Social Economy for Competitiveness and Social Justice

This public event, promoted by the Chamber of Commerce of Turin, Torino Social Impact and the International Training Centre of the ILO, brings together institutional leaders, policymakers and leading experts to explore the social economy as a strategic lever for inclusive, sustainable and people-centred development.

The discussion unfolds at a pivotal moment for Italy and Europe. While the social economy is gaining momentum through the National Action Plan for the Social Economy and consolidated EU and global policies, it must also navigate growing uncertainty driven by evolving geopolitical and strategic priorities within the European Union.

The event will deepen understanding of the role of the social economy as a strategic driver for integrating competitiveness and will highlight recent work by the Global Coalition for Social Justice on the role of the Social and Solidarity Economy in advancing a Human Rights Economy. It will explore how the social economy, at a time when democratic identity and core values are under pressure and political systems are increasingly polarized by the dominance of power over cooperative approaches, offers principles and models that serve as pillars for reinforcing, practicing, and promoting civic and democratic values.

Join us on February 20 at the Aula Magna Cavallerizza Reale, University of Turin, with keynote contributions from:

• Lucia Albano, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economy and Finance
• Juan Antonio Pedreño, President of Social Economy Europe
• Mario Nava, Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
• Lamia Kamal-Chaoui, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, OECD
• Silvia Roggiani, Member of the of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament
• Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
• Simel Esim, Head of the Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy Unit, International Labour Organization and Chair of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy
• Aicha Belassir, Director-General for Social Economy and Corporate Social Responsibility Ministry of Labour and Social Economy, Government of Spain
• Mario Calderini, Professor at Politecnico di Milano and Spokesperson for Torino Social Impact
• Gianluca Salvatori, Secretary General of EURICSE
• Sarah de Heusch, Director of Social Economy Europe
• Paola Babos, Deputy Director of the ITCILO

…and many other leading experts.

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The processing will be carried out for the entire duration of the initiative. In any case, data subjects retain the right to access, rectify or delete the data provided by writing to: [email protected]

Info: Local and regional authorities and hosting institutions

Info: On the occasion of World Day of Social Justice, the session highlights recent work by the
Global Coalition for Social Justice on the role of the Social and Solidarity Economy in
advancing a Human Rights Economy. It will further present international efforts to advance
social economy models, moving beyond traditional economic metrics and integrating
rights into the core of economic policies, labor rights and business practices. The discussion
will look at the role of institutional learning, policy innovation and local ecosystems to
translate global normative frameworks into national and local results. Particular attention is
given to the role of policy labs, joint advocacy, MOOCs, communities of practice and SSE
statistics as drivers of innovative SSE ecosystems in both the Global North and South.

Info: The panel builds on the belief that competitiveness can only be sustainably achieved when
grounded in strong social cohesion as the long-term foundation of prosperity, and explores
the role of the SEE in translating this principle into the functioning of economic systems. By
examining policy frameworks, business models, and investment strategies, the discussion
will show how the social economy acts as a driver of resilient and inclusive growth.

Info: The panel will explore how the SEE, in a time when democratic identity and its core values
are under pressure and political systems are increasingly polarized by the dominance of
power over cooperative approaches, offers principles and models that serve to reinforce,
practice, and promote civic and democratic values, and pursue social inclusion.

Info: Interview with Stefano Lo Russo, Mayor of Turin and of the Metropolitan city of Turin

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Host or Publisher Torino Social Impact