Economic solidarity, an economy of popular resistance
All over the world, economic solidarity engages resistance by the poorer populations regularly excluded by the simple objective of financial benefit. Economic solidarity is popularly well-viewed because it produces jobs and income, goods and services, by and for middle to low-class families as well as workers in high-risk categories. Through social recognition and self-esteem economic solidarity allows resistance to the violence of poverty.

Economic Solidarity, an economy of social bonds and global interest
Against an economy without solidarity, against an underground economy at the height of black market traffics (drugs, arms, organs, labour …) – economic solidarity effectively creates an alternative choice. Economic solidarity helps organise a collective daily life, create bonds between the generations, and build public services in ignored urban quarters as well as neglected rural regions.

Economic Solidarity, an economy of local development
Putting in priority local trade, preaching the values of local competencies and natural resources, economic solidarity helps to create activities and sustainable local development that takes root in native values as well as lands. This includes concepts developed internationally such as fair trade and solidarity tourism.

Economic Solidarity installs democracy at the heart of the economy
Putting the economy at the service of man rather than man at the service of the economy, solidarity economy values each individual’s know-how in order to develop methods of organisation that are communal and based on trust. Associations, groups and cooperatives are all methods of collective production which concurrently create civic contributions daily. Total economic solidarity encourages collective actions that push towards regulating economic trends and social rights everywhere in the world.

Economic solidarity brings proof that it is possible to merge economy, solidarity and common goods.
With it’s use of microcredit groups, it’s peasant, fishermen, artisan and small business cooperatives, it’s health, education and training services, it’s emergency aid societies … economic solidarity is proof that it is possible to merge economy, solidarity and common goods. Economic solidarity looks to prevent the economy from being caught in the trap of the “everything is marketable” philosophy; the sole quest for financial profit and it’s undesirable consequences : poverty abuses, brutal extraditions, food and natural resources speculation. Economic solidarity develops accessible public services, close to the communities and managed and operated transparently for the general public interest.

For over 40 years, Frères des Hommes works in partnership with local organisations engaged in the development of economic solidarity in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Carribean. Together they construct common actions with other partners throughout France and Europe. We have observed how these multiple actions on the long-term are the proof of the incredible potentialfor economic solidarity in the fight against poverty and the fight for human rights all over the world.