GSEF: key takeaways from the 2025 edition

DATE DE PUBLICATION 08/12/2025

GSEF: key takeaways from the 2025 edition

At the end of October, representatives from around 100 countries gathered to attend the GSEF, the Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forum Bordeaux GSEF 2025. France Active took the opportunity to highlight the potential of the social and solidarity economy in addressing the major challenges of today and tomorrow. This is even more important at a time when economic, environmental, political and social crises are intensifying. Here is a look back at the three key lessons learnt from this unmissable event.

1. The social and solidarity economy (SSE) is gaining recognition and becoming more structured at all levels.

For its 2025 edition, the GSEF stopped off in France for the first time. Many French SSE stakeholders (entrepreneurs, financiers, local authorities, public partners, associations, etc.) attended to promote this sector, which alone accounts for 10% of GDP and 14% of private sector jobs in France¹.

The French SSE model is the result of several decades of commitment and structuring. The 2001 Fabius law on 90/10 funds gave a boost to solidarity finance, while the 2014 Hamon law laid the foundations for more widespread development of the SSE, to name just a few notable advances. ‘This regulatory framework has, of course, encouraged social innovation, the creation of new models and the emergence of a dense and varied ecosystem of actors,’ explains Yesil Rusconi, Head of the European and International Affairs at France Active. ‘But it should be noted that this movement has also grown worldwide in recent years. We are delighted about this.’

In 2021, Europe has adopted an Action Plan for the Social Economy (SEAP). In 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution emphasising the importance of the SSE for sustainable development. Similarly, the International Labour Organisation and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) see the SSE as a key driver for a more inclusive and sustainable economy. ‘This formal high-level recognition is a guarantee of credibility for all stakeholders involved.’

2. Facing crises with a double response: cooperation and local roots

The Forum GSEF 2025 took place at a time when many questions are being asked about the future of the social and solidarity economy. With crises shaking the world, is its model at a turning point? Will it be able to continue building solutions for the future? Will it find the funding necessary to support it?

The conference co-organised by the Caisse d’Épargne and France Active, entitled ‘Financing together: a catalyst for cooperation and territorial impact’, outlined responses around a strong message reiterated by Yesil Rusconi: “To support a project and help it overcoming the various storms that are part of a company’s life, it is crucial to be able to count on a collective of actors. Hence the importance of mixed financing that mobilises public and private resources, banks, SSE partners or financiers such as France Active, local authorities, etc. It is through them that it is possible to have the right leverage. But also the right impact at the territorial level, which is the right scale of action for useful and sustainable solutions.”

In other words, the proliferation of solidarity-based cooperation in local areas remains the main driving force behind the social and solidarity economy. The appeal launched by Claude Alphandéry, founder of France Active, for his 100th birthday in 2022 has never been more relevant…

On the ground: CIDIL’s winning model

Combining mixed financing and local roots, CIDIL (Carrefour pour l’insertion et le développement des initiatives locales) has been promoting employment and social cohesion in Nouvelle Aquitaine for over thirty years. A project supported by France Active.

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3. An international SSE: the paradigm for tomorrow?

Through its conferences, round tables and other opportunities for discussion, the Forum provided an opportunity for dialogue between regions and countries, thereby opening up prospects for collaboration. “All over the world, SSE is an alternative to existing economic solutions, which are showing their limitations. That is why, at this forum, we wanted to reflect on the construction of an international SSE. At France Active, for example, we are working with the Caisse des Dépôts and CIRRMA² on the SSE and international issues. We are also strengthening our ties with the AFD around the structuring of financing systems in the overseas territories and the internationalisation of the French SSE,” concludes Yesil Rusconi.