The social economy ecosystem in Europe is diverse, with many organisations working on representing, supporting and promoting the social economy. In this section we aim to map key stakeholders, starting with networks that are active at European level.
The list is non-exhaustive. Organisations active in specific countries can be found in the country pages.
Social Economy networks active at EU-level
List grouped by topic
Social economy (general)
- Social Economy Europe: https://www.socialeconomy.eu.org/
- Euclid Network: https://euclidnetwork.eu/
- Diesis Network: https://www.diesis.coop/
- RIPESS Europe – Solidarity Economy Europe is the European network of the Social Solidarity Economy organisations (part of the RIPESS Intercontinental network): https://ripess.eu/en/
Cooperatives
- Cooperatives Europe: https://coopseurope.coop/
- CECOP – European confederation of industrial and service cooperatives: https://www.cecop.coop/
Research on Social Economy
- CIRIEC International: https://www.ciriec.uliege.be/en/
- EURICSE - European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises: https://euricse.eu/en/
- EMES Network: https://emes.net/
- Euclid Network: https://euclidnetwork.eu/
Social services
- ENSIE – European Network of social integration enterprises: https://www.ensie.org/
- CEFEC – Social Firms Europe (European Network of organizations that all share the objective of creating paid work for disabled and disadvantaged people.): https://socialfirmseurope.eu/
- Social Services Europe – Not-for-profit social & healthcare service providers: https://www.socialserviceseurope.eu/
Mutuals
- AIM – International association of mutual benefit societies https://www.aim-mutual.org/
Philanthropy
- Philea – Philanthropy Europe Association: https://philea.eu/
Impact Investing
- Impact Europe (formerly EVPA): https://www.impacteurope.net/
Microfinance
- EMN – European Microfinance Network: https://www.european-microfinance.org/
- MFC – Fundacja microfinance centre: https://mfc.org.pl/
- FEBEA – European Federation of ethical and alternative banks and financiers: https://febea.org/
Circular economy
- RREUSE – The European network of social enterprises active in the circular economy in re-use, repair and recycling: https://rreuse.org/
Digital Transition & Social Tech
- Social Good Accelerator EU: https://socialgoodaccelerator.eu/
Cities and regions
- REVES – European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy: http://www.revesnetwork.eu/
- ESER – European Social Economy Regions: ESER intiative
European networks with some links to the social economy
- Eurocities: https://eurocities.eu/
- Pour la Solidarité (European think & do thank promoting solidarity and sustainability): https://www.pourlasolidarite.eu/fr
- EASPD – European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities: https://www.easpd.eu/
- EEN – Enterprise Europe Network (esp. its proximity and social economy sector group): https://een.ec.europa.eu/
International social economy networks
Social economy (general)
- ESS / SSE Forum International: https://www.essforuminternational.com
- Social Enterprise World Forum: https://sewfonline.com/
- Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy (global organisation of local governments and civil society networks): https://www.gsef-net.org/
- RIPESS – Intercontinental network for the promotion of social solidarity economy: https://www.ripess.org/
- Diesis Network: www.diesis.coop/
Cooperatives
- ICA – International Cooperative Alliance: https://www.ica.coop/en
- CICOPA – International Organisation of Industrial and Service Cooperatives: https://www.cicopa.coop/
Mutuals
- AIM – International association of mutual benefit societies https://www.aim-mutual.org/
- ICMIF – International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation: https://www.icmif.org
Social entrepreneurship
- Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship by the World Economic Forum & Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship: https://initiatives.weforum.org/global-alliance-for-social-entrepreneurship/home
- ELANET (European Latin-American Network in support for Social Entrepreneurs): https://www.elanet-se.org
International networks on impact investing
- GIIN – Global Impact Investing Network: https://thegiin.org/about/
- GSG – The Global Steering Group for Impact Investment: https://gsgii.org/
- Social Value International (Global Network for Social Value and Impact Management): https://www.socialvalueint.org/
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Mapping of stakeholders and networks (33)
RSSAIM is an international umbrella organisation of federations of health mutuals and health insurance bodies
CECOP is the European confederation of industrial and service cooperatives.
- Website
- https://www.cecop.coop/
- Phone number
- +32 (0) 27 42 10 27
Social Firms Europe CEFEC is a network of Social Firms across Europe.
- Website
- https://socialfirmseurope.eu/
- Phone number
- +40 230 524128
CICOPA is the international organisation of industrial and service cooperatives.
- Website
- https://www.cicopa.coop/
- Phone number
- +32 (0) 27 42 10 27
CIRIEC International undertakes and promotes activities oriented towards the service of the general and collective interest, including the social economy.
- Website
- https://www.ciriec.uliege.be/en/
- Phone number
- +32-4-366 27 46
Cooperatives Europe is the voice of cooperative enterprises in Europe.
- Website
- https://coopseurope.coop/
- Phone number
- +32 2 213 00 80
Diesis Network's mission is to support the development of the social economy in Europe and in the world.
- Website
- https://www.diesis.coop/
- Phone number
- +32.2.543.10.43
EASPD, a non-profit NGO in the disability sector, promotes the views of over 20,000 social services and their umbrella associations.
- Website
- https://www.easpd.eu/
- Phone number
- +32(0) 2 233 72 20
EMES is a research network of university research centers and individual researchers on social enterprise.
- Website
- https://emes.net/
EMN is a member-based not-for-profit organisation, which promotes microfinance as a tool to fight social and financial exclusion in Europe
- Website
- https://www.european-microfinance.org/
- Phone number
- +32(0) 2 329 00 30