On November 26, during the 24th plenary meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee) as part of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, a new resolution on the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) was presented and adopted with 175 votes in favor and none against, highlighting its role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth.
This new draft resolution was co-sponsored by an extensive list of countries, including Germany, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Spain, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Uruguay, among others. The resolution was presented with the key support of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on SSE (UNTFSSE), whose work was fundamental in drafting the text, following the first report by the UN Secretary-General on promoting SSE for sustainable development, published last October.
Chile, the country responsible for presenting this new resolution, recalled that in April 2023, the General Assembly had adopted by consensus the first United Nations resolution on promoting SSE (A/RES/77/281). The second resolution underscores the importance of SSE as “a key driver for inclusive and sustainable development, particularly in promoting decent work, reducing inequalities, and fostering social transformation.”
Statements prior to the vote
Prior to the vote, the representative of the European Union at the UN, on behalf of its Member States and candidate countries Serbia, Ukraine, and Georgia, emphasized that SSE “is a crucial vehicle to accelerate our efforts towards fully achieving the SDGs, fostering economic prosperity in harmony with social and environmental aspects, leaving no one behind.” Furthermore, they highlighted the collaborative nature of SSE, which is based on solid partnership models involving a variety of stakeholders.
Finally, the draft resolution was submitted to a vote and received overwhelming support with 175 votes in favor, one abstention—Argentina—and no votes against.
Social economy and capitalism
Following the vote, the representative of Argentina explained their abstention, arguing that capitalism and free trade are fundamental to achieving sustainable development and eradicating poverty and hunger.
In response, Senegal intervened to clarify that SSE does not oppose capitalism but rather “offers an alternative framework that prioritizes cooperation, equity, and sustainability, promoting economic practices oriented toward social well-being rather than simple profit maximization.”
Other resolutions with an impact on SSE
During the same session, other resolutions were adopted that also recognize the importance of SSE. For instance, the resolution on “Promoting investments for sustainable development” places special emphasis on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, as well as on the social and solidarity economy.
Likewise, the resolution on “Entrepreneurship for sustainable development” recognized that social entrepreneurs, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, are agents of change capable of generating innovative solutions in the economic, social, and environmental spheres.
