Română Amal Chevreau, Policy Analyst in the Unit on Social Economy and Innovation at the Center for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, OECD, brought at Enterprising for Tomorrow 2024 conference valuable insights from the comprehensive study titled “Mapping the Social Economy Around the World”.
The study was released in 2023, and includes country fact sheets from 34 countries, including Romania. The study provides insights into legal frameworks, employment contributions, and sector impacts of the social economy.
Key Findings from the OECD Study on Mapping the Social Economy Ecosystems
- Associations are the predominant legal form of social economy entities, followed by cooperatives and foundations.
- Social economy entities are typically micro and small-medium enterprises with fewer than 10 employees.
- The social economy is a significant source of employment, with high employment rates in countries like France, while being more modest in Poland and Romania.
- The sector demonstrates employment stability during crises, highlighting its resilience.
- Women represent 60% of the workforce in many countries within the social economy, though this reflects traditional gender roles in certain sectors.
- Social services, health, education, culture, communication, and recreation are common areas of activity in the social economy.
- The diversity of these sectors underscores the multifaceted nature of the social economy.
“OECD stands ready to support Romania reach these goals through in-depth work and tailored expertise.”
Amal Chevreau, Policy Analyst in the Unit on Social Economy and Innovation at the Center for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, OECD
Recommendations for Romania
- Provide training and mentorship to aspiring and existing social entrepreneurs.
- Enhance collaboration among social enterprises, government agencies, and stakeholders to improve innovation, knowledge sharing, and collective impact.
- Raise awareness among consumers and increase market access for social enterprises, including through public procurement.
- Collect data and measure impact to inform resource allocation, program development, and strategic planning.
Amal Chevreau address at the social economy event organized by ADV Romania highlighted the pivotal role of the social economy, its resilience, and the strategic steps Romania can take to further develop this sector, leveraging insights from the OECD study and continued support from international organizations.