Governance
ASEC GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
Early History
The Asian Solidarity Economy Council (ASEC) was established as an informal network of SSE organisations at the Asian Solidarity Economy Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was held from October 31 to November 2, 2011 by three founding members Dr. Benjamin R. Quinones Jr. (Philippines), Pak Bambang Ismawan (Indonesia) and Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria (Malaysia).
Since its inception, ASEC has undergone three leadership changes: initially led by Dr. Benjamin Quinones from the Philippines, then succeeded by Prof. Dr. Denison Jayasooria from Malaysia and currently by Dr Eri Trinurini Adhi (Indonesia).
At the international level, ASEC is a founding member of RIPESS, the Inter-continental network for the promotion of social solidarity economy. This is an inter-continental network with partners in Europe, Latin America, North America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. (https://www.ripess.org/members/?lang=en)
ASEC Networking Partners
As a hub for SSE practitioners from Asian countries especially those who practice SSE values and principles, the network makes up a voluntary Asian SSE assembly or council. They are from 14 different Asian countries such as Southeast, South Asia and East Asia. The southeast Asia partner of the Society for Asian Solidarity Economy has focused its advocacy for SDGs in ASEAN
In each country there could be five to 10 SSE partners who subscribe to the five SSE dimensions and who are willing to use the SDG framework and indicators for socio-economic and environmental sustainability. They are prepared to present their case studies and document their experiences. In countries like India and China with large population base and geographical spread we are open to more than one representative.
The face-to-face ASEC partners meetings is held once in three years but the online conversations are frequent. We also maintain a direct partnership approach via WhatsApp groups. Our online ASEC SSE Academy is in regular touch with Asian partners on a regular basis.
The Asian Solidarity Economy Council (ASEC) Management
The day-to-day execution of the work of ASEC is undertaken by:
Chair person: Dr. Eri Trinurini Adhi (Indonesia) who is representative to RIPESS together with Mr Kumar Loganathan (India).
Executive secretary: Mr. Chandra Firmantoko (Indonesia), including coordinator of technical communication of ASEC.
Assistant of communication officers: Ms. Yuli Riswati (Indonesia)
As a regional network, the ASEC consists of 3 sub-regions.
South Asia : coordinated by the ASSEFA (India)
East Asia : coordinated by the Pacific Asia Resource Center (PARC) in collaboration with the Social and Solidarity Economy Promotion Forum (SSEPF) (Japan).
Southeast Asia : coordinated by the Society for Asian Solidarity Economy (Malaysia)
Legal Entity and partners
As an network the Asian Solidarity Economy Council (ASEC) has designated the Society for Asian Solidarity Economy one of its partner as the secretariate responsible for overseeing ASEC operations. According to the Malaysian Societies Act (1966), the society has formally registered as a legal organization. On November 11, 2020, the Registrar of Societies Government of Malaysia granted the approval/
The Society will manage the funds of ASEC. On ASEC matters the Society will comply with the decisions of ASEC which it is also :
ASEC PRIORITIES
ASEC SSE ACADEMY
ASEC will strengthen the ASEC SSE ACADEMY. This is online - content, discussions at regional and national levels. The academy will become our flagship program developing training and case study content.
ASEC NATIONAL NETWORKS
ASEC will strengthen national networks in the countries members via three sub regional levels:
South Asia: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan & Afghanistan.
South East Asia/Asian: Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos & Vietnam.
East Asia: Japan, South Korea, China including Hong Kong
SSE PROMOTION & VISIBILITY - ASIA
ASEC will play a role in the promotion and advocacy of SSE public policies in Asia via enhancing the visibility of SSE community-based projects in Asia
We will network with Tan Sri Michael Yeoh (KSI), APPGM SDGs (Malaysia), The Bayan Family Foundation (Philippines), Asia Pacific SDG Forum via UNESCAP and ASEAN People Forum/ASEAN Civil Society Conference.
SSE CONSULTANCY
To provide SSE-SDG consultancy to private sector CSR funders and projects so as to help shift CSR towards community based social enterprises. We will explore partnership with other private sector Asia & ASEAN level companies for this purpose
SSE NETWORKING - ASIA
We establish partnership and networking roles among SSE partner networks. In the regional Asia, we network with like HomeNet Southeast Asia, Fair Trade movement and the International Cooperative Alliance Asia Pacific, The Asian Roundtable for Social Protection (AROSP), The Movement for Alternatives and Solidarity in Southeast Asia (MASSA). In the global level we network with the RIPESS (Intercontinental Network to Promote SSE) based in Barcelona/Spain.
ASEC GLOBAL COMMITMENTS
ASEC is the Asian continental partner in RIPESS (Intercontinental SSE organization). ASEC is the Asian voice in the global SSE world. ASEC and RIPESS commitment to participate together in various working committee such as international advocacy and thematic areas such as Public Policies, Education, Gender/Feminism, Youth and Food sovereignty. ASEC will assign an ASEC member to play a role in RIPESS on behalf of ASEC
ASEC has also participate at the High Level Political Forum on SSE, in the UN Taskforce on SSE (as an observer) and also in the UN 2020.
Marketing & Investment Ventures
ASEC will explore how to play a business and enterprise role in fostering markets and investments for ASEC members with business and investment partners.
ASEC Action Plan 2024-2027
Based on the ASEC Assembly in 2024 held in Kuala Lumpur. To support the ASEC mission on promoting the SSE as a powerful solution for an alternative solution in the policy and practice levels, the ASEC strategic planning for the period pf 2024-2027 has resulted 3 focus strategies: 1) formalizing membership, 2) knowledge management, education, and training and 3) resource mobilization.
Formalizing ASEC membership and MOU on SSE Development Roadmap
Formalizing the membership of organizations and enterprises (also called “entities”) in ASEC will transform ASEC from a “network of individuals” to a “network of organizations and enterprises”. As such, ASEC will have the formal backing of established entities at the country level that are already undertaking socio-economic projects for building inclusive communities.
The formal backing of established entities at the country level -which pursue socio-economic projects for building inclusive communities - is necessary for the effective implementation of the 5-year (2025-2030) SSE Development Roadmap.
The objective to have country level network is to strengthen the country level. Each country level should choose two focal point for communication and coordination with ASEC management.
The member of SSE network of SSE at country level should be diverse and ensure all forms (youth, women, farmers, informal economy etc.)
A regional network of entities that pursue socio-economic projects for building inclusive communities in various countries in Asia will be more suitable as institutional partner of international organizations that promote SSE such as ILO, UNTFSSE, OECD, European Union, GSEF, and the like.
Other considerations
Collective decision from country on decision making on votes etc. with consensus. Adopting & development of strategic plan on SSE – Simple mission statement – governance structure- simple organogram
Knowledge Management, Education and Training (KMET): Capacity building of ASEC member organizations in support of the SSE Development Roadmap
Awareness raising on the concept and practice of SSE
Capacity building of community-based organizations to strengthen their SSE core features and contribution to the SDGs
Research on SSE development
Impact assessment of SSE entities geared towards “Building Inclusive Communities” - .
Other programs/activities
Resource Mobilization and Crowdfunding
The expertise of ASEC is in program and policy advocacy. It needs funds in discharging this task. But it doesn’t have the technology and experience in doing so. ASEC will collaborate with Crowdera Foundation who can serve as the technology partner of ASEC.
It is more costly for ASEC to internalize the task of crowdsourcing. This entails recruiting and training appropriate experts to do the job. It is more expedient to engage an expert with proven track record such as Crowdera Foundation.
The Impact assessment component of the Integrated Services Platform will benefit from
the technical expertise of Crowdera in the field of analytics, reporting, and monitoring/feedback.
Annual Report 2021 - 2024