Drawing on a thematic analysis of six country case studies, our cross-sectional analysis suggests that while the concept of SSE might be a new addition to the vocabulary of policy makers, its practice is deeply rooted in community action. This is particularly the case in the informal sector where indigenous forms of economic activity that draw on solidarity and reciprocity, form the backbone of many communities. This study supports findings that indigenous practice, specifically solidarity, collectivism and communitarian approaches determine how business is done. It identifies a dissonance between the ‘elite’ SSE narrative and local practice, and supports recommendations for greater recognition of indigenous approaches, to build institutional trust.
Background
Understanding the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) in the African context is problematic for several reasons. Research is fragmented and uncoordinated resulting in a disparate knowledge-building process, that leans into western frameworks and definitions, at the expense of contextual understanding (Alenda-Demoutiez, 2022; Calvo & Morales Pachón, 2017; Farhoud et al., 2023). Despite substantial efforts from different research communities and professional, national and supra-national bodies to study SSE organizations on the African continent, our current knowledge of the SSE remains wanting.
Methodology
Our thematic analysis interrogates the SSE in six countries – Egypt, Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar – selected for their geographic and ethnic diversity. It draws on qualitative reports commissioned by the International Labour Organization in 2023, to scope the extent and nature of the SSE. These studies adopted an “inside out” approach as advocated by Morris et al. (2023, p. 3) to answer what is the SSE? with consideration to contextual, institutional and cultural diversity.
Results (preliminary)
The preliminary results of the study show how the SSE, in all six countries, is embedded in culture, recognised as the foundation for exchange and collaboration, before the contribution of money was adopted. A delegitimising of the SSE is attributed to colonialism, and the financialization of households, where money rather than social ties underpinned transactions. African indigenous practices are inherently collective, captured in philosophies of ubuntu and harambee, and applied through SSE activities such as ajo (pooled contributions) and ebiombe (communal working). That the SSE as a phrase is not well understood or internalised in formal institutional mechanisms, yet the philosophies are embedded in language, exposes its institutional dissonance. Consequently, the SSE cannot be understood in the African context, without consideration of its indigeneity.
Implications of the study
A consequence of colonialism is a de-legitimising of indigenous processes, a valorising of the western perspective, and consequent breakdowns in institutional trust (Lounsbury, 2023). It emphasises the critical nature of systems of exchange that are not price-led, amplifying the importance of moral, collective and associative transactions (Biggart & Delbridge, 2004). This study supports findings that indigenous practice, specifically solidarity, collectivism and communitarian approaches determine how business is done (Amoako, 2019) and supports recommendations by Dia (1996) and for greater recognition of indigenous approaches, to build institutional trust.
