Paving the way for the IV World Forum on Local Economic Development (LED), actors of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) gathered in Praia from July 20 to 22, 2017, at the International Seminar, “The Role of the Social Economy and Solidarity in the Local Economic Development Process and in the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, promoted by Citi-Habitat in alliance with the government of Cape Verde, the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS).

During the seminar, SSE organizations, local authorities, government representatives, academia and other relevant stakeholders have shown their enthusiasm and effectively participated in the discussions on the central role that SSE can play in localization of the SDGs.

Participants noted that although some African countries are experiencing positive results in their growth rate, poverty and exclusion remain a serious problem that governments must urgently address through their development policies.

After extensive exchange of experiences and fruitful discussions, participants called for the following:

The participants of the seminar have committed to contribute to the process of the IV World LED Forum that will take place from October 17 to 20, 2017 in the city of Praia, Cape Verde. To this end, they will develop guidelines and strategies for the full and complete recognition of the SSE in LED, based on a Roadmap of the African continent for inclusive development and the promotion of the SDGs.[su_list]

  • African governments and local authorities are encouraged to intensify their policy efforts to reduce exclusion and poverty and promote decent work, particularly through alternatives such as SSE and localization of the SDGs;

  • South-South and triangular cooperation, the establishment of networks for the SSE, civil society and academia and the promotion of decent work must be integrated into government programs and regional and subregional strategies in order to ensure adequate means and conditions for its promotion;
    SSE actors, employers’ organizations, trade unions, public authorities and civil society in Africa should jointly define an appropriate framework for its legal, organisational, institutional and technical dimensions. This framework must take into account the specific needs of the population, as well as their cultural, economic and social realities;

  • Universities and research centers are encouraged to cooperate within a transnational framework to ensure the scientific and academic monitoring, training and information necessary for the implementation of SSE programs in Africa;

  • African civil society is encouraged to organize to ensure its mobilizing and unifying role in favor of a “plaidoyer” and to achieve effective negotiations with public authorities, international organizations and private actors;

  • International and regional institutions, as well as the United Nations system, are called to strengthen their contribution to promoting development alliances in order to promote SSE initiatives and the exchange of best practices between Southern countries;

  • African human and social capital must attract the attention of public policies to become a priority in development plans;

  • The African Union is urged to adopt a strong advocacy practice for SSE and LED;
    Development programs shared between the South and the North must be built on the basis of fair negotiations, taking into account justice, transparency and the rules of inclusive development;
    The political will of each country, individually or collectively, is called to reinforce the role of local communities in the translation of the SDGs to local realities and in the territorialization of the SSE;

  • It also calls for all forms of multilateral, bilateral and decentralized cooperation to encourage and promote South-South and triangular cooperation;

  • The adoption of an African charter for sustainable development

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The participants of the seminar have committed to contribute to the process of the IV World LED Forum that will take place from October 17 to 20, 2017 in the city of Praia, Cape Verde. To this end, they will develop guidelines and strategies for the full and complete recognition of the SSE in LED, based on a Roadmap of the African continent for inclusive development and the promotion of the SDGs.