Resources
This resources library brings together key publications, tools, and learning materials supporting the development of the social economy across Europe.
Find the resources under our Innovation focus.
Find the resources under our Innovation focus.
SEA4NEB peer review on rural regeneration
- Type: Peer learning report
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2024
SEA4NEB peer review on urban regeneration
- Type: Peer learning report
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2024
Social and solidarity economy towards the new European Bauhaus: observations and good practices
- Type: Paper
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2021
Social Economy Enterprises and Mainstream Business; crafting a Sustainable Future in Europe
- Type: Article
- Author: Marta Bruschi
- Published on: 01/10/2023
Toolkit on social and environmental community development using NEB principles and advocacy
- Type: Guide/Handbook/Toolkit
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2025
Working document on the European strategy for social economy data spaces
- Type: Paper other topic
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2023
Youth Employment Support Services And Advancing Green Job Opportunities
- Type: Impact Report, Policy Paper
- Author: Anastasia Constantini and Fabiana Pompermaier
A Map of Social Economy Tourism
The paper proposes an overview of the latest EU policy developments and strategies on both the social economy and tourism and a collection of several best practices from different European countries in the fields of rural communities, community-based enterprises, cooperatives in action, cultural heritage, digital platforms, inclusion and diversity. The best practices presented in this paper show the benefits of tourism when developed in a social economy perspective.
- Type: Good practices, Research Paper
- Author: Beatriz Gateira, Gianluca Pastorelli, Anastasia Costantini, Eleonora Lamio, Paul Hammoud.
Sustainability in the food and hospitality industry
- Type: Article
- Author: Julieta Guillén, Cristina Fernández, ESHOB
- Published on: 01/03/2023
Social Economy Approach To Creating Gender Safe Workplaces
- Type: Article
- Author: Alessia Sebillo
Encyclopedia of the Social and Solidarity Economy
The Encyclopedia of the Social and Solidarity Economy is a comprehensive reference text that explores how the social and solidarity economy (SSE) plays a significant role in creating and developing economic activities in alternative ways. In contrast to processes involving commodification, commercialisation, bureaucratisation and corporatisation, the SSE reasserts the place of ethics, social well-being and democratic decision-making in economic activities and governance. The Encyclopedia broadens the knowledge base of diverse actors of the SSE, including practitioners, activists and policymakers.
- Type: Good practices, Research Paper, Guide/Handbook/Toolkit
- Author: A Collective Work of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on SSE (UNTFSSE)
- Published on: 25/04/2023
Rural women’s empowerment through green social entrepreneurship: Insights from Slovenia
- Type: Article
- Author: Štefan Bojnec University of Primorska
- Published on: 01/12/2022
Transition Pathway Proximity And Social Economy
- Type: Good practices, Research Paper, Policy Paper
- Author: European commission - DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
- Published on: 01/01/2022
Situation of Social Economy in the MENA region
The social economy is blooming across the globe and a number of countries have been improving their policy frameworks for the last 20 years. This is the case for the countries participating in MedUP! – Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia. A series of research analyses of these six countries has found improvements in three key dimensions of ecosystems for the social economy – definitions, policy frameworks and data (quantitative and qualitative) – as well as in other dimensions such as research, innovative projects and umbrella organisations.
- Type: Impact Report, Research Paper
- Author: Samuel Barco
- Published on: 01/01/2022
MedUp! Promoting social entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean region: Inisights from Tunisia
This study is conducted as part of the European Union (EU) funded regional project MedUP! – Promoting social entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean region. MedUP! is a four-year project led by Oxfam Italia in partnership with local partners in Morocco (Oxfam Morocco and Enactus), Tunisia (Oxfam Tunisia and the Tunisian Centre for Social Entrepreneurship), Egypt (Oxfam Egypt and Sekem), Palestine (Oxfam Palestine and the Agricultural Development Association – PARC), Lebanon (Oxfam Lebanon) and Jordan (Oxfam Jordan and Johud). The project aims to promote social entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region on the macro, meso and micro levels, through reinforcing the capacities of social entrepreneurship support organisations (SESOs), accelerating existing social enterprises (SEs) and advocacy efforts.
- Type: Impact Report, Research Paper
- Author: Naouel Jabbes, Nexus Tunis
- Published on: 01/03/2022
Macro level research update of the MedUP! Country analysis : insights from Jordan
- Type: Research Paper
- Author: Zayad Daradhek, Samuel Barco
- Published on: 01/03/2022
Macro level research of the MedUP! Country analysis: Insights from Palestine
- Type: Research Paper
- Author: Fed Rayyan, Samuel Barco
- Published on: 01/03/2022
Greening the agri-food sector upskilling the job force
- Type: Article
- Author: Anastasia Costantini , Alessia Sebillo,
- Published on: 01/03/2023
Accelerator of Social Enterprises!” – Romania’s first social economy cluster registered on the European Cluster Platform
- Type: Article
- Author: Ingrid Enache, ADV Romania
- Published on: 01/11/2022
Peer Learning Partnership outcome report: SSE Internationalisation for more resilient ecosystems
This document was prepared by Diesis Network as part of the OECD Global Action “Promoting Social & Solidarity Economy Ecosystems”. The opinions and arguments expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the OECD or its member countries. This document was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.
- Type: Good practices, Peer learning report, Research Paper
- Author: OECD
- Published on: 01/01/2022
The role of social economy in sustaining peace
- Type: Paper
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2022
Social and green economies in the Mena region: through sustainability, public policies and SDGs
This working paper is based both on literature review and interviews to key informants and stakeholders from or active in the region conducted in the framework of various initiatives: research projects, peer-learning activities, support to networks, policy makers and entrepreneurs. These initiatives have been leading us to connect with the SSE ecosystems in the area called “Southern Neighbourhood” in a European (centric?) perspective. The rationale behind this exercise is an attempt to share a light on the state of play of the public policies and international initiatives bound to support the social and green economies showcasing some examples we consider particularly relevant.
- Type: Research Paper, Paper other topic
- Author: Gianluca PASTORELLI, Anastasia COSTANTINI, Samuel BARCO
- Published on: 02/03/2022
Social Economy Enterprises and Cultural & Cretive Industries
- Type: Good practices, Guide/Handbook/Toolkit
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 02/01/2018
BRIDGING PRACTICES THE ROLE OF SOCIAL ECONOMY IN BUILDING PEACE
- Type: Article
- Author: Fabiana Pompermaier, Laia Orzco
- Published on: 01/10/2022
Tourism How Social Economy Can Make It More Sustainable
- Type: Article
- Author: Beatriz Gateira
Gender equality and women empowerment in social economy enterprises: enablers and barriers
Women remain underrepresented in the labour market. In the EU, they earn 14,1% less than men, and they still experience barriers to access and remain at the labour market (Eurostat, 2021a). Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the gender dimension of social and economic inequalities, producing a severe gender impact and the risk of economic marginalisation of women. Why do we expect the social and solidarity economy to improve gender equality at work? Therefore, the paper will discuss the potential and limits of the SEEs in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. The analysis has referenced existing literature and available information on the sector, including interviews with experts and illustrative cases within Diesis Network, one of the broadest European networks supporting the social economy and social enterprise development. The aim is to show impactful solutions of SEEs and bring social and solidarity economy closer to the gender perspective to increase their impact in supporting inclusive and sustainable growth.
- Type: Research Paper
- Author: Anastasia Costantini, Alessia Sebillo
- Published on: 01/02/2022
Profiling the new young social entrepreneur
Social entrepreneurship is becoming very attractive to young generations. By becoming social entrepreneurs, young people contribute to the economy, unlock their skills, and contribute to shaping Europe’s future. Young generations’ contribution is very meaningful when it comes to the twin transition, bringing them to the heart of the upcoming economic transformation. Young social entrepreneurs can also have a great role in facing youth unemployment, creating decent and fair jobs and promoting social inclusion and innovation. However, there is a need to better outline the skills and profiles of the young entrepreneurs to understand if policies and tools are answering their needs. This paper aims at profiling the young social entrepreneur while making an overview of the main EU level policy instruments and tools that address this topic.
- Type: Research Paper
- Author: Alessia Sebillo
- Published on: 13/06/2022
SOME INSIGHTS OF THE BLUE SOCIAL ECONOMY: THE ROLE OF THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISES
- Type: Article
- Author: Francesco De Rosa
- Published on: 02/06/2022
THOUGHTS ABOUT EMPLOYEE FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION DEMOCRACY AT WORK COMPETITIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY
- Type: Article
- Author: Melinda Kelemen
- Published on: 01/05/2022
Study on the opportunities for impact investing to promote the social and green economy in the southern neighbourhood
This study is part of the EC response within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy to the recent Joint Communication which highlights the current challenges of the Southern Neighbourhood (SN) region which “is facing governance, socio-economic, climate, environmental and security challenges, many of which result from global trends and calls for joint action by the EU and Southern Neighbourhood partners proposing a “new, ambitious and innovative Agenda for the Mediterranean, drawing for the first time on the full EU toolbox and the ground-breaking opportunities of the twin green and digital transitions, in order to relaunch our cooperation and realise the untapped potential of our shared region”. Furthermore, the “perspective of the post COVID-19 recovery offers a rare opportunity for Europe and the Mediterranean region to commit to a common and people-centred agenda and the actions necessary for its implementation.” The new Agenda aims for a green, digital, resilient and just recovery, guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal.
- Type: Research Paper
- Author: Samuel Barco, Gianluca Pastorelli
- Published on: 01/10/2021