Resources
This resources library brings together key publications, tools, and learning materials supporting the development of the social economy across Europe.
Find the initiatives under our Prosperity focus.
Find the initiatives under our Prosperity focus.
A brief and initial opinion on the Tunisian Law on Social and Solidarity Economy
- Type: Article
- Author: Samuel Barco
- Published on: 2020
A map of social economy in tourism
- Type: Paper
- Author: Diesis Network
A Map of Social Economy Tourism
The paper proposes an overview of the latest EU policy developments and strategies on both the social economy and tourism and a collection of several best practices from different European countries in the fields of rural communities, community-based enterprises, cooperatives in action, cultural heritage, digital platforms, inclusion and diversity. The best practices presented in this paper show the benefits of tourism when developed in a social economy perspective.
- Type: Good practices, Research Paper
- Author: Beatriz Gateira, Gianluca Pastorelli, Anastasia Costantini, Eleonora Lamio, Paul Hammoud.
ADVANCING GREEN JOBS OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS THROUGH SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
- Type: Article
- Author: Anastasia Costantini and Fabiana Pompermaier
- Published on: 01/05/2023
Analysis of good practices proposal for actions and policies
- Type: Report
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2016
Applying the doughnut model as compass to maximise the social economy contribution to the twin transition
- Type: Paper
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2024
BaSE model of social economy enterprise as an example of a sustainable business model
- Type: Research Paper
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2023
Benisi Scaling Guide
This document aims at presenting the findings from the BENISI scaling-up programme. It aims to represent the role that incubators, and networks of incubators, can play in successfully scaling and increasing the scope of social innovation in Europe and beyond. It explores how social innovation incubators can support innovators in defining, implementing and scaling solutions that address the societal challenges Europe is facing today.The BENISI project aimed to build a Europe-wide network of networks of incubators or social innovation. The network identified more than 300 social innovations with high potential for scaling successfully in the public, private, third, social enterprise and cooperative sectors, and ensured them the delivery of necessary support services for scaling.
- Type: Guide/Handbook/Toolkit
- Author: Benisi project team
- Published on: 01/01/2016
Best practice: biotechnology for algae transformation (in Spanish)
- Type: Good practices
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2025
Best practice: blue technology to protect our seas: smart inspection of underwater infrastructures (in Spanish)
- Type: Paper other topic
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2025
Blockchain for sustainable seafood: traceability from sea to plate (in Spanish)
- Type: Paper other topic
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2025
BRIDGING PRACTICES THE ROLE OF SOCIAL ECONOMY IN BUILDING PEACE
- Type: Article
- Author: Fabiana Pompermaier, Laia Orzco
- Published on: 01/10/2022
Building an Economy that works for people an action plan for the social economy
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.
- Type: Policy Paper
- Author: European Commission
- Published on: 03/12/2021
Buying for social impact – Good practice from around the EU
It is the final publication of the Buying for Social Impact (BSI) project commissioned by the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) and the European Commission Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) to promote the use of social considerations in public procurement procedures. The project was led by the European Association for Information on Local Development (AEIDL), working in partnership with the European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy (REVES), the Diesis Network, Social Economy Europe (SEE), and the European Network of Social Integration Enterprises (ENSIE). The publication, which includes 22 good practices from 12 countries, is a meaningful collection of good practices that can not only inspire procurers, but also operators in the social economy, so as to stimulate replication across Europe.
- Type: Good practices, Impact Report, Research Paper
- Published on: 01/01/2020
Edutainment Techniques And Digital Facilitation Tools
- Type: Article
- Author: WATTAJOB
Employees in the housing and energy crisis: problems and community solutions, highlighting the housing and energy issues faced by employees in the Hungarian private sector
- Type: Paper other topic
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2024
Empowering rural communities through social and solidarity economy: observations and case studies
- Type: Paper
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2021
Encyclopedia of the Social and Solidarity Economy
The Encyclopedia of the Social and Solidarity Economy is a comprehensive reference text that explores how the social and solidarity economy (SSE) plays a significant role in creating and developing economic activities in alternative ways. In contrast to processes involving commodification, commercialisation, bureaucratisation and corporatisation, the SSE reasserts the place of ethics, social well-being and democratic decision-making in economic activities and governance. The Encyclopedia broadens the knowledge base of diverse actors of the SSE, including practitioners, activists and policymakers.
- Type: Good practices, Research Paper, Guide/Handbook/Toolkit
- Author: A Collective Work of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on SSE (UNTFSSE)
- Published on: 25/04/2023
Entrepreneuriat social vert féminin en milieu rural – bonnes pratiques d’Europe, des Balkans occidentaux et du Cameroun (en français)
- Type: Paper other topic
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2025
Female social green entrepreneurship in rural areas – good practices from Europe, western Balkans, and Cameroon (in English)
- Type: Paper other topic
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2025
Five tools for internationalisation assessment
- Type: Guide/Handbook
- Author: Diesis Network
Food sustainability in the VET school curriculum
- Type: Article
- Author: Bianca Fabbrocino & Annamaria Di Palma ISIS “De Gennaro”
- Published on: 13/02/2023
Green action plan
- Type: Policy Paper
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2025
Green paper on social economy in the western Balkans
- Type: Paper
- Author: Diesis Network
Greening the agri-food sector upskilling the job force
- Type: Article
- Author: Anastasia Costantini , Alessia Sebillo,
- Published on: 01/03/2023
How Social Enterprise contribute to sustainable food systems
Our study begins with an overview of food systems, and a brief discussion of the concept of sustainable food systems. T he second part deals with the social economy and social enterprises as models for the development of sustainable food systems, and presents some alternative patterns for food systems developed by social economy enterprises, such as social farming and community food. The third part of the study focuses on the role of the social entrepreneur and presents some good practices of social enterprises involved in creating sustainable food systems. This research has enabled us to elaborate some observations on the role of social economy organisations in the implementation of actions toward sustainable food systems.
- Type: Good practices, Research Paper
- Author: Diesis Network
How Social Enterprises Contribute to Alternative Food Systems
What does it mean for a social economy enterprise to take food into account? The paper contributes to this branch of studies with the aim of understanding how social enterprises are able to generate alternative food systems to promote food sovereignty and sustainability. Firstly, a review of the relevant literature is presented, with the aim of showing an overview of the relationship between social economy enterprises and sustainable development with a specific focus on sustainable food. Following this, after a description of the methodology employed, the experiences of a number of social enterprises of food sector among Europe that have implemented innovative projects involving sustainability and counteracting the desertification of rural areas, women’s employment, migrant integration, decent job conditions and work integration. This leads to a discussion of the results, the interpretation of the new roles of social enterprises, and the identification of the main implications. The main thing that links all these cases is five key elements, which are present in all the experiences we analysed: inclusion, equity, respect, responsibility and opportunity. These elements can be seen as keywords and important aspects for a transition towards more sustainable food systems through social economy enterprises.
- Type: Research Paper, Paper other topic
- Author: Anastasia Costantini, Alessia Sebillo, Gianluca Pastorelli, CIRIEC International
- Published on: 01/01/2019
How social enterprises contribute to sustainable food system
Social enterprise experiences in the sustainable food chain are spreading in various regions of Europe and include a wide range of initiatives. These experiences show that social enterprises are engaged in a search for new ways of interacting in the production and consumption of food, while showing an active and participatory commitment to their communities.
We have investigated social enterprises that are part of sustainable food systems across Europe. Our study begins with an overview of food systems, and a brief discussion of the concept of sustainable food systems. The second part deals with the social economy and social enterprises as models for the development of sustainable food systems, and presents some alternative patterns for food systems developed by social economy enterprises, such as social farming and community food. The third part of the study focuses on the role of the social entrepreneur and presents some good practices of social enterprises involved in creating sustainable food systems. This research has enabled us to elaborate some observations on the role of social economy organisations in the implementation of actions toward sustainable food systems.
- Type: Good practices, Impact Report
- Author: Diesis Network
How social enterprises contribute to sustainable food systems in Europe
- Type: Report
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2017
Identificación y sistematización de experiencias de incubación de cooperativas en la Unión Europea, con énfasis en España, Italia, Bélgica y Francia
- Type: Good practices
- Author: Diesis Network
- Published on: 2025