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Global Social Economy Forum European Policy Dialogue

Focus: Building diversity and inclusion through the social and solidarity economy.

By University of Liverpool Management School

Date and time

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 09:00 - Tue, 19 Nov 2019 13:00 GMT

Location

The Women's Organisation

54 Saint James Street Liverpool L1 0AB United Kingdom

About this event

Global Social Economy Forum (GSEF) 3rd European Policy Dialogue

Monday 18th: Conference

Tuesday 19th: Site visits (please indicate during registration whether you will be attending the site visits)

Venue: The Women’s Organisation, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Background

The Global Social Economy Forum (GSEF) brings together efforts from Local Governments and Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) organizations and networks for partnership and collaboration at the global level. In 2018 GSEF organized its 4th International Global Social Economy Forum in Bilbao, Spain involving more than 1,700 participants from 84 countries. The GSEF European Policy Dialogue aims to provide a space for discussion on key themes affecting society in which the SSE can play a crucial role. The theme for this year is centred on building diversity and inclusion in our economies and the experiences of SSE organizations.

Liverpool City Region has a dynamic social economy, employing over 40,000 people and generating some £3 billion per annum (circa $3.7 billion). Made up of community businesses, cooperatives, charities, educational institutions and social enterprise the SSE in Liverpool City Region is at the forefront of the most acute challenges facing local communities. Their role in addressing some of the key sustainable development goals, show the value of the sector. Each day SSE organisations campaign and work collectively against poverty, inequality, poor health and climate destruction while bringing innovation and social justice into the centre of local economic development. The sector here continues to support communities in response to severe austerity measures and the impending challenges facing local economies because of the UK decision to leave the EU.

Theme

The theme of this year’s European Policy Dialogue is focused on diversity and inclusion. This builds on the previous European Policy Dialogue held in Madrid in 2018 that looked at peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development through the SSE. Our focus this year takes on added importance as the rise in wealth inequalities within nations has intensified. Many existing problems, such as economic insecurity, homelessness, care for the elderly and general wellbeing have a common cause. We see also a huge rise in population shifts as war, hunger and drought have led to people losing their home with some estimates suggesting more than 1% of the total global population has been forced to move out of their home country. As a result of such global problems diversity and inclusion have become more important to local economies.

Many SSE organisations are better placed to challenge these problems. They are to be found in those communities were the market has failed or were the state has been cut back, working with local people who are often on the margins of society, or who have been openly discriminated against through structures of inequality. However, SSE organisations across Europe face many similar challenges. For example, where will the new leaders come from? How can they access resources and become more sustainable? How do they bring into the whole economy social justice, diversity and democracy? Can they influence policy change? These questions will be posed and discussed by participants at this year’s European Policy Dialogue.

Aims and outcomes

Our aim this year is to discuss how we can action ideas about diversity, marginalisation and inclusion through the SSE. We expect the outcomes from this year’s European Policy Dialogue to include:

* Advocacy of diversity and inclusion in all local development plans.

* Stimulate new SSE leaders among marginalised groups, especially among young people and migrant communities.

* Highlight the values of the SSE as part of the whole economy.

* Deepen the discussion on international cooperation initiatives, and possible projects by transferring best practices and know-how across European countries.

* Act as a channel for the GSEF to connect with local practitioners and local government across Europe.

* Share the outcomes with supporting organisations, such as the Liverpool City Region and GSEF to shape their own plans and policies.

Organisers

This event is supported by the GSEF Secretariat and the University of Liverpool Management School and the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place.

Itinerary - full details to be published soon

Day 1 – Monday, 18 November 2019

9:00-09:30 Welcome coffee and registration

9:30-10:15 Opening ceremony and welcome from the Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor and the Secretary General, Global Social Economy Forum.

Presentation on the European Commission’s work on diversity and inclusion in the field of social economy.

10.30-12.00 Local Governments Advancing Approaches for Genuine Inclusion

12.00-1.30 Lunch

1.30-3.00 Moving beyond inclusion through innovative work-integration practices and policies

3.15-5.15 Social and Solidarity Economy: A Driving Force in Enabling Diverse Future Leaders

5.15-5.30 Wrap Up and the Way Forward

Day 2 – Tuesday, 19 November 2019

9:00-13:00 Site visits

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