The PAJESS project participates in a session of the Vth World Forum on Local Economic Development

Mr. Tarek Mahjoub, Regional Director of Vocational Training and Employment at the Ariana Governorate in Tunisia shared the experience of the PAJESS project during the session "Integrated territorial systems for the Social Solidarity Economy (SSE): building a framework for analysis and planning".

News | 29 June 2021

The Vth World Forum on Local Economic Development (WFLED) was held virtually from 26 May to 1 June 2021 and hosted by the city of Córdoba in Argentina. The V WFLED aimed to address some of the most pressing issues related to local economic development (LED) and its potential to support the transition to a sustainable future.

The session, entitled "Integrated territorial systems for SSE: building a framework for analysis and planning" (2.3.2), was held virtually on 1 June 2021.

The session, moderated by Mr. Andrea Agostinucci, LED Technical Advisor to the UNDP ART Initiative, and with opening remarks by Mr. Ilcheong Yi, Senior Research Coordinator of the UNRISD Alternative Economies for Transformation Programme and Mr. Roberto Di Meglio, Head of Local Development and SSE at the ILO, aimed to explore the link between SSE and the main drivers of local (economic) development systems, as well as ways to effectively assess and improve it.

The opening remarks were followed by a round table of experts and practitioners who shared their experiences from different territories in Canada, Senegal, Italy, Argentina and Tunisia.

In particular, Mr. Tarek Mahjoub, Regional Director of Vocational Training and Employment at the Ariana Governorate, spoke about the case of the Ariana Governorate and the PAJESS project in Tunisia. Mr. Mahjoub mentioned that the Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment (MFPE) decided, in partnership with the ILO and funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, to invest in a process of formulation and implementation of local strategies for socio-economic development in the governorate of Ariana. In this context, a regional SSE development platform has been initiated, including representation from regional public structures of local authorities as well as representatives of municipalities and civil society. M. Mahjoub added that "the main objective of this platform is to support SSE organisations as a tool for creating jobs for youth and women and promoting LED processes, including mainstreaming SSE into strategic planning mechanisms; advancing dialogue at the local level enabling the formulation of coordinated and multi-sectoral responses, better adapted to community needs; supporting SSE actors and organisations through dedicated structures, funding and services; research for innovation and specialised capacity building; market access; communication strategies". The PowerPoint presentation is available here. Further information and updates on the PAJESS project are available here.

The session ended with a rich debate between the speakers and the participants who discussed the co-creation process needed for more inclusive public policies at local level.

See the concept notes of the session in English, French and Spanish.

For more information on the session, see here.