Towards a Social Economy Programme for Africa Links with Development Frameworks

Structure Development Frameworks Regional Priorities: Africa Social economy, development framewroks and regional priorities

Framework Evolution 2004 WCSDG 1999 DWA 2009 90th 1919 Constitution 1944 Philadelphia 1969 Nobel 1998 FPRW 2008 SJFG 2019 100th 80 years of Social Justice 10 years of Decent Work Back to Social Justice?

Framework Inflation GJP Ouaga Roadmap Implementation SPF P&B Global Regional National MDGs NEPAD PRSP DWA DWAA DWCP UNDAF

Multiple Linkages DWAA 2008 Declaration ILO Activity P&B Outcomes GJP DWCP/CO UNDAF

Regional Priorities The Ouagadougou Summit Declaration, Plan of Action and Follow-up Mechanism  the growth – employment - poverty reduction nexus; The Decent Work Agenda for Africa 2007 - 2015: 17 objectives, 17 targets; The Decent Work Crisis Portfolio: proposed action at 4 levels; The Ouagadougou roadmap: a subset of action derived from the Global Jobs Pact; The regional priorities for the 2010-11 biennium: rural employment, youth employment, upgrading the informal economy

Common Issues The rediscovering of the rural: two thirds of Africa’s population, largest “employer”, large DW deficits. The acknowledgement of the informal: 80% of the labour force, largest “employer” in the cities, large DW deficits. The recognition of the youths: half of the population, growing labour force, large DW deficits. Social protection, social dialogue and labour standards in relation to these three groups  a target-group specific Decent Work Agenda

The Social Economy and Decent Work Congruence between the Social economy values and principles, the fundamental labour standards and human rights  value-based business In countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain and the US, the social economy provides jobs to more than 10% of the national workforce  group-based self-employment Health cooperatives and mutuals in Europe, Asia and Latin America provide social protection to a significant portion of the population  protection based on mutuality, solidarity and reciprocity Social economy entities organize the civil society and thus broaden social dialogue  horizontal and vertical integration

The Triple Role of the Social Economy Social role Education Health Community care Economic role Employment Growth Finance LED Societal role Democracy Social dialogue Civil society The triple role of Cooperatives Cooperatives are not only enterprises or businesses – they are also associations of people who work together. Therefore, cooperatives play a triple role in the economy and the society of the countries inn which they operate: cooperatives contribute to economic progress just as any other type of enterprise; they foster economic growth, create employment, participate in local economic development, and provide financial services (to name just a few). In many countries, cooperatives are a very important factor of the national economy. In Germany, for example, over 50% of all small businesses are members of a cooperative. Cooperatives play a social role; they provide social services such as health insurance, primary health care, primary education, child care etc. Because they are locally based, cooperatives show concern for their community, and therefore participate in community development (there are also cooperatives that have been founded with the specific goal of community development). Concern for community also includes concern for the environment. Thirdly, cooperatives play a political role.They are not political organizations, but because they are active in society, cooperatives do play a role in politics, both at local level and, through apex organizations, at the national level. In many countries, cooperatives have introduced democracy at the local level, in remote villages and in the informal sector. Moreover, cooperatives represent those who normally would not have any voice. They enable poorer, excluded people to participate in the social dialogue, alongside trade unions and employers’ organizations. This ability of cooperatives to play a triple role is a unique feature – it makes the difference between cooperatives and enterprises on the one hand, and cooperatives and associations on the other.

Social Economy and Poverty Alleviation Protection Opportunity Empower-ment Cooperatives can fight poverty The World Bank, which in recent years has become much more sensitive to the issue of poverty, has stressed in its World Development Report 2000-2001 that the only way out of poverty is a combination of opportunity, protection and empowerment. In other words, if you give poor people the opportunity to work and earn an income, if your provide them and their families with basic social protection, and when you give them a voice through empowerment, then you will give them a spark of hope to escape from poverty. When we look at the triple role of cooperatives, then we realize that cooperatives can do exactly this: the economic role of cooperatives creates opportunity, the social role of cooperatives provides protection, and the political role of cooperatives empowers people. In other words: if we develop cooperatives, we fight poverty!

The Social Economy Matrix Opportunity Protection Empowerment Regional Ensure portability National Create conducive environment Build vertical structures Meso Local Organize people and communities