2-day seminar (planned to take place on 6-7 July 2006, is being postponed)

Social enterprises are organisations that take different legal forms across OECD countries to pursue both social and economic goals with an entrepreneurial spirit. Social enterprises have developed from and within the social economy sector, which lies between the market and the State and is often associated with concepts such as ‘third sector’ and ‘non-profit sector’. The distinguishing feature of social enterprises is their capacity to find innovative, dynamic solutions to the problems of unemployment and social exclusion at local level and to contribute to the type of local economic development that enhances social cohesion.

In spite of the specific organisational forms defined through legal frameworks, the term “social enterprise” refers to any private activity conducted in the public interest, organised with an entrepreneurial strategy but whose main purpose is not the maximisation of profit but the attainment of certain economic and social goals, and which has the capacity to bring innovative solutions to problems of social exclusion and unemployment. Social enterprises are intended to be economically viable businesses, i.e. to balance their budgets by successfully combining market resources, non-market resources (provided by government), non-monetary resources (such as voluntary work) and private grants. Because they play a valuable role in the community and serve the public interest, social enterprises are usually eligible for financial support from the State and/or local authorities. However, they are expected to maintain a high degree of autonomy and emphasise productive activities. (OECD, 1999)

The objective of this 2-day seminar is to disseminate and discuss recent regulatory policies that define new forms of social entrepreneurship and assess their relevance and applicability potential in OECD member and non-member countries of Central East and South East Europe.

The seminar will focus on the role of legal frameworks in regulating social enterprises across OECD countries to explain and analyse the recent evolution of the non-profit sector towards new entrepreneurial forms that combine economic and social goals in the production of goods and services. It will provide a conceptual framework to assess the key features and governance models that social enterprises adopt to address problems of social exclusion and unemployment.

The seminar will seek to:
- Consider emerging models of social entrepreneurship across OECD countries to asses how non-profits can pursue public benefit objectives through entrepreneurial activities that foster social cohesion.
- Consider opportunities and obstacles for the emergence of social enterprises in countries of Central East and Southeast Europe, focusing on the role played by legal frameworks in recognising and defining best practice models.



Participants

The seminar is open to 30-45 participants from countries of Central East and Southeast Europe with the participation of experts from other OECD member countries. Representatives of the following groups will be participating in the seminar:
- National policymakers working on the role of non-profits in labour and social policy
- Legal experts in the non-profit field
- Leading non-profit practitioners working to advance social entrepreneurship at national level



INFO:

OECD Secretariat
Ms. Paola Babos
OECD LEED Trento Centre for Local Development
Phone: +39 0461 277612
Fax: +39 0461 277650
Email: paola.babos@oecd.org

Contact in Croatia
Ms. Morana Kovacevic
World Learning - Croatia
Phone: +385 01 4819650
Fax: +385 01 4819698
Email: morana.kovacevic@wl.t-com.hr