Asian Alliance for Solidarity Economy

The Pactes Locaux are a collective of actors, founded in 1998.  In 2005 they became an officially registered NGO. Between 2007 and 2009, they worked on the approach of open capitalisation based on the broad theme of “Democratic participation and territorial anchorage”. This was the preparation for the International Forum of Lux’09, the IVth Meeting for the Globalisation of Solidarity of RIPESS  (workshop 7), organised in Luxemburg by INEES, the European Institute for Solidarity Economy.

The Pactes Locaux mobilised on a voluntary basis, over and above the members’ own individual activities to reach a specific objective. Their contribution to both French and European discussions has been original, and is based on their significant territorial achievements in dealing with key issues of today’s society. They held five regional meetings supported by a European working Platform. Expert practitioners presented their work at territorial level: work and employment issues in Poitou-Charentes, responsible tourism in Auvergne, local development and solidarity economy in Luxemburg, social cohesion and well-being in the urban environment of Fontenay-sous-Bois, rural/urban solidarity and the associated economy in the metroposiation of Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

This contribution has now been duly recognised. It is an element that allows the members to propose the “learning journey” approach as a tool for learning from each other in a variety of contexts. It is a horizontal practice that helps build bridges between generations and develop an understanding of stakes as well as constructing responsible territorial actions. The meeting that was held on December 1st in Poitiers (France) ended the Lux’09 cycle. It also helped to confirm that our projects resonate with other territories.

This process jointly served the following ends:

-    The Lux’09 Forum (cross-cutting and internationalisation of Workshop 7)

-    The FPH (dissemination / discussion of a new approach to œconomy, territories as actors, institutional connections)

- Of the members and associate partners

- The people responsible for developing the dynamics of Asia 2013 have adopted the territorial anchoring of solidarity economy; they now consider us as partners.

The positive evaluation of Lux’09 provides a lever for the future. The Pactes Locaux are a small, open collective. They are not party-political affiliated or members of any institutional organisation. Their recognition reaches beyond what they represent in terms of membership. They remain a small dedicated team, united by what they have learned and their determination as civil society, to  take on reposnibility and change the system..

The Pactes Locaux intend continuing their work on European territorial cohesion. They hope to work on themes and in areas where their members and associate partners and those interested in taking part in the future, can work together. They hope to do this by demonstrating how reality and the expertise gained from practical know-how can help to illustrate, discuss and propose new ways of organising solidarity that can have a considerable impact and help open doors to solutions to the current crisis.

8.5 million jobs have been lost in Europe since 2008. In France, 1 million people will lose their job-seekers allowances in 2010. Exclusion is becoming the rule rather than the exception. The institutions are not supporting those actors involved in hands-on work. Things are becoming increasingly difficult. The Pactes Locaux will not succeed on their own. The question is how to preserve our individual freedom, while supporting each other and serving the interest of all? Learning to work as partners involves a legitimate confrontation of ideas and genuinely working together.

This means being realistic and taking stock, the better to position the collective. The members of the collective have decided to:

- Continue the commitment to work in those territories and networks that make sense to them, and where they are already present

-    Provide each other with mutual support in their respective activities, with priority support for the in-depth projects

- Promote the “Learning Journey” approach as an awareness-raising framework for learning, co-operating and bringing together local actors

- Jointly work on developing means of paid work

- Specifically aim to contact elected local representatives: future local councillors, intercommunal elected representatives, members of collective approaches such as Districts, Agenda 21s, social networks…. The current context favours a return to things local, which is fundamentally important to sustainable development, employment, peace etc… It also shows what a huge deficit exists in the ability to accompany progress and pull together as a system, rather than pulling strings from above or the outside. This is true in all fields: economic, political or alternative approaches. This missing link, the interface between branches and different levels has yet to be created if we are to reach a better understanding and effectively implement an operational approach to restructuring our territories

- Become and remain, active partners in FPH, RIPESS Europe and in French and European territorial networks,  activities and events

- Continue working on consensual aspects of Workshop 7 “Democratic Participation and territorial anchorage” (Forum Lux’09, April 2009) in Europe, and prepare for the Asian Solidarity Economy Forum in Kuala Lumpur in 2011 and “The Road to Manila 2013” (the Vth International RIPESS Meeting).

Contacts.

-    President : France Joubert: +33 (0)6 70 001 467; francejoubert@wanadoo.fr

-    General Secretary: Martine Theveniaut: + 33 (0)4 686 99 288; martine.theveniaut4@orange.fr. Extended in-depth projects: project leaders.

-    France Joubert: +33 (0)6 70 001 467; francejoubert@wanadoo.fr. Employment and activities, social territorial dialogue: what alliances in/between territories?

- Alain Laurent:   +33 (0)5 61 624 68 ; beira.cfp@wanadoo.fr. Tourism and responsible territories: How can they converge?

- Bruno Racine: +33 (0)6 70 160 489; brunoracine@free.fr. What governance for developing territorial cohesion?

Martine Theveniaut: + 33 (0)4 686 99 288 martine.theveniaut4@orange.fr. «The road to Manilla 2013»: solidarity and territory, an international process.

- Peter Wollny: +33 (0)4 68 318 729; pw@base-sur-audois.fr. ICTs – a vector of democracy and initiatives for collective territoiral  projects

Headquarters: 5 rue de Cadène F – 11580 Alet les

By Martine Theveniaut, General Manager of the Pactes Locaux

October 2009

A network of people, open to Europe and the world, committed to a collective process of internationalisation

- Priceless intellectual social capital

o High quality relationships that are often lasting

o A long experience of exchange between peers

o A shared framework of reference

o Active affinities based on the territorial approach

o “Portfolios of alliances”

The opportunity of the “Lux09” Forum transformed the resources first into objectives, then into actions.

- The Fourth International Meeting of the Globalisation of Solidarity was hosted in Europe in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, in April 2009.

- The Pactes Locaux were members of the Steering Committee, and proposed a European preparatory Platform for Workshop 7 called “Democratic Participation and territorial anchorage”.

2007-2008 were dedicated to organising and holding “Regional Meetings” (Learning Journeys)

- They were hosted “in situ” by participatory organisations that openly presented their territories, their partners at all levels to an outside delegation from the Pactes Locaux.

- All meetings were organised to meet the same specifications. They took place in different regions and on different themes: employment, tourism and territory, local development/solidarity economy, neighbourhood solidarities, economic solidarity between urban and rural communities.

⇒ Examples of opening up to other regions

The reports on the regional meetings and synthesis are availableon line : www.pactes-locaux.org

Nord Pas de Calais: 9th –10th January 2009, the final regional meeting “Metropolis and their adjacent territories, linking solidarity and economy”

Hosted by the local Development Council of the Saint Omer district:

Refusing to be fatalistic means making the most of available resources and leads to:

- An endogenous economy, linked to sustainable development: tourism, farming, cultural heritage, renewable energies

- A solidarity economy and public/private partnerships that are levers of innovation

- Provision of high quality local services to maintain and attract permanent residents

Refusing fatalism involves promoting the art of

- Learning to work together

- New forms of logic

- Organising a new approach to business: legal tools, tax incentives, risk management, platforms of activities….

Refusing fatalism means organising. The meeting is perceived as an opportunity to:

- Develop dialogue between rural areas (a horizontal approach)

- Consult with local and Regional authorities and other neighbouring areas before taking decisions (a vertical approach)

- Aim at building a mutual agreement on how best to share urban/rural resources in a more balanced way

- Contact: accueilpaysdesaintomer@gmail.com

Grand Duchy of Luxemburg: Objectif Plein Emploi (Objective full employment): This structure is a network of 820 employees whose jobs can not be delocalised, as well as 400 volunteers, all working towards local development, solidarity economy and the European promotion of a 3rd economic space.

It is based on:

- Refusing social exclusion: the NGOs mobilise to help young people enter the job market in a geographic area of post-industrial restructuring, and with national support to fight unemployment. The OGB-L Trade Union is a key actor.

- A two-tier network:

1- Local networking: The local, regional and branch Centres for Initiatives and Management, which all exist on an appropriate scale

2- A general management centre, OPE, that provides resources and management, support and advisory capacity. It is organised in various departments.

- Projects are anchored in the districts. They include the delivery of services, NITC,environmental management etc. The Government supports all this, as it meets clearly defined needs: it creates jobs, and provides greater well-being for local inhabitants.

- Originally a prototype, there has now been a shift to creating a specific legal framework. Together with the European Institute for Solidarity Economy (INEES), OPE has achieved recognition of this third economic space within Luxemburg. The legalframework will include a new specific form of NGO. (Government Declaration 07/2009).

- This partner is associated with the post-Lux’09 initiatives of the Pactes Locaux:

- Contact :Ben Goerens, OPE goerens@ope.lu

Contacts for the Pactes Locaux: France Joubert, President: + 33 (0)6 70 00 14 67

francejoubert@wanadoo.fr

Martine Theveniaut, General Manager Telephone + 33 (0)4 68 69 92 88

martine.theveniaut4@orange.fr

Address: 5 rue de Cadène, F- 11580 Alet-les-Bains

English translation: Judith Hitchman.

Accueillie au Conseil régional
15 rue de l’Ancienne Comédie
86000 Poitiers

Fil conducteur de la journée.

Les 12 ateliers de LUX’09 forment un socle partagé : À partir des réalités et des acquis d’une démarche collective : « Faire pacte c’est tout à la fois renouveler le contrat social d’après-guerre et renégocier avec les pouvoirs publics en fonction de nos engagements ».

Nous sommes héritiers pour une part, mais aussi inventeurs et promoteurs de nouvelles formes d’organisations des solidarités dans les territoires. Celles-ci ont fait leurs preuves et apportent déjà des réponses à la crise dans l’économie réelle.

Oui, il est possible de participer à la transformation de l’économie,
sans se diluer dans l’économie de marché, sans retourner à l’économie administrée.

Trop locale, expérimentale et supplétive, « marque de fabrique » ou contre-culture, l’économie solidaire passerait-elle à côté de l’essentiel, au moment où la survie des uns et des autres est engagée ?

Comment transformer une réussite (Lux’09) dans une mise en mouvement ?
définir les objectifs de stratégies de changement
à la mesure des défis d’une mondialisation plus responsable ?

…………………………………………….
Timing : Matin :  9h30 -12h 30

9h 30 :  Ouverture

•    Ouverture par la Région Poitou-Charentes, Mr François Macaire, Vice président chargé des questions économiques.
•    Objectifs et le fil conducteur de la journée : Introduction, France Joubert, président des Pactes Locaux.

9 h 45  - 11h 30 : Bilan et perspectives du Forum Lux’09.

•    Les enseignements de Lux’09 : Vu depuis les territoires qui s’organisent en France, au Luxembourg, en Europe  et au-delà …
. Alain Laurent, TER_RES (TERritoires_RESponsables), pour l’Atelier 7.
. Eric Lavillunière, pour INEES (Institut Européen pour l’Economie Solidaire) organisateur de la rencontre ; délégué européen du RIPESS (Réseau Intercontinental de Promotion de l’Economie Sociale et Solidaire).
•    Grille de lecture d’une stratégie de changement : S’organiser pour structurer les perspectives, penser ensemble, restaurer le débat démocratique, Pierre Calame, directeur de la FPH (Fondation pour le progrès de l’homme).

Accompagné d’échanges modérés par France Joubert.

11 h 30 – 12 h 45. Chantiers d’approfondissement pour 2010 (en 4 ateliers).

•    Raison d’être de ces chantiers pour une politique de la preuve, Martine Theveniaut, déléguée générale Pactes Locaux.

•    Les participants se partagent en 4 ateliers selon leurs centres d’intérêt : Introduits par leurs initiateurs. Les échanges visent à dégager une intention de portée générale, un objectif réaliste, un noyau de personnes intéressées et une premier pas concret (date, activité … ).

•    « Tourisme et territoires responsables : Quelles convergences ? » à l’initiative d’Alain Laurent.
•    « Emploi et activités : Quel dialogue territorial ? Quelles alliances dans et entre les territoires ? », à l’initiative de France Joubert.
•    « Cohésion territoriale : Quelle gouvernance ? », à l’initiative de Bruno Racine.
•    « L’ancrage territorial de l’économie solidaire dans l’économie générale : parcours vers 2013 ? », à l’initiative de Martine Theveniaut.

12h 45 : Acter des convergences volontaires de façon solennelle et conviviale :

•    Premiers « Jumelages solidaires » autour d’une transversale : « les TIC : vecteur de la démocratie et des initiatives dans les projets collectifs de territoire » : Abilio Machado, OPE « InternetStuff » , Peter et Martina Wollny, BASE Sud Audois,  Bruno Deffontaines, Pays de Saint-Omer, Géraldine Lechevalier, INTERFERT.

•    Formalisation d’un partenariat privilégié entre deux organismes autour d’approches qui croisent territoires et filières : TER_RES avec Pactes Locaux.

•    Naissance d’une antenne régionale en Poitou-Charentes.

Déjeûner sur place  : 13h – 14h 15
Confirmer sa présence avant le 20 novembre.

Timing après-midi : 14h30 – 17h

14h15 – 14h30 :

Chaque chantier d’approfondissement annonce une intention et un premier pas concret.

14h 30 – 17 h : Table ronde, forum sur la gouvernance territoriale sous la Présidence du Comité des Régions Européennes. Introduction Mr Bourg Broc.

Les solidarités actives dans l’économie réelle des territoires trouvent aujourd’hui différents appuis dans des réformes en cours, des redéfinitions de missions, de nouveaux indicateurs (bien-être, richesse) et un dialogue social territorial. L’intervention du Comité des Régions, puis celles les intervenants – qui, tous, travaillent sur ces questions –  nous permettront d’éclairer les enjeux de cette nouvelle gouvernance territoriale…

•    Monsieur Bourg Broc, Comité des Régions
•    Mr Walker : CESE Section du Travail : le dialogue social territorial : une réponse à la crise ?
•    Alain Yvergniaux : Conseiller régional de Bretagne, ; président du Club des gouvernements locaux de l’ONG PEKEA : Une coopération économique innovante et éthique entre  territoires de Bretagne et d’Afrique de l’Ouest.
•    Pierre Calame : Une grille de lecture pour réinventer l’économie et le territoire.

Accompagné d’échanges, modérés par Martine Theveniaut.