This project is developed by the OECD Local Employment and Economic Development (LEED) Programme and is supported by Colombia.

• What's the issue?

In Colombia, a considerable share of the population works in the informal sector and lacks social protection and pensions rights. Despite solid economic growth and government efforts, Colombia’s informality rate remains high at over 60% of total employment. To ensure greater well-being and inclusive growth for its citizens, Colombia is looking for innovative solutions to address this important issue.

Addressing informality requires novel multidimensional strategies that integrate a range of policies. Supporting social and solidarity economy (SSE) development can contribute to this effort. The SSE represents around 4% of Colombia’s GDP, and nearly 7 million Colombians are affiliated to SSE organisations such as cooperatives, mutual associations and employee funds. SSE models are built around a holistic approach to human and economic development that promotes people over capital and fosters socio-economic initiatives that strengthen co-operation and social cohesion. SSE organisations typically facilitate access to training, formal work, property, information and equitable distribution of benefits to their members. In Colombia, the promotion of conducive and tailored SSE ecosystems can significantly help unleash the social and solidarity economy’s full potential for tackling informality and its impacts, and provide solutions to support the transition to formal work in many economic sectors.

• What can the OECD offer?

The OECD has pioneered work and significantly expanded practical knowledge on the social economy, social enterprises and social innovation for over two decades. Our work has since demonstrated the major role that the social economy plays in local job creation, social inclusion, economic growth and the green transition.

The OECD can support Colombia in implementing its strategic priorities in the area of formalisation of workers through social and solidarity economy models. In order to do this, the OECD will organise focus groups with Colombian stakeholders to compile key information and insights; conduct three workshops to foster mutual learning, exchange and sharing of international good practices; and produce an analytical paper with main conclusions and recommendations for Colombia. 

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Published 29 July 2022

Read the OECD publication

‌Workshops

23 March 2022 | Social economy information systems to support policy making

22 March 2022 | Social economy practices and informality in Colombia

9 December 2021 | The Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystem in Colombia 

Read the workshop highlights