Reciprocity among social
enterprises
Tools and results – Warsaw October 2008
Pierluca Ghibelli
Economy and reciprocity
In
the economy a form of reciprocity is represented by the contract.
A contract (do ut des) is similar to reciprocity but it is also very
different.
In the recent years, a form of genuine reciprocity has emerged
thanks to the development of social economy. Social economy
obliges “social” and “civil” economists to take into serious
consideration genuine reciprocity within the economy.
Nowadays often economists talk about gratuity, relational goods,
reciprocity, new words in the economic vocabulary.
Social economy
Social economy refers to a third sector in economies between the
private and the public sector. The Social Economy constitutes a
significant movement worldwide, distinguished by its innovative,
dynamic and resourceful nature. It is a movement covering an
enormous variety of projects and activities, which put people and
community, rather than profit, at the centre of their missions.
Social Economy enterprises have a peculiar way of doing business
associating economic performance, democratic operation and
solidarity among members. The sector includes cooperatives,
voluntary and community organisations, foundations and
associations. They are either employee or community economic
development organisations that use trading activities to achieve their
social goals and financial self-sufficiency.
Social enterprise: Economical and entrepreneurial
indicators
1) An assets of production of activity runned on
permanent basis
- do Not develop activity of advocacy or financial
redistribution
- Are productive organizations
2) A high level of autonomy
- are created and managed in autonomy
- are Not managed from public bodies or other
productive enterprises
Social enterprise: Economical and entrepreneurial
indicators
3) A significant level of economic risk
- The owners take on themselves the risk
- The same owners (partners) supply the
capital
4) The presence of a certain amount of employees
Social enterprise: Economical and entrepreneurial
indicators
5) The production of benefits for the community
- Promote culture of the social responsability
6) An initiative promoted from a group of citizens
Social enterprise: Economical and entrepreneurial
indicators
7) The enterprise governement is not based on capital
8) The management includes community’s
stakeholders
9) A limited distribution of the “profit”
- It is not permitted the total distribution of the
surplus
- It is “profit” oriented but not for-profit
oriented
THE SUSTAINABILITY OF SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE: is the
answer to the problem of
sustainability of social
cooperatives
and any other form of SMEs.
social
The roots of sustainability are:
- Territory
- Population
- Production systems
- Institutions
economic
The Social enterprise is rooted
In a specific community
political
environmental
SOCIAL
ENTERPRISE
The Social cooperative is the
strongest but not the only
Instrument to Social enterprise
Not all cooperatives today
enter the category of social
enterprise
territory
institutions
population
production
systems
Social cooperatives
Social cooperatives are a specific form of social economy
enterprises.
In Italy they are recognised by the law (L. 381/91) as private nonprofit enterprises finalised “at the human promotion and social
integration of the citizens“. Social cooperatives produce social
services (type A) and manage different kinds of activities providing
work integration of disadvantaged people (type B).
Social cooperatives are generally joined in local consortia on a
territorial basis (provincial or metropolitan). A large group of local
consortia is member of CGM, national consortium of social
cooperatives.
Two kinds of social cooperatives
“A” Cooperatives
“B” Cooperatives
management of social,
health and educational
services for minors, old
people, physical, mental
and sensorial invalids
carrying-out of sundry
activities - agricultural,
industrial, business or
services - having as their
purpose the gainful
employment of
disadvantaged people
Network structure
N a t io n a l C o n s o r t iu m
lo c a l c o n s o r t iu m
S o c ia l
c o - o p e r a t iv e
lo c a l c o n s o r t iu m
S o c ia l
c o - o p e r a t iv e
lo c a l c o n s o r t iu m
S o c ia l
c o - o p e r a t iv e
S o c ia l
c o - o p e r a t iv e
According to co-operative logic,
the lower level monitors the higher
level (it holds the capital and
chooses the administrators)
The consortia spread
throughout the country are
associated with the national
consortium Cgm
Groups of social cooperatives form local consortia
(provincial or metropolitan)
Cooperative Movement
Cooperatives
Members
Employees
Turnover
Contribution to BNP
71,000
11,830,000
1,020,000
138 billion €
7.3 %
Mezzogiorno ca
40%
The first experiences in Cgm network
• multiplication through the “strawberry field” and spin-offs
• the first “exchanges” among enterprises
• the experience of the Global Grant OASIS (stage)
• the promotional project of local consortia in the South of
Italy (Meridia project)
• experiences of internationalisation of social cooperation
• some highly integrated partnership projects (social tourism,
mental health, childhood…)
The phases of reciprocity
• PHASE 1 – NORTH-SOUTH SOLIDARITY (the first twinnings): the
Policoro project promotes the first twinnings inspired to the political choice to
support social cooperatives and consortia and based on a prevailing dynamics of
gratuity (excellent results and some risks of charitable approach, paternalism)
• PHASE 2 - STRUCTURING (National project Fertilità – projects Cariplo
Foundation): strategic choice to exploit some opportunities to better structure
development and reciprocal relationships (complex and costly). Focus on startup/development of services and on consolidation of the organisational structure.
• PHASE 3 – BUSINESS SHARING (Aid to cooperation Campania 1 and 2):
share of regional opportunities. Reciprocity south-south. Implication of Poles
and regional development companies (ASIS). Focus on the development of the
enterprise, its skills, its market share and its performances.
2001 STAGE – OASIS 27 “knots” in
relation
2002 – FERTILITA’ – 34 “knots” in
relation
2003-2004
AID TO COOPERATION
FUNDED PLANNING
(Active citizenship and local
development – Feudi S.Gregorio –
Comunità Minori – Work Integration
– Forcella…)
68 national “knots” in relation
Numerous territorial relationships
(parishes, municipalities,
Unioncamere, Feudi S. Gregorio,
province of Naples,..)
2004-2005
AID TO COOPERATION
132 “knots” in relation
SOUTH SOUTH beneficiaries and
promoters
Tangram project – “Solidarity becomes
enterprise” (2000-2005)
Since 2000 the National Secretariat of the POLICORO project (CEI –
Italian Bishops Conference, Work, Youth and Development Bishops
Bureau) implements – in collaboration with CARIPLO Foundation, under
the coordination of the cooperative training institute INECOOP and the
implication of the network of Consorzio Nazionale CGM – an important
development action: the project “TANGRAM – solidarity becomes
enterprise”.
The novelty consists in the development of RECIPROCITY actions
among social co-operatives of Basilicata, Campania and Lombardia, thus
creating stable relationships (company participations, joined participations
to projects, consultancy, ATS...) to favour the transfer of experiences to
support the development and the creation of social and economic actions in
an environment of mutual help.
Tangram project – “Solidarity becomes
enterprise”(2000-2005)
Today the relation of reciprocity – through operational projects, cultural
projects, friendships – involves, with different roles of promoters and
beneficiaries and having started a reciprocity SOUTH-SOUTH:
6 consortia from Campania - 2 consortia from Basilicata - 1 consortium from
Puglia
1 consortium from Calabria - 1 consortium from Sicily -1 consortium from
Emilia-romagna - 13 consortia from Lombardia - 2 national consortia
52 cooperatives from Campania - 36 cooperatives from Lombardia - 1
cooperative from Puglia - 2 cooperatives from Calabria - 2 cooperatives from
Piemonte – 1 cooperative from Sardinia - 1 cooperative from Basilicata
Additional resources for 6.300.000 euro
Tangram project – “Solidarity becomes
enterprise” (2000-2005)
The actions implemented
• Development agents and Community animators
• Meetings – contacts – sensibilisation – information (more than 100
cooperatives)
• Work internships (150 days)
• Technical assistance (more than 180 days of advice for start-up, development
and consolidations for 26 cooperatives)
•Creation of 20 new cooperatives, 5 consortia, from 42 to 100 cooperatives
members of Federsolidarietà
•2 conferences (Bergamo and Naples)
Project Fertilità
An integrated action to support the creation and the development of social
cooperatives (art 1 e 8 L 381/91). Contribution 100% on capital and
investments
On the proposal of the commission “Third Sector and Employment”
created by a Decree of the Ministry of Labour, and composed by third
sector experts and representatives of “private-social” organisations.
To support the dissemination of different forms of social cooperatives
(management of social, care, health and educational services, work
integration, consortia) as:
1) A tool to expand and reinforce territorial systems of social integration and
protection
2) An opportunity to create new employment
Sviluppo Italia, on the basis of the agreement with the Ministry of Labour
– Direction for Employment which delegates the management of the whole
project.
Fertilità Project
Social cooperatives
Promoter
Consortia of social cooperatives
Non profit
organisations
Tutor
Social cooperatives
Consortia of social
cooperatives
Financial
Partner
Managerial
It acts as leader of the process to
support creation and development of
social enterprises
Its task is to provide advice in the
start up phase of the new enterprise
It provides support in the
implementation of the project
Institutional
Final
Social cooperatives
Beneficiary
Consortia of social
cooperatives
It is located in the areas Ob. 1/ 2 and in
the areas ex DM 14/03/95 (South of Italy
and some additional areas)
Fertilità project in Cgm network
Out of 529 projects submitted, 116 have been approved. In Cgm network more than 50
promotional projects have been approved involving more than 70 beneficiaries. The main
actions:
Valorisation of existing partnerships
Existing relationships have been reinforced
Strengthening of young cooperatives
Actions to strengthen and consolidate existing cooperatives have been preferred
Support to spin-off processes
Promotion and coaching are major factors of success for the development of new
cooperatives
Strengthen of functions of consortia
Promotion of territorial grouping among heterogeneous actors, aiming at favouring local
synergies. Key role played by consortia to promote individual projects.
Reciprocity between Campania and Lombardia
SINTHESYS OF THE MAIN RESULTS
OF THE RECIPROCITY BETWEEN
CAMPANIA AND LOMBARDIA REGIONS
Reciprocity projects Campania
CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED AND OTHER SUPPORTING FUNDING
Fertilità national > 13 cooperatives from Campania > approx. 1.000.000 euro
Umanamente > 2 Consortia > approx. 500.000 Euro
Project Feudi > 1 cooperative + 1 start-up of cooperative > approx. 280.000 euro
Project Quartieri > 4 consortia > approx. 250.000 euro
Aid to cooperation 1° call: more than 300.000 euro
Aid to cooperation 2* call … in course of evaluation
And more: Fondazione Vodafone Progetto Tutti a casa; Progetti Acri; etc.
Reciprocity Campania- Lombardia
Tangram project
27 consortia: 6 from Campania, 2 frm Basilicata, 1 from Puglia, 1 from
Calabria, 1 form Sicily, 1 from Emilia-romagna, 13 from Lombardia and
2 national. More than 100 cooperative: 52 from Campania, 36 from
Lombardia, 1 from Puglia, 2 from Calabria, 2 from Piemonte, 1 from
Sardinia and 1 from Basilicata. Resources globally moved: 6.300.000
euro.
Project “Active citizenship and local development”, with the
contribution of Cariplo Foundation
4 consortia from Campania and 3 consortia from Lombardia, more than
600.000 euro used for developing city boroughs. Contribution of Cariplo
Foundation € 250.000. (2004-2005).
Reciprocity Campania- Lombardia
Calls “Aid to cooperation” of Campania Region. Contribution
(50%) for investments of new and young enterprises, supported by
“promoters” available to capitalise.
* 1° call: 6 cooperatives and 2 consortia from Campania
(beneficiaries), 6 cooperatives and one consortium from Lombardia
(promoters), contribution: more than 300.000 euro.
* 2° call: 26 beneficiaries (of which 2 consortia), 26 promoters (of
which 3 consortia). More than 2.000.000 euro of contribution agreed.
Involved as promoters cooperatives and consortia from Calabria,
Sicilia, Campania, Lombardia, Piemonte and Emilia Romagna.
Fertilità actions in Campania 2003-2005
Objective: transfer of good practices, organisation and know-how between a
promoter / supporter (and guarantor) and a beneficiary.
Community enterprises, rooted in the territory
Reinforcing of consortia networks
Consolidation of twinnings
•12 actions implemented, 13 cooperatives from Campania involved, 13
cooperatives from Lombardia, 2 consortia from Lombardia.
• Globally, the projects have reached an amount (between beneficiary from
Campania and promoter/tutor from Lombardia) of 1.000.000 euro.
The actions – Project quartieri – 2005-2006
Promotion and implementation of proximity actions in urban areas, where there are
people at risk of social exclusion. The project aims to develop actions for the citizens
(put together existing organised resources) and among the citizens (associate citizens
from the bottom) in order to prevent and reduce the caused of social exclusion.
Research activities have also been carried out.
Public Institutions
Promoter
Unioncamere Campania
Consorzio SIS (Milan)
Beneficiaries
Partner
Municipality of Benevento
Consorzio Amistade
(Benevento)
Consorzio Camunia
(Brescia)
Municipality of Santa
Maria Capua Vetere
Consorzio Icaro (Caserta)
Municipality of Salerno
Consorzio La Rada
(Salerno)
Consorzio Sol.Co.
Bergamo (Bergamo)
Province of Naples
Consorzio Proodos
(Napoli)
Consorzio SIS (Milano)
To implement the project Cariplo Foundation has provided funding for € 250.000.
The total cost of the investment has been more than € 600.000.
The actions – Feudi di San Gregorio (2004 –2008)
Objective: implication of social cooperation operating in the area of Feudi. The project has
provided stable housing to disadvantaged minors and has promoted the agricultural
resources of the area through work integration actions.
Promoter
Partner
Managers
Partner
Azienda agricola
Feudi di San
Gregorio
Consorzio Gino
Mattarelli
Cooperativa
Parsifal (Naples)
Cooperativa Istmo
(Sorbo Serpico AV)
Cooperativa Maia
(Sorbo SerpicoAV)
Cooperativa
Berakah (BG)
Cooperativa La
Vela (BS)
The economic value for the start-up (restructuring and start-up) and consolidation
of the first residential community is 280.000 €
The actions – Aid to cooperation 1° call 2005-2008
Project to support cooperation, financed by Campania Region.
Beneficiary
Albatros
Beneficiary
consortium
Promoter
consortium
promoter
Amistade
Coesa
Sis
Il Faro
Amistade
In cammino e
Arcobaleno
Solco Camunia
Il Mosaico
Amistade
Pro-ser e Iris
Solco Camunia
Yobel
La Rada
Afa
Città Aperta
La Svolta
La Rada
Ecosviluppo
Città Aperta
Consorzio Proodos Proodos
Xenia
Sis
Campania Felix
Proodos
Sis
Consorzio Core
Core
SAS
Consorzio Farsi
prossimo
Farsi prossimo
6 cooperatives and 2 consortia (beneficiaries from Campania), 9 cooperatives and one consortium (promoters
from Lombardia). More than € 50.000 of capital from Lombardia, more than € 40.000 capital from
Fondosviluppo, more than € 180.000 of services provided by promoters, more than € 450.000 investiments,
more than € 300.000 contribution paid.
Effects of reciprocity among cooperatives –1
Redefinition of the identity of social enterprise
 Opportunity to create its own cooperative identity in the South of Italy
 Occasion to reflect on its own identity and history of consolidated
cooperative in the North of Italy
Increase of specific know-how
 Aid and external “expert” support in the implementation of new activities
 Possibility to re-elaborate and systematise knowledge and experiences
Personal skills
 Acquisition of specific skills for the cooperative management
 Increase of skills for cooperative advisors
Effects of reciprocity among cooperatives - 2
Transferability of “making” social enterprise
 Increase of the capacity to identify elements and modalities of
transferability (in the consortium, in the territory, in new contexts and
projects)
 In Campania and Lombardia, in a circular process between individual /
cooperative / consortium / territory
Dissemination of culture and social entrepreneurship in different areas:
 Knowledge of “mature” cooperation and different contexts
 Over the prejudices, valorisation of the effort to experiment and create
within complex territories
The strenghts of reciprocity in Cgm network –1
Consortia and territorial coordination
Existing networks have facilitated the creation of partnerships and the implication of
the local communities
The communities of practice
The communities already active within Cgm have provided the know-how needed to
plan entrepreneurial development actions (namely the project “Minors” but also
training, advice and quality)
Monitoring
Monitoring the performances of Cgm social enterprises has allowed to:
• promote, choose and support entrepreneurial actions focusing on the sustainability
of projects in peculiar areas
• valorise the good practices of the network in the choice of promoters and tutors
• create places where to reflect on, re-elaborate and formalise concrete experiences
The strenghts of reciprocity in Cgm network – 2
Territorial approach
We have worked to promote reflection in the territory on the identity of social
enterprises (creating connections, exchanges, favouring the understanding of the
context, its needs, its ties and its resources).
Continuity
The schemes to support and coach social enterprises have been conceived as
“twinnings”, in a perspective to emphasise continuity of relationships and links
among people and organisations.
Reciprocity
We have chosen to implicate all the actors sharing responsibility at different levels:
company participations, financial support, share of entrepreneurial risk.