Declaration by the Convergence Assembly on Social and Economy and Fair Trade

Forum Social Mondial 2011 – Dakar (Sénégal)

Du 6 au 11 Février

Assemblée de Convergence pour l'Action

10 Février

Alternatives to the dominant economic model exist. They cover a full economic cycle that respects human beings and the environment, from investment through to waste management; they include production, processing, distribution and consumption. People throughout the world have demonstrated that it is possible to live in a dignified manner, thanks to the practice of social and solidarity economy that respects the environment and provides for people’s diverse and specific needs.

Yes, another world is possible, it already exists!

We, the co-operative movements, associations, mutual society trade-unionists and organisations working in fair trade, solidarity finance, solidarity tourism, social and economic inclusion, and many other fields, express our determination to jointly work to:

-    Strengthen the networks of actors
-    Highlight the visibility of the shared values of social and solidarity economy
-    Inform, communicate and raise awareness of citizens of the world
-    Build a shared strategy of collective lobbying to bring pressure to bear on governments and international bodies to change the rules of the game.

We invite those movements present at the World Social Forum at Dakar to identify with the values of social and solidarity economy.

We jointly request that public authorities establish a permanent dialogue with civil society to jointly develop public policies that favour social and solidarity economy.
Finally, we established a shared agenda for meetings that are scheduled to take place in the next three years; this agenda will be made available on the World Social Forum websites and that of the RIPESS (Réseau Intercontinental pour la promotion de l'Économie Social et Solidaire).