

The roundtable led by the Ivory Coast focal point highlighted the importance of formalizing cooperation frameworks, strengthening local capacities through technical support units, and encouraging cross-border solidarity value chains. 

Among the key outcomes and commitments highlighted at the end of the GSEF were: a call to make the Social and Solidarity Economy a normative reference in local and national public policies by integrating social and environmental criteria into public procurement; confirmation of a continuum of territorial actions and “pathway initiatives” to better anchor SSE locally while reinforcing international cooperation; the announcement of the next GSEF to be held in Maricá, Brazil in 2027; and operational recommendations promoting local financing mechanisms, the development of social impact assessment tools, and improved access for young people and women to SSE initiatives and support systems.