African Union Adopts 10-Year Strategy on Social and Solidarity Economy with ILO Support

The STC-SDLE-5 session aimed to consider and adopt strategies to improve social and economic outcomes at both continental and regional levels.

The African Union (AU) has officially adopted a landmark 10-year strategy on Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and its implementation plan, marking a significant milestone in enhancing social development, labour, and employment across the continent. This decision followed a thorough experts' meeting held from July 29 to 31, 2024, as part of the fifth ordinary session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Social Development, Labour and Employment (STC-SDLE-5).

The STC-SDLE-5 session aimed to consider and adopt strategies to improve social and economic outcomes at both continental and regional levels. A key focus was the development of the SSE strategy, which benefitted from the technical support provided by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

On the first day of the experts' meeting, Jens Dyring Christensen, ILO's Senior Specialist for Sustainable Enterprises at DWT/CO Pretoria, presented on global and regional advancements in decent work and sustainable development through SSE. Christensen highlighted the tripartite definition of SSE from the 2022 International Labour Conference resolution and recent global developments, including the UN General Assembly resolution on SSE for sustainable development. He also discussed policy and legislative developments in Africa and ILO's technical assistance in the region.

During the discussions, experts from various African Ministries of Labour, employers' and workers' organizations shared insights on the opportunities and challenges in promoting SSE for decent work and social justice. The meeting culminated in the endorsement of the 10-year AU SSE strategy and its implementation plan, which was recommended for adoption by Labour Ministers.

The strategy was unanimously adopted by AU Member States' Ministers of Labour during a ministerial meeting on August 1, 2024. In her closing remarks on August 2, 2024, ILO's Regional Director for Africa, Ms. Fanfan Rwanyindo Kayirangwa, praised the Ministers for acknowledging the potential of SSE in promoting decent work and social justice. She highlighted that this strategy is the second regional strategy globally, following the EU's Social Economy Action Plan of 2021. Kayirangwa emphasized the strategy's timeliness and alignment with contemporary global trends, referencing the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting, which made multiple references to SSE.

The joint AU-ILO brief available in Arabic, English, French, and Portuguese provides an overview of recent developments related to the AU Ten-Year SSE Strategy and Implementation Plan. It reflects the commitment of both organizations to advance the SSE for inclusive and prosperous societies, in line with the aspirations of Agenda 2063.