The social and solidarity-based economy is made up of socioeconomic entities and practices that, unlike the capitalist economy, seek to administer limited resources to satisfy the needs of all people. These economic activities are based on three main principles: democratic and participatory management practices instead of hierarchical organisational structures, a priority on meeting human needs and a desire to place the economy at the service of people and to manage resources fairly and sustainably, and a commitment to the community.

The project's goal is to hold conferences and other activities specifically designed to inform the public, companies and other entities, and local governments about the cooperative, social and solidarity-based economy. This proposal emerged from the conclusions of a study commissioned by the AMB to determine the best starting point to promote programmes and public policies that will help to foster the cooperative, social and solidarity-based economy in the metropolitan area's 36 municipalities.

The same study pointed to the wide range of legal norms affecting the cooperative, social and solidarity-based economy initiatives being carried out in the metropolitan area. The study indicates that this economic sector has been advancing and highlights the large degree of social and political commitment to this issue, as well as the importance of public policy in the promotion of the cooperative, social and solidarity-based economy. It also proposes future areas of work on both a municipal and a metropolitan level.

This action is subsidised by the Public Employment Service of Catalonia and the European Social Fund within the local development support programmes.