Social and Solidarity Economy Handbook

Chapter 1 - Epistemology (ways of knowing) and values

Key questions addressed in this chapter:

How can we analyse knowledge production in today’s world?

What concepts are used for this, and on what assumptions are these based?

What values are identified as fundamental by those involved in the social and solidarity economy?

Download: Chapter 1 (PDF 1.2MB)

Resources:

Video: Economists have misunderstood human beings - Dr Muhammad Yunus

Chapter 2 - Identity, Profile and Territory

Key questions addressed in this chapter:

How is the social and solidarity economy understood at an international level and in the geographical regions covered in this project?

What criteria allow us to differentiate between the identities and profiles of organisations in current economic systems: public, private and social?

How does the question of territory link to that of profiles and identity?

Download: Chapter 2 (PDF 1.4MB)

Resources:

Labour relations in the social economy: Key trends (PDF 1.2MB)

When roles collide: how boards influence organizational focus (PDF 1.9MB)

Chapter 3 - Ways of Working

Key questions addressed in this chapter:

What external and internal factors influence the ways of working of organisations in the social and solidarity economy?

How do social organisations’ ways of acting differ from other sectors in terms of: funding, internationalisation and marketing?

How do the ways of working these organisations connect to the values and principles of the social and solidarity economy and what are the challenges?

Download: Chapter 3 (PDF 1.6MB)

Resources:

Model of integral management applied to a social enterprise (PDF 3.3MB)

Building stronger communities: organic farmers and social economy (PDF 1.7MB) - Southern Ontario Social Economy Research Alliance

Chapter 4 - Competences

Key questions addressed in this chapter:

What is specific about the education and training of staff and students within the social and solidarity economy and towards social entrepreneurship?

What should be taught and how?

What advantages are there in education and training based on competences and underpinned by phronesis?

Download: Chapter 4 (PDF 0.8MB)

Chapter 5 - ICT: Effective Practices

Key questions addressed in this chapter:

How can effective practice be understood in relation to the use of social media and of community radio in the social and solidarity economy?

How can organisations in the social and solidarity economy make effective use of social media and community radio to develop the scope and effectiveness of their activities?

Download: Chapter 5 (PDF 1.3MB)

Chapter 6 - Social Capital

Key questions addressed in this chapter:

What are the existing conceptual approaches to social capital?

How do social sector organisations generate social capital?

How can the social capital of organisations have an impact on employment, social and environmental policies?

Download: Chapter 6 (PDF 0.9MB)

Chapter 7 - Social Responsibility and Transformation

Key questions addressed in this chapter:

What do we understand by social responsibility? And by social transformation?

What do we understand by accountability? And how does this concept help us define social responsibility for organisations in the social and solidarity economy?

Why is it important to measure social responsibility and the social impact produced by organisations in the social and solidarity economy? What methodologies and tools exist for this measurement?

What specific details can be found in relation to social responsibility and social transformation in African and South American contexts?

Download: Chapter 7 v1.4 (PDF 1.1MB)

Chapter 8 - Universities and Ecosystems

Key questions addressed in this chapter:

Which strategies for social and solidarity economy curriculum innovation have worked in different geographical regions?

How can the university lead and facilitate cross-sector collaboration for local socio-economic development?

How can university staff play a key role in the creation of a social enterprise ecosystem, both within and outside the university?

Download: Chapter 8 (PDF 1.1MB)