International conference on social economy in Budapest

18-07-2007
ECNL delivered a presentation on the experience of the new member states in developing and financing social enterprises.

On July 17-18, 2007 the National Employment Foundation (OFA) organized the first international conference in Hungary on social economy. The main purpose of this international conference was to emphasize the importance of generating demand for the social economy, to inform the participants about the Commission’s points of view, and to present the Belgian voucher system as a model.

In the second part of the event, the coordinator of the LEED program gave an overview about key questions of the social economy in CEE countries and the role of the OECD LEED program. During the conference a Project Fair was arranged with approximately 15 product-oriented and market-driven projects. The OFA-ROP Network also presented its new book: the Hungarian translation of a unique OECD LEED report on social economy. OFA is the final beneficiary of a centralized project entitled ‘Creation and development of the professional capacity necessary for the long-term sustainability of local employment initiatives (OFA-ROP Network)’ under Component 3.2.3. of the Operational Programme for Regional Development (OPRD) of Hungary’s National Development Plan.