SOLSOC

Solsoc's five-year programme in Burundi contributes to the advancement of the 4 pillars of decent work: social protection, the defence of workers' rights, job creation and social dialogue.

Solsoc supports 27 mutual insurance companies that provide access to health care for more than 5,300 families in Burundi's 5 coffee-growing regions. Despite the difficulties encountered by mutual health insurance companies following the relaunch of the Medical Assistance Card, which is almost free and therefore impossible to compete with, they have become more efficient and contribute to improving the socio-economic conditions of households and the quality of health care. Important advocacy work is also being done for better social protection. Solsoc also supports cooperatives so that they can be more autonomous, for example by developing a processing activity. All these initiatives are being strengthened thanks to the training of leaders of mutuals and cooperatives at the Haguruka People's University, which has become a local reference in this field.

In Burundi, Solsoc also participates in the defence of workers' rights through the Burundian Federation of Food Workers (FEBUTRA). 11 trade unions have been set up in the formal and informal agri-food sector to train members and leaders, provide trade union education and support their social dialogue.

In the context of a particularly decisive post-conflict context for the reconstruction of the country, Solsoc, in collaboration with FOS and IFSI, seeks to strengthen a range of civil society actors who are developing different social, political and economic alternatives. Together with local partner organizations, we seek to create decent working and living conditions for workers and marginalized populations. In the Colombian context, it is also important to strengthen the mobilization of social movements at the national and international levels. The objective is the recognition of social actors such as trade unions, the peasant movement, local communities, as well as new forms of social and political expression. Together they can form a social movement that can one day rebuild a new Colombian nation that respects human rights and international law.

In Morocco, Solsoc and 3 partner organizations, AFAQ, AJR and IFAAP support neighbourhood associations in Casablanca and social and solidarity economy initiatives in order to strengthen them on a technical, strategic and political level. This support also makes it possible to create spaces for consultation with other actors at local, national and international level on the promotion of the social economy and access to social protection for all, in particular young people and women. In concrete terms, 15 associations and 20 social and solidarity economy initiatives from 6 districts of Greater Casablanca are concerned by this support. They develop neighbourhood projects based on the needs expressed by citizens in the fields of health, youth, education, the social and solidarity economy, equal opportunities, the environment and access to public services.

Finally, the political advocacy dimension is particularly present in Morocco. Solsoc and its partners are keen to relay the concerns of young people and women to the public authorities, thus including them in the policies that concern them and involving them in the decision-making process.

Solsoc works with two partner organisations in Palestine, Ma’an and PAC. They work with young people and women who are employed, unemployed or students, as well as with local organisations and decision-makers in Gaza and the West Bank (including East Jerusalem). 

Solsoc's 2017-2021 programme strengthens the capacities of its active partners in citizen mobilization and advocacy for improved working conditions and better social protection, particularly for young people and women. In concrete terms, the programme makes it possible to support 3 mutual health insurance companies so that they can act to improve the quality of health care. Solsoc supports farmers' organizations, young people and urban market committees to improve and diversify their production and services, and thus evolve towards social and solidarity economy enterprises. In addition, Solsoc supports citizen action dynamics so that they influence public policies at all levels and act as a channel of communication between the population and the authorities responsible for the issues addressed and the fight against corruption.

Solsoc and its two partner organisations in Senegal, the NGO GREEN and the Oyofal Paj network, are working together to extend social protection and improve the rights of workers in the informal economy and the rural world, particularly those of young people and women, by promoting the creation of jobs with sustainable incomes. To this end, the programme strengthens 4 types of target groups: mutual health insurance companies, as well as their departmental and regional unions, networks of social and solidarity economy initiatives and youth movements. Organizational, technical, thematic and political support enables them to represent a real mobilizing force and to fully play their respective roles in the extension of their social, political and economic rights.

In Belgium, Solsoc relays the concerns and demands of its partners in the South. Together they propose to mobilise the European public on North/South issues, the construction of fair and balanced global relations and new paradigms for solidarity and sustainable development.

And to give more scope to this action, Solsoc has joined forces with two organisations that share the same values: FOS-Socialistische Solidariteit (the Dutch-speaking equivalent of Solsoc) and IFSI (the Institute for International Trade Union Cooperation supported by the FGTB). Together we are trying to reach the public of the Belgian socialist movement, so that they are better informed, aware and mobilized on issues related to international solidarity. But it is also together that we seek to reach national, European and international policy makers to take more initiatives, measures and decisions in favour of respect for decent work and fair and balanced global relations.