Five international lessons on the social and solidarity economy for the Palestinian context

Five international lessons on the social and solidarity economy for the Palestinian context

From crisis response and care services to local economic development and digitalization, countries around the world are increasingly turning to the social and solidarity economy (SSE) and its entities to address pressing social and economic challenges.

1 July 2026

Geneva (ILO News) - As part of a learning programme for Palestinian constituents, SSE actors and partners, a series of thematic webinars explored how these international experiences from around the world can inform further development of the SSE in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), and how the SSE and its entities can play a strategic role as key partners and delivery mechanisms.

The experiences highlighted five aspects particularly relevant for the oPt:

Recognizing the diversity of the SSE

The SSE encompasses a wide range of entities, including cooperatives, associations, mutuals, foundations, self-help groups and social enterprises. These entities are grounded in voluntary cooperation and mutual aid, democratic and participatory governance, autonomy and independence, and the primacy of people and social purpose over capital. They also reflect values of care, equality, fairness, interdependence, transparency and accountability, and the pursuit of decent work and livelihoods. Together, they provide people-centred and inclusive solutions across sectors including agriculture, finance, health, housing, retail and transport.

Building resilience in times of crisis

SSE entities can help sustain livelihoods, preserve jobs and strengthen social cohesion in times of conflict, displacement, disaster and health emergencies. International experience shows that their impact is strongest when they are supported by a conducive policy environment, fit-for-purpose support institutions, strong networks and sustainable financing mechanisms. In the Palestinian context, these conditions can help SSE entities play a more active role in resilience, recovery and community stability.

Strengthening the care economy

SSE entities can expand access to quality, affordable care services while creating decent work and employment opportunities, particularly for women. Participants explored the experience of the childcare cooperative in Nablus and the role of the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) in supporting its development. Replication plans are in place, and the Palestinian childcare cooperative experience forms part of a wider body of good practices emerging from countries across regions, showing how SSE entities can help deliver multi-stakeholder, community-based collective solutions to care deficits.

Supporting local development

The SSE includes social enterprises, which can play a catalytic role in local economic development by mobilizing local actors, building partnerships and supporting participatory planning. Experiences from Belize and Sri Lanka showed how locally led initiatives can create decent work, strengthen resilience and generate lasting territorial impact. At the same time, legal and statistical definitions of social enterprises are still emerging in many countries, which means policy guidance and implementation are still evolving.

Harnessing digitalization

Digitalization creates both opportunities and challenges for the SSE. Experiences from Spain, including platform worker cooperatives and digital tools for agricultural cooperatives, show how digital technologies can support more inclusive economic development. Platform cooperatives can strengthen democratic decision-making and worker and user control by giving members ownership and governance over digital platforms, helping ensure that value is shared more fairly.

The webinar series formed part of a broader SSE learning programme organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO). Funded by the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy of Spain (MITES), it complemented the self-learning SSE MOOC with dialogue, peer learning, practical tools and policy approaches. The ILO Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy Unit (COOP/SSE) contributed technical expertise across the series.