Published: 07 Sep 2023 373 views
The ILO and the African Union have launched a call for proposals to undertake a mapping study of the social and solidarity economy in Nigeria.
In Africa, the institutional recognition accorded to the SSE varies from country to country but remain limited. Only five African countries have a legal and institutional framework specifically dedicated to the SSE. 1 Fully aware of this challenge, with technical support from the ILO, the African Union has developed a ten-year SSE strategy and its implementation plan towards a comprehensive, coordinated and mutually reinforcing policy framework of actions to legitimize, support and expand the SSE in its Member States as one of the post Covid-19 recovery and reconstruction strategies.
The term ‘social and solidarity economy’ as such is relatively recent in Africa, and in many African countries, this term does not (yet) belong to the language commonly used by policymakers and researchers; this however does not mean that these countries did not have a social and solidarity economy. On the contrary, one could say that Africa was the continent in which the social and solidarity economy plays the most prominent role, as all African countries had a large number of organisations that pursue SSE objectives.
The term “SSE” appeared on the African continent during the first decade of the 21st century, initially in French-speaking North and West Africa before timidly spreading to the rest of the continent.
The principal components of the SSE in sub-Saharan Africa, i.e. cooperatives, mutuals, self-help associations, social enterprises and rotating savings and credit associations/Tontines8 are relatively well researched in sub-Saharan Africa, whereas much less literature exists on the state of SSE as a movement, in its entirety in Africa.
Methodology
The methodology to be followed by the consultant will include the following components:
a. A desk review of relevant documents related to the legal framework of SSE entities and selected national strategy documents. The ILO will also provide documentation it may have available.
b. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) with relevant stakeholders such as representatives of SSE entities, SSE support organizations, public authorities, social partners and private sector actors. The main objective of
the interviews will be to gather in-depth information, including perceptions, views and factual information on the current situation and potential for SSE development. The consultant should take specific measures to ensure the
inclusion women and youth as interviewees.
An interview/FGD plan as well as the draft interview guide / FGD guide questionnaire should be included in the inception report. The interviews could be done either face to face or remotely.
The only tripartite U.N. agency, since 1919 the ILO brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 member States , to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men
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| Application Deadline | 18 Sep 2023 |
| Type | Entrepreneurs |
| Sponsor | International Labour Organization (ILO) |
| Gender | Men and Women |
i. Advanced University Degree in law, social and solidarity economy, social sciences or another relevant field
ii. At least five years of experience in SSE or cooperative development, at national and/or international level
iii. Demonstrated experience in conducting legal analysis
iv. Experience developing practical training manuals, and/or research instruments
v. Strong demonstrated analytical ability
vi. Ability to verbally convey complex technical issues to a diverse audience
vii. Excellent analysis and report writing skills, including ability to elaborate high quality documents in English
viii. Demonstrated ability to develop presentations and verbally convey complex technical issues to a wide range of stakeholders.
The mapping study must be produced over a maximum 2-month period, starting on 2 October 2023 and final deliverable must be submitted no later than 30 November 2023
Interested candidates are invited to submit their proposals to [email protected] no later than September 18, 2023.
For more details, visit ILO website.
