On November 26, 2024, the Gard Departmental Council organized the event “Gard: ESS in common(s)” in Pont-du-Gard, marking the end of a month dedicated to the promotion of the Social Economy and solidarity (ESS).
This meeting made it possible to take stock of the progress of the first projects of the Departmental ESS Plan and to present a major innovation: “the call for common(s)”, a real call for cooperation in the service of the territories.
Since the adoption of the first ESS Plan by the Departmental Assembly on March 8, 2024, several initiatives have been put in place to strengthen partnership relations. Three co-construction workshops were organized with territorial ESS stakeholders and community agents, in order to finalize the call for
common(s). This system aims to encourage collaboration between ESS structures, by encouraging them to define needs together and develop suitable solutions.
At the same time, the Departmental Council recorded its participation in the SCIC Gard et Autonomy and planned the adoption of a Scheme for the promotion of socially and environmentally responsible purchasing (SPASER). This plan, which will be operational thanks to a first workshop organized by the Directorate of Legal Affairs, Purchasing and Questure, aims to train public procurement agents in new practices during selection juries.
The Departmental Council also formed the first core of the ESS Gard network and launched the project to develop an open source platform dedicated to ESS in Gard. This support for major players in the ESS takes the form of agreements based on the implementation of the plan.
An Economy at the Service of the Territories
The Social and Solidarity Economy positions itself as a virtuous, non-relocatable economy, which places people at the heart of its concerns. The Gard Departmental Council, in favor of this philosophy, supports the ESS for its local responses and its integration into numerous public policies, such as social, early childhood, mobility, food and integration.
In 2021, a delegated vice-presidency for the ESS was created, entrusted to Hélène Meunier. The Departmental Assembly unanimously voted for its first ESS Plan in March 2024, developed in consultation with local stakeholders. This plan defines four areas of work: supporting local cooperation, promoting the ESS, supporting the establishment of major ESS players and promoting social innovation.
The ESS: A Key Player for the Well-Being of the Gardois
Representing nearly 12% of salaried employment in the Gard, the ESS is involved in all sectors of activity, with a particular emphasis on innovation and sustainable development. The Departmental Council is committed to promoting this economy, which embodies values of solidarity, proximity and collaboration, and which responds to local issues.
One of the major innovations of the ESS Scheme is the introduction of joint calls, which profoundly change professional practices. Unlike traditional methods where communities define needs, this new model invites ESS companies to cooperate to identify needs and implement solutions. This approach will be tested from 2025, promising to transform collaboration between ESS structures in Gard.
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