The UN Inter-Agency Task Force on the Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) met virtually for its 54th Regular Meeting at a time when growing recognition of social and solidarity economy (SSE) in the global development agenda intersects with heightened uncertainty for multilateral cooperation.
© ILO
The meeting also noted the explicit references to cooperatives and the wiser SSE in the draft Doha Political Declaration that will be considered at the Second World Social Summit in Doha. The text underscores the SSE's contribution to poverty eradication, social inclusion and social transformation, and affirms commitments to supporting cooperatives and other SSE entities. This recognition comes amid multiple and interlinked global challenges - including rising inequality, ecological pressures, and the slow pace of progress on the SDGs. It underscores the relevance of the solidarity-based model that promotes cooperation, trust, inclusion and sustainability as a concrete pathway to achieving the global goals, Members and Observers welcomed the draft language as an important step toward further promoting and supporting the development of the SSE.
Members and Observers were encouraged to engage in the events at the Summit including those relevant to the SSE. It will also be an occasion that marks the formal closing of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 (IYC2025), celebrating a year of advocacy and initiatives that highlighted the role of cooperatives in advancing sustainable solutions, and echoing the recent UN Secretary-General's Report on Cooperatives in Social Development (A/80/168), which reviews progress and offers recommendations to strengthen cooperative contributions to sustainable development.
Looking ahead, the Secretariat briefed the Members and Observers of the Task Force on the ongoing preparations for the 5th Technical Symposium scheduled from 4 to 5 December 2025 in Murcia. The symposium is expected to provide a unique opportunity to take stock and set priorities for the Task Force in the two years ahead. These priorities will also inform the contents of the 2026 Secretary-General's report on SSE, and ensure alignment with broader global agendas, including follow-up to the World Social Summit.
The Secretariat further outlined the timeline for the 2026 Secretary-General's report and encouraged members to begin considering contributions and priorities for the drafting process. The UN SG reports to the General Assembly provide background for the negotiation and possible adoption of resolutions. A Group of Friends of the SSE at the United Nations will also be launched in Murcia, creating a platform for governments to coordinate more directly and sustain political advocacy for the SSE across multilateral processes.
The intention of the Group of Friends is to create a space where Member States can engage more directly with the Task Force. It's a way to formalize what is already happening informally, to raise visibility, and to build stronger political support for the SSE within the UN system. - Simel Esim, Chair of the UNTFSSE, Head of ILO COOP/SSE Unit
A real-time survey also captured members' reflections, highlighting advocacy, networking and policy coherence as core strengths of the Task Force, while noting that limited resources remain a continuing challenge.
Regional perspectives presented during the meeting demonstrated the breadth of engagement on the SSE: ESCAP reported on ASEAN's Inclusive Business Framework; ECLAC shared new research on social enterprises in Latin America; ESCWA highlighted the SSE as a pathway for informal-to-formal economy transitions in the Arab States; and the European Union announced a forthcoming Eurobarometer survey on awareness of the social economy.
The 54th meeting took place against what the UN Secretary-General has described as a "global development emergency," with only a fraction of SDG targets on track. Echoing his message to world leaders at the General Assembly that in the face of overlapping crises they must choose cooperation over chaos, participants stressed that the discussions in Doha and Murcia should help consolidate recognition of the SSE and strengthen its role in rebuilding trust, inclusion, and sustainable development.
