The 2020 edition of the Social and Solidarity Economy International Forum featured a series of webinars on the social and solidarity economy (SSE), digitisation, globalisation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) held on 24 September.
ICA President Ariel Guarco was a panellist in a webinar on the role of the SSE in promoting the SDGs. He talked about the cooperative movement’s commitment to the UN’s sustainable development agenda - particularly through the ICA’s strategic plan adopted at its General Assembly in Kigali in 2019. The plan is aligned with the 2030 sustainable development agenda in terms of goals and timeline, he said.
He added that the strategic plan is not just a declaration of commitment. The ICA has identified a series of focused goals and - working with members - is developing indicators to show the contribution of cooperatives. These indicators will be presented at the next World Cooperative Congress in Seoul in December 2021.
“Sustainable development requires businesses that are compatible with this vision and which, due to their governance, can account for the triple dimension of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental”, said Mr Guarco. The COVID-19 crisis was a consequence of an economic system that prioritised profit, accumulating capital and gaining short-term benefits, he argued. By contrast, cooperatives focus on meeting their members’ needs and benefiting their communities while adopting a long-term approach.
Jurgen Schwettmann, a former ILO official and ILO COOP Chief now a consultant, said the SSE had not been adequately reflected in the UN’s 2030 agenda. He believes it will be important to influence the SDG periodic review process to gain greater visibility.
The Social and Solidarity Economy International Forum is run by The Mont-Blanc Meetings, an association governed by a board of directors, elected by the UN’s General Assembly.
