On 19th May 2021, the Asian Solidarity Economy Council (ASEC) conducted a zoom discussion on Social Inclusion and Social Protection at the “13th Asia Europe People’s Forum for a Just, Peaceful and Sustainable World (AEPF-13).” The ICA-AP presented the role of cooperatives in social inclusion and social protection in ASEC Open Space.
In Asia, as it is in many parts of the world, the vast majority of people are marginalised and with little or no social protection under an economic system that prioritizes profits over people and the planet. In July 2020, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres called for a new social contract in his lecture in the Nelson Mandela lectures. Amidst the social and economic dislocations brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, he said, the existing global socio-economic order no longer responds to the requirements of the people especially on issues of social inclusion and social protection, health, education, and global imbalances.
One of the major strategies of social inclusions is the setting up of institutions that deliver services that ensure the access of those most at risk to the opportunities and resources (finance, input supply, markets, technology, knowledge, skills, etc.), necessary to participate fully in economic, social, cultural and political life. Social Protection is another major strategy to achieve social inclusion. Social protection measures aim to provide benefits to guarantee income security and access to essential health care, such as insurance, disability benefits, old-age pensions, cash and in-kind transfers, and other contributory and tax-financed schemes.
The ASEC Open Space was to show how people’s organizations in different countries are pursuing alternative, solidarity-based development initiatives. The common features of such social and solidarity economy (SSE) initiatives are (1) democratic, participatory, socially responsible, and gender-responsive governance; (2) edifying ethical values held by their leaders, managers, and members; (3) people at the center of development, i.e. socially inclusive development with a focus on providing social protection and services; (4) concrete measures to conserve and protect the environment; and (5) economic and financial sustainability of the SSE eco-system.
Dr. Ben Quinones from ASEC moderated the Open Space and Dr. Rene Ofreneo provided the context on Social Inclusion and Social Protection under the neoliberal system vs. people’s alternatives. Case studies on experiences in Asia were presented by Kumar Loganathan on ASSEFA (India), Dr. Eri Trinurini on Bina Swadaya (Indonesia), Datuk Dr. Mohd Yusof Kasim on the Cooperative sector (Malaysia), Bhola Bhattarai on the Forest User Groups (Nepal), and Rolando Victoria on Alalay sa Kaunlaran Inc (Philippines). The Open Forum on ‘Reflections on People’s Alternatives’ moderated by Dr. Etchel Tongson included comments by John Restakis, Co-founder, Synergia Institute, Shigeru Tanaka, Joint Coordinator, RIPESS; and Balu Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-AP. Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria, ASEC Chair presented the synthesis of discussion and lessons learned.
Cooperatives are central to social development as they provide a model for social inclusion and confronting the growing inequalities in the world. This is because cooperatives look beyond the bottom line. They have a social mission to enhance not only the livelihoods of their members but also the communities that surround them. Cooperatives with their values and principles embody an economic model that empowers the marginalised and promotes social inclusion, while at the same time, remain viable business enterprises. Many are formed in response to crises in which the poor and vulnerable are worst hit and where victims have few alternatives to helping themselves. Cooperatives provide sustainability and stability.
The prevalence of economic doctrine that recognises investor-owned businesses as the dominant model of enterprise presents challenges to existing and new cooperatives which, present an alternative and more sustainable economic model. Cooperatives need an enabling legislation, technical assistance, and access to credit to be able to better deliver on social inclusion and protection.
