The International Labour Organization (ILO) hosted a technical knowledge-sharing event in Turin from 10 to 11 December 2025, bringing together more than 30 participants from over 20 countries to discuss the role of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) in advancing social justice. The event, held at the ILO’s International Training Centre, coincided with the conclusion of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 and reflected on the first three years of the ILO’s Strategy and Action Plan on Decent Work and the SSE (2023–2029). The strategy provides a shared framework for promoting decent work, social inclusion, and sustainable development through SSE entities such as cooperatives and social enterprises.
The forum offered a platform for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to exchange experiences, review evidence, and explore ways to strengthen SSE contributions. Participants represented governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations, SSE networks, and academia from regions including Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the Arab States, Europe, and the Americas. Discussions highlighted how cooperatives and SSE entities contribute to decent work and social justice, and how policy, institutional support, and education and training systems can enhance these contributions. Regional perspectives included insights from the African Union’s Ten-Year Strategy for SSE and the Ibero-American Network for the Promotion of the SSE, emphasizing the importance of translating policy commitments into practical programs.
The event reviewed tangible results achieved through collaboration with ILO constituents and partners, covering 24 country programs and 25 development cooperation projects worldwide. Participants noted that 26 active ILO Decent Work Country Programmes now integrate SSE among their strategic priorities. They emphasized the role of SSE entities in supporting the care economy, informal economy, supply chains, and post-crisis contexts, while highlighting cross-cutting themes such as digital and environmental transitions, gender equality, economic inclusion, and competitiveness.
Study visits to cooperatives, social enterprises, and other local SSE entities in Turin allowed participants to observe how SSE models create jobs, foster social inclusion, stimulate innovation, and contribute to local development. Turin’s designation as European Capital of Innovation for 2024–25 showcased how coordinated public policies and partnerships can reinforce SSE development.
The knowledge exchanges led to several follow-up actions, including contributions to the upcoming United Nations Secretary-General’s report on SSE for sustainable development and efforts to position Turin as a hub for SSE capacity-building. Participants called for stronger collaboration among SSE partners, coalition-building, and engagement with regional development banks to advance SSE strategies globally. The event underscored the SSE as a key driver of decent work and social justice, linking practical experience with strategic planning to enhance collective impact.
