Social Protection & Cooperatives Spotlight – Mobilizing social and solidarity economy units towards universal social protection

This ILO Spotlight brief is jointly developed by the Social Protection Department and the Cooperatives Unit in the Enterprises Department. It focuses on mobilizing social and solidarity economy units towards universal social protection. The brief builds on the related section of the Office Report on “Decent Work and the social and solidarity economy” prepared for general discussion at the International Labour Conference 110th Session, 2022 (paras 73 et seq.).

Read the full text here: https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_emp/—emp_ent/—coop/documents/publication/wcms_844037.pdf

This publication has been prepared within SENBS project No. 2020- 1-EE01-KA204-077999. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.

Blog

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs stands firmly by the Ukrainian people in these difficult times

The EYE programme has reached out to Ukrainian intermediary organisations and entrepreneurs to support them in this crisis.

Immediate emergency measures were taken and implemented by the entire network to support the functioning of the organisations and match Ukrainian entrepreneurs with their hosts outside of Ukraine and allow them to continue realising their ambitions to start and grow their companies.

In addition, Ukrainian entrepreneurs who are already on business exchanges abroad have been offered an extension of their stay.

The situation is monitored on a daily basis so that the programme can continue to provide the best possible support to the Ukrainian entrepreneurs and the EYE local contact points in this crisis.

For an in-depth overview of the EU Support to Ukraine, please visit the dedicated information here.

This publication has been prepared within SENBS project No. 2020- 1-EE01-KA204-077999. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.

Educational Materials | English | European Union

Learn more about the latest #socialeconomy developments in Spain!

Blog | European Union

#HaveYourSay! Scenarios towards co-creation of a transition pathway for a resilient, innovative, sustainable and digital proximity and social economy ecosystem

Take part in EU consultations and give your comments and input to the topic “Scenarios towards co-creation of a transition pathway for a resilient, innovative, sustainable and digital proximity and social economy ecosystem”

You have time until 28th February and all the details about the document and ways to send your comments you will find below.

Target audience

Based on their involvement in sectors covered by the proximity & social economy ecosystem, the main stakeholders are industry, associations, social economy partners, public authorities, and other organisations.

Why we are consulting

The Commission services have prepared a staff working document to outline possible scenarios for a transition pathway towards a more resilient, green and digital Proximity and Social Economy industrial ecosystem. Through collaborative efforts, we aim to co-create concrete actions and commitments with all stakeholders of this ecosystem to step up its green and digital transition and strengthen its resilience to future shocks.

These efforts will build on the EU Industrial Strategy update that highlighted the need to accelerate the EU industry’s green and digital transitions and identified the needs and challenges of 14 industrial ecosystems.

They will also build on the Action Plan on the Social Economy, which proposes a series of actions for the 2021-2030 period to support the development of the social economy.

Based on the results of the consultation, the Commission will organise further meetings with stakeholders to deepen the discussions towards finalising the ‘proximity & social economy’ pathway during 2022.

Respond to the consultation

We invite you to participate in this process, running until 28 February 2022, by giving your input via the button below.

EU Survey questionnaire

Reference documents

Scenarios towards co-creation of a transition pathway for a more resilient, sustainable and digital Proximity and Social Economy industrial ecosystem

English

(1.47 MB – PDF)

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Additional information

This publication has been prepared within SENBS project No. 2020- 1-EE01-KA204-077999. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.

Social Economy for the full inclusion of people with disabilities BEST PRACTICE GUIDE

Social Economy for the Full Inclusion of People with Disabilities: How and Why – An Introduction to Our Best Practice Guide

Actions speak louder than words, but how can companies, businesses and employers further include people with disabilities if they are not fully aware of the possibilities? The willingness of companies to make their businesses more accessible and inclusive is improving as various legal and societal incentives put healthy pressure on businesses to maximise opportunities for #inclusion4all. However, there is still much to be done to provide accessible information and create good practice examples that clearly demonstrate the benefits of inclusivity for all.

People with disabilities face a wide range of barriers daily to access services, transport, education and training, and employment. However, one area that has been highly successful in supporting, training, and employing people with disabilities is the social economy. This economic model (cooperatives, mutuals, associations, foundations and social enterprises, among other specific legal forms) is indeed a powerful tool that can contribute to the empowerment of people with disabilities, creating meaningful jobs and promoting inclusive working conditions. Indeed, social economy organisations represent a significant 6 to 8% of GDP across 27 European Union[1], which is committed to the labour integration of people with disabilities (in some countries they employ up to three times more workers with disabilities than traditional enterprises). Social economy organisations are people-centred entities applying internal flexibility to save jobs and maintain the socio-economic activity.

[1] What future for the social economy? (europa.eu)

Introducing the Best Practice Guide

To share highly successful and impactful examples of inclusivity in action, and demonstrate how barriers can be reduced or removed, Social Economy Europe has released a best practices guide: Social Economy for the Full Inclusion of People with Disabilities. The aim is to help communicate good practices which can be mirrored and adopted by any business, and raise awareness of the social economy’s potential for inclusion regarding the post-2020 Disability Strategy.

The post-2020 Disability Strategy will be a chance to take a comprehensive approach and generate awareness of the current contribution and the future potential of the social economy for a barrier-free Europe where people with disabilities can fully participate in society and enjoy their fundamental rights.

– Juan Antonio Pedreño, President of Social Economy EuropeTweet

We should keep in mind that this Guide is not an end in itself, but just one more step forward on the long road to full integration of persons with disabilities into society

– Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum.Tweet

The Guide explores how social economy enterprises and organisations can work towards implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and further contributing to the full integration of people with disabilities. It reminds us that both EU and national government leaders have the responsibility to create the right political and legislative environment that allows this integration to happen as well as incorporate appropriate funding! In 2017, the European Parliament adopted a Report calling for a new EU disability strategy 2020-2030. The report also contains various health-related recommendations, such as including a disability component. The guide states that “the new EU’s Disability Strategy 2020-2030 must ensure a harmonised implementation of the UN CRPD both by the EU and by the Member States and commit to new disability policies and legislations, in line with the 2030 Agenda.”

Let’s Meet the Best Practices

The 12 good practices include APEMH (Association des Parents d’Enfants Mentalement Handicapés), Luxembourg; Adelante Dolmen, Italy; Juncker Plan investment in ILUNION, Spain; The League of Historical and Accessible Cities, Europe; Ateliers Jean Del’Cour (JD’C), Belgium; FENACERCI, Portugal; AMADIP ESMENT, Spain; Tricentenaire group, Luxembourg; Les Genêts d’Or, France; Humana Nova, Croatia; TPK “Mara Dencheva” worker cooperative, Bulgaria and CECAP’s Group Social Business Factory, Spain.

So What are the Best Practices?

As a whole, the organisations, some of which comprise of umbrella organisations facilitating the work of other socially responsible entities, provide inclusive work opportunities in several areas including:

Gardening services
Cleaning
Examples of services
Chocolaterie Brand “Les chocolats du cœur”
Printing
Packaging services
Tea brand Au cœur du thé
Sales
Microbrewery
sewing and tailoring services.
Manufacturing of paper and cardboard products
Plastic products
Bookbinding services
Personal Protective Equipment for both local and foreign customers

This impressive group of organisations include fantastic initiatives which all businesses could potentially incorporate into their policies and practices. Just imagine the benefit from companies investing some of their profits to achieve this social goal. Good practices from this list include, but are by no means limited to; adapted support to individuals, often by providing residence and educational support structures; and incorporation of easy read and accessible information; specified training (often adapted to prepare young people with disabilities for their professional life, including internships). And is essential for a truly inclusive business, initiatives are often conceived in partnership with people with disabilities, ensuring equal opportunities and projects have a duel societal and ecological goal.

The projects focus on accessibility from the entire experience of the worker, from developing applications and software to facilitating people’s involvement as well as providing assistive devices. Redesigned routes for transport in cities, tactile billboards and sign language guides highlight the infrastructural changes that are often important and necessary for accessibility. Some of the companies demonstrate intelligent use of funding and government subsidies to offset initial costs. Furthermore, some examples use social assistants to ensure personal finances, health matters, administration and housing for employees is adequate.

Training can focus on two pillars; autonomy and increased skills to facilitate people’s integration into working life. Other companies promote transnational cooperation while teaching with alternate curricula and use sport for inclusion. The incorporation of professional certification following rigorous, personalised training of up to 2637 hours of “learning by doing” is a fine example of work integration.

This publication and the elaboration of this guide are co-funded by the European Social Fund, in the framework of the Transnational Cooperation initiative, Social Economy and Disability (SE&D), led by Fundación ONCE within the ESF Spanish OP “Social Inclusion and Social Economy” 2014-2020. The responsibility for the opinions expressed in this work is exclusively of their authors.

Read the full text here: SEE_SocialEconomy-4-the-inclusion-of-People-with-Disabilities_compressed

This publication has been prepared within SENBS project No. 2020- 1-EE01-KA204-077999. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.

Educational Materials | English | Impact Measurement Methodology | Library

Wises’ Social Impact Measurement in the Baltic States

WISEs’ Social Impact Measurement in the Baltic States

Audrone UrmanavicieneTallinn University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13135/2704-9906/5091

Keywords: Social enterprise, WISEs, Social impact measurement, Measurement indicators

ABSTRACT

WISEs devote most of their time and resources to working with the target group – not only organizing their employment activities and developing skills but also adapting their work environment, improving the psychological climate, organizational culture, etc. Thus, the implementation of the social mission of this type of social enterprise requires a particularly large amount of time and other resources. In addition, they have to take care of the financial sustainability of their organization. However, WISEs as all social enterprises face the pressure from society and other stakeholders to measure their social impact. Nevertheless, it is also important to note that scientists still disagree on the definition of social impact. It is noteworthy that there are no common criteria for measuring social impacts and there are many different methods and tools for impact assessment and measurement (Arena et al. al., 2015; Hadad and Găucă, 2014). Thus, it remains unclear what and how WISEs should measure their social impact. However, it can be argued that social impact measurement it’s very important for the WISE itself. The aim of this article – to identify what and how WISEs should measure their social impact in the organization. The methods of the research are an analysis of scientific literature and experts’ interview. The results of the research disclosed the possible measurement framework and indicators.

Urmanaviciene, A., & Arachchi, U. (2020). The effective methods and practices for accelerating social entrepreneurship through corporate social responsibility. European Journal of Social Impact and Circular Economy, 1(2), 27-47. https://doi.org/10.13135/2704-9906/5085

Read here: https://www.ojs.unito.it/index.php/ejsice/article/view/5091/4690

This publication has been prepared within SENBS project No. 2020- 1-EE01-KA204-077999. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.

Educational Materials | English | Library

The Effective Methods and Practices for Accelerating Social Entrepreneurship Through Corporate Social Responsibility

Article “The Effective Methods and Practices for Accelerating Social Entrepreneurship Through Corporate Social Responsibility” written by:

Audrone UrmanavicieneTallinn University, School of Governance, Law and Societyhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-1621-0101
Udara Suwanda ArachchiTallinn University, School of Governance, Law and Societyhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-2618-6758

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13135/2704-9906/5085

Keywords: Corporate culture, Effective methods, Social enterprise, Social impact, Social value creation, Sustainability

ABSTRACT

The concepts of Social entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility have similar values from the social value perspective. Social entrepreneurship focuses on solving social issues, creating a positive social impact in an innovative entrepreneurial way, and profit maximization is not the primary target. Corporations focus on creating economic values and profit maximization; and use the CSR concept as a tool to maintain socially responsible business conduct. Both CSR and social entrepreneurship concepts represent the same sustainable values in different ways. Thus, finding effective methods for accelerating social entrepreneurship through CSR activities will be fruitful for the betterment of the corporation’s stakeholders, social entrepreneurs, and society at large. This paper aims to explore the current CSR activities of corporations that influence social entrepreneurship development and to identify the most effective methods/practices to accelerate social entrepreneurship. This study follows the qualitative inductive research methodology; and, the content analysis method has been used to analyze the collected data through the in-depth semi-structured expert interviews. It has been found that the current CSR practices for social entrepreneurship development are comparatively less than other community development and philanthropic considerations. Moreover, the challenges for social entrepreneurs and the expectations of corporations have been thoroughly discussed. The effective methods and practices have been suggested for both corporations and social entrepreneurs to accelerate social entrepreneurship by CSR activities with mutual benefits and creating social value; as a win-win situation.

Read here: https://www.ojs.unito.it/index.php/ejsice/article/view/5085/4691

This publication has been prepared within SENBS project No. 2020- 1-EE01-KA204-077999. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.

Educational Materials | English | Library

SOCIAL IMPACT INVESTMENTS AS A TOOL FOR FUNDING SOCIAL ENTERPRISES

Purpose: Social impact investments are essential to support and promote social entrepreneurship development. This article aims to identify the factors that could develop the local impact investment market in Sri Lanka as a tool for funding social enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach: The methods of research are an analysis of scientific literature, experts’ interviews, and generalization.

Findings: In order to accelerate the impact investment as a tool of funding, the impact investors, social enterprises, government and society must work collectively. Necessary social, cultural, and policy changes should be carried out, and specific recommendations have been made accordingly.

Originality/value: This research study is essential in terms of sustaining and promoting impact investments in Sri Lanka as a tool of funding social enterprises and developing the ecosystem.

Keywords: social enterprise, social impact investing, impact investments, finance, investors.

Category of the paper: Research paper.

Read here: Social impact investments as a tool for funding social enterprises

Audrone URMANAVICIENE, Kulamini Dilanka MENDIS (2021). Social impact investments as a tool for funding social enterprises. Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology Organization and Management Series, 691−711. DOI: 10.29119/1641-3466.2021.151.48.

This publication has been prepared within SENBS project No. 2020- 1-EE01-KA204-077999. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.

Educational Materials | English | Library

Social Enterprises in Rural Areas A Comparative Study of the Baltic States

This article provides a cross-case analysis of rural social enterprises from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Social enterprises seek to produce goods and services with a social or environmental purpose, and they pursue the general interest of local communities, people and/or social groups. The orientation towards the public good does not imply that social enterprises do not undertake strategies to achieve economic and financial efficiency; on the contrary, they must constantly create economic value to guarantee their survival over time. The successful operation of rural social enterprises is highly dependent on their relationships with their stakeholders. Many interest groups can indeed be involved in social enterprises; they can be divided into external stakeholders and internal stakeholders. Rural emigration and migration to cities is a major issue in the three countries, following the economic and social changes of the 1990s.

Blog | Inspiration

Kuźnia cafe from Gdańsk, Poland – pleace run by people with big hearts!

The Kuźnia cafe belongs to the network of social companies run by the Foundation for Social Innovation. It was established in 2012 as a place of first contact with work for young people from foster care facilities and other educational institutions aiming at young people at the risk of social exclusion run by the Gdańsk Foundation for Social Innovation. Here, through work, young people gain their first experience, develop and forge their professional fate. In the coffee shop, they have the opportunity to gain the first experience in customer service and teamwork, learn discipline, organization and all those qualities that future employers require.
The Kuźnia Cafe is a place with a soul and a unique atmosphere, combining history and tradition with modernity, created in a historic arcaded house built in 1800. For many years it was neglected and abandoned, but after renovation and under the constant care of the conservator of monuments, it regained its former glory. In the cafe, there are many items related to the subject of blacksmithing and old times. The most valuable is a framed photo of the last family of blacksmiths who lived in Kuźnia.
Users of the cafe services support the professional development program of young people and contribute to the implementation of the corporate social responsibility initiative.
In addition to food products, the cafe offers a Reading Corner, Musical Evenings and the opportunity to participate in art workshops.The Kuźnia cafe also has a seasonal point called Wozownia, located in the Oruński Park in Gdańsk.
The profit from both places is re-invested in care and educational institutions – homes for children.
Foundation for Social Innovation (FIS) is one of the most important Gdansk’ actors in the area of social entrepreneurship. The Foundation was established to implement social and professional activation programs in the social enterprises it creates, where the profit is re-invested in supporting young people in a difficult life situation. Social enterprises created and run by FIS are a bridge introducing young people to the labour market.

Since 2012, FIS has been running a social enterprise – the “Kuźnia” cafe in Orunia, Gdańsk. In the cafe, as mentioned above, they serve aromatic coffee, homemade cakes, desserts, etc. They also cater to special events and support artists in organizing exhibitions inside the atmospheric Forge. A charming cafe in the smallest arcaded house in Żuławy is forging young talents. T

In 2015, FIS launched and runs the first socially responsible hotel in Poland – So Stay hotel, located at ul. Kartuska 18 in Gdańsk. We presented this initiative here: https://socialenterprisebsr.net/social-enterprises/so-stay-hotel-city-business/ In a three-star, intimate facility, they offer 17 comfortable, air-conditioned rooms, training rooms, and catering services in So Eat hotel restaurant. They prepare young people for workplaces in the hotel, i.e. cook, waiter, room service, reception service.

All pictures are from Kuźnia Caffee official Facebook profile

– https://www.facebook.com/KawiarniaKuznia

Visit also their webiste: https://kawiarniakuznia.pl

This publication has been prepared within SENBS project No. 2020- 1-EE01-KA204-077999. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.

Take part in EU consultations and give your comments and input to the topic “Scenarios towards co-creation of a transition pathway for a resilient, innovative, sustainable and digital proximity and social economy ecosystem”

Target audience

Why we are consulting

Respond to the consultation

Reference documents

Additional information

Introducing the Best Practice Guide

Let’s Meet the Best Practices

So What are the Best Practices?

WISEs’ Social Impact Measurement in the Baltic States

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT

We’d Love To Hear From You!