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BordeauxGSEF2025: Building on the Momentum, Looking Ahead to MaricáGSEF2027

On 22 September 2026, the GSEF brought together partners of BordeauxGSEF2025 and stakeholders from the French Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) ecosystem in Paris, with its Co-Presidents Alain Rousset, President of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, and Stéphane Montuzet, President of CRESS Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Almost one year after the 7th edition of the Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forum, the meeting was an opportunity to look back at the Forum’s main outcomes, share the work carried out since Bordeaux, and keep building momentum towards MaricáGSEF2027.

BordeauxGSEF2025 was jointly hosted by the City of Bordeaux, Bordeaux Métropole, the Gironde Department and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, alongside the GSEF and many public and private partners.

Among those represented on 22 September were the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Directorate General of the Treasury, the Ministerial Delegation for the Social and Solidarity Economy, Groupe VYV, Crédit Coopératif, ESS France, France Volontaires, Fondation Grameen Crédit Agricole, Caisse des Dépôts, ConcertES and So Coopération. CIRIEC France and RTES also joined remotely.

A Forum that continues to make an impact

With more than 10,000 participants from around the world, BordeauxGSEF2025 was a major milestone for the SSE internationally. Its impact was also very tangible at the local level.
The Forum generated more than €13.5 million in economic impact and deliberately involved the SSE ecosystem in its organisation: 70% of the Forum’s service providers were Social and Solidarity Economy organisations.

Almost a year later, the feedback shared in Paris made one thing clear: BordeauxGSEF2025 is still having an impact well beyond the event itself. The GSEF has continued its work to make the Forum’s discussions and experiences widely accessible through publications, summaries, videos, podcasts, session recordings and a directory of speakers.

But the Forum’s legacy also lives on through its participants, partners and organisations, which continue to build on the cooperation and commitments developed in Bordeaux across their territories and networks.

The youth dynamic is a strong example. The process launched after DakarGSEF2023 led to the structuring of the GSEF International Youth Hub, the development of five continental advocacy documents and, ultimately, the International Youth Declaration for the SSE, presented in Bordeaux. The next step is to turn this mobilisation into concrete cooperation and projects.

The Declarations adopted in Bordeaux also continue to shape the GSEF’s advocacy between Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forums, particularly on the contribution of the SSE to sustainable peace. The Declaration adopted in October 2025 states:
“We therefore call on leaders to act responsibly, create the conditions for peace, and urgently commit to a transition towards a resilient, equitable, redistributive and democratic economic model, of which the Social and Solidarity Economy can be a foundation.”

Since Bordeaux, this advocacy has also been brought into other international spaces, including the International Cooperative Alliance Global Conference, held in Panama in September 2026.

The GSEF beyond the Global Forum

The meeting also highlighted an essential point: the GSEF’s work is not limited to organising the Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forum every two years.

Throughout the year, the network supports the exchange of experiences and expertise, develops continental dynamics and working groups, fosters cooperation among its members and brings the voice of the SSE into international spaces.

This role was particularly highlighted by Maxime Baduel, Ministerial Delegate for the Social and Solidarity Economy. In the context of France’s new National Strategy for the Social and Solidarity Economy, adopted in July 2026, he described the GSEF as a valuable tool for strengthening the presence of the SSE in European and international arenas.

He also stressed the need to better engage international organisations, financial institutions and multilateral development banks in support of the SSE.

Another key priority is to strengthen the international alliances that help keep the SSE on global political agendas and support joint advocacy efforts.

Looking ahead to MaricáGSEF2027

The next major milestone is MaricáGSEF2027, the 8th edition of the Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forum, which will take place in Brazil from 9 to 12 October 2027.

Preparations began as soon as the Bordeaux Forum ended. The City of Maricá was elected host city during BordeauxGSEF2025 by GSEF members gathered at the General Assembly. The organising committees are now in place, an international Scientific Committee is working on the Forum’s content, and mobilisation is already well under way across Brazil, Latin America and the Caribbean.

For French stakeholders, preparations for Maricá now raise a collective question: what experiences and contributions should be brought to Brazil? How can French stakeholders be mobilised, and how can the next Forum help strengthen international cooperation and coalitions in support of the SSE?
This work directly connects with the international dimension of France’s National SSE Strategy and with the ongoing cooperation between the GSEF and its French partners.

From Bordeaux to Maricá, the aim remains the same: to make the Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forums not only major international gatherings, but also key milestones in long-term processes that strengthen public policies, cooperation between territories and international advocacy for the Social and Solidarity Economy.