GSEF (Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy)

What GSEF (Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy) does

GSEF (Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy) is an international non-profit network organization founded in 2013 and headquartered in Bordeaux, France, with formal domicile in Switzerland. Its stated mission is to promote the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) by connecting local governments and civil society networks worldwide. The organization serves two primary member categories: Full Members, comprising municipal and regional authorities (such as the cities of Bordeaux, Dakar, Seoul, and Mexico City), and Allied Members, comprising civil society networks, cooperatives, and SSE associations (including FBES, REVES, RIPESS, Social Economy Europe, and the Seoul Social Economy Center).

GSEF's core deliverables are organized around a biennial Global SSE Forum — held in Mexico City (2021), Dakar (2023), and Bordeaux (2025) — supplemented by a portfolio of programs: the SSE Youth Hub, Regional Policy Dialogues, Knowledge Exchange & Trainings, Research and Publications, Networking, and International Advocacy. It also operates an e-Library, a multilingual newsletter (English, French, Spanish, Korean), and recently launched the Observatory of Local SSE Policies. Recent research outputs include the joint FAIR & GSEF study on financing SSE (January 2026) and the co-published report on SSE and International Solidarity (February 2026). Distribution occurs through global convenings, formal membership, and digital self-serve channels.

The business model is non-commercial. No revenue, membership fees, or funding sources are publicly disclosed; GSEF appears to be supported by member contributions, public grants, and project partnerships with bodies such as UN Habitat, OECD LEED, ILO, the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on SSE, and the EU Commission for Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion. The organization is staffed by approximately 15 people and is governed by a secretariat structure led by Secretary General Laurence Kwark.

Name

GSEF (Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy)

Legal name

GSEF (Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy)

Website

https://gsef-net.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GSEF is a global non-profit network founded in 2013 that connects local governments and civil society organizations to promote the Social and Solidarity Economy through biennial forums, policy research, capacity-building programs, and multilateral advocacy across five continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Economy Network and Policy Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• Social solidarity economy
• Civil society networks
• Local government forums
• Policy advocacy services
• International development cooperation

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GSEF is a global network association that convenes local governments and civil society networks to promote the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) through international forums, regional policy dialogues, training and capacity-building programs, research and publication outputs, and advocacy activities. Its deliverable units are events, knowledge products, and policy support services delivered to member cities and partner organizations.

Product overview

GSEF (Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy) is a global organization connecting local governments and civil society networks to promote the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). Rather than a traditional product company, GSEF offers a platform of programs and services including: organizing international SSE forums (held in Mexico 2021, Dakar 2023, Bordeaux 2025); operating the SSE Youth Hub; managing the Observatory of Local SSE Policies; facilitating Regional Policy Dialogues; providing Knowledge Exchange & Trainings; producing Research and Publications; enabling Networking among members; conducting International Advocacy; and maintaining an e-Library of SSE resources. The organization also publishes official declarations and joint studies with partners such as the FAIR & GSEF Study on Financing SSE and the SSE and International Solidarity publication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BordeauxGSEF2025: The 7th edition of the Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forum held in Bordeaux
• DakarGSEF2023
• MexicoGSEF2021
• GSEF SSE Youth Hub

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSEF collaborates with AIMF on publications including the Raisonnance periodical on Social and Solidarity Economy for Inclusive Cities, featuring contributions from GSEF Secretary General and member case studies
• FAIR (Finance for Social and Solidarity Economy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint study on Financing SSE Worldwide titled 'Reweaving Finance for the Social and Solidarity Economy: a Global Casebook of Financing Approaches'. The study was presented at BordeauxGSEF2025 and informs international debates on financing SSE.
• UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSEF engagement connects to UN policy processes on SSE, with the UNTFSSE policy brief on financing informing GSEF's work and the Seville Compromise within FfD4 framework
• Brazilian Forum of Solidarity Economy (FBES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner network representing solidarity economy actors in Brazil, listed among international networks on GSEF website
• Seoul Social Economy CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner organization based in Seoul, representing social economy initiatives in South Korea
• ILO SSE AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Labour Organization initiative on SSE training and capacity building, partnership enables knowledge exchange on SSE development
• Mondragon CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor cooperative enterprise and educational network based in Spain, represents best practices in SSE and cooperative development
• OECD LEEDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with OECD Local Economic and Employment Development programme for policy dialogue and research on SSE at local level
• UN HabitatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on urban SSE development and inclusive city policies
• International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal federation of cooperatives, partnership supports SSE advocacy and knowledge sharing across cooperative movement
• The Canadian CED NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on community economic development in Canada, connected through international SSE network
• REVES (European Network of Cities and Regions for Social Economy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network focused on social economy at regional and local levels
• Social Economy EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean representation of social economy organizations at EU level
• RIPESS (Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of Social Solidarity Economy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network promoting social solidarity economy across continents
• Network of Local Authorities for a Solidarity Economy (RTES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench network of local authorities working on solidarity economy, contributes to GSEF publications and events
• European Union Commission for Employment, Social Affairs & InclusioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU institutional partner for SSE policy development and advocacy
• Housing EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean federation of public, cooperative, and social housing providers
• NestléminorOthersCorporate partner network listed among international connections
• DESIS NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of design for social innovation and sustainability
• SIX (Social Innovation Exchange)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network for social innovation practitioners
• NexusminorOthersCorporate partner network listed among international connections
• NestléminorOthersCorporate partner network listed among international connections
• World Fair Trade OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of fair trade organizations
• UrgenciminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network for community-supported agriculture and local solidarity partnerships
• Sustainable Food CitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based network promoting sustainable and healthy food systems in cities
• Groupe SOSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor French social enterprise group
• Social Enterprise InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network supporting social enterprises
• EVPA (European Venture Philanthropy Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean association for venture philanthropy and social investment
• AVPN (Asian Venture Philanthropy Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsia-focused network for social investment and venture philanthropy
• HKCSS (Hong Kong Council of Social Service)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHong Kong-based social services council
• The Co-operative CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based educational institution focused on cooperative movement
• Habitat International CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network for housing and habitat rights

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Brazilian Forum of Solidarity Economy (FBES): Brazilian national solidarity economy forum. Regional peer with comparable mission (SSE promotion and civil society coordination) but geographically scoped to Brazil; GSEF lists FBES as a featured international partner network.
• Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet): Canadian network for community economic development. Regional peer comparable in mission (community-led economic development, SSE-adjacent) but operating primarily in Canada; explicitly listed as a GSEF partner network.

Broad incumbents

• International Co-operative Alliance (ICA): Global federation of cooperatives representing the cooperative movement worldwide. Broader incumbent peer with overlapping SSE advocacy mandate but focused on cooperatives as one specific organizational form, whereas GSEF covers the full SSE spectrum.
• ILO SSE Academy (ITCILO): International Labour Organization training and capacity-building initiative on the social and solidarity economy. Broader incumbent peer offering education and training; GSEF lists it as a core strategic partner and offers overlapping knowledge-exchange programs.
• UNTFSSE (UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy): United Nations inter-agency coordination mechanism on SSE. Broader incumbent peer operating at UN system level with policy-briefing mandate; GSEF participates in its processes while UNTFSSE operates through member UN agencies.

Direct peers

• RTES (Network of Local Authorities for a Solidarity Economy): French network of local authorities working on solidarity economy. A direct peer given overlapping membership base and subject matter focus; GSEF actually counts RTES as a core partner network.
• Social Economy Europe: European-level representation of social economy organizations. Comparable to GSEF as both advocate for SSE recognition and policy frameworks, though Social Economy Europe focuses on EU-level institutions while GSEF is globally oriented.
• RIPESS (Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of Social Solidarity Economy): Global network promoting social solidarity economy across continents. Directly comparable to GSEF as both convene civil society and government actors for SSE policy advocacy at international level, with overlapping membership in many countries.
• REVES (European Network of Cities and Regions for Social Economy): European network of local and regional governments for the social economy. A direct peer to GSEF given overlapping city-government membership base and focus on local-level SSE policy development and peer learning.

Others

• OECD LEED (Local Economic and Employment Development) Programme: OECD policy programme on local economic and employment development. Adjacent ecosystem actor rather than direct competitor; GSEF has a formal partnership with OECD LEED for policy dialogue on local-level SSE development.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCXjpIvBd4MnoEUl22FbnNQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/gsefofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gsef-net
• Instagraminstagram.com/gsef_secretariat

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about GSEF (Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy)