Transformative approaches for peace-centred sustainable development: The role of social and solidarity economy

• 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: A global initiative to foster a more equitable and sustainable world that integrates peace and development goals. • Peace and Economic Development: The intertwined relationship between peace and economic development has been a longstanding concern, with civil wars exacerbating underlying conditions and leading to recurrent conflicts. • Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE): SSE emerges as a transformative alternative centred on people and the planet to overcome the conflict trap. SSE focuses on building a society centred on solidarity, prioritising needs over private profit, and responsibly managing resources. • SSE's Role in Peacebuilding: SSE promotes social cohesion, economic inclusion, and political engagement, addressing the root causes of conflicts. Its democratic and inclusive nature seeks to build a society where everyone can live with dignity. • Interdisciplinary Approach: This review highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and addressing complex peace and development challenges. • Policy Implications: The article presents policy recommendations to enhance SSE's impact on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promoting peace, such as enabling environments, multi-stakeholders partnerships, SSE education and training programmes, and access to finance and resources. • Potential Barriers: This article acknowledges and identifies common barriers and limitations that may hinder SSE's full potential in peacebuilding and sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to forge a more equitable and sustainable world by integrating peace and development efforts. Despite this ambition, challenges persist as these initiatives often operate in isolation, limiting their collective impact. Moreover, the most affected populations by conflicts find themselves trapped without resources or capabilities. The lack of development often exacerbates underlying conditions, leading to recurring conflicts. The question arises then: How can vulnerable groups overcome these barriers collectively? The Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) emerges as a transformative approach to achieving peace-centred sustainable development. SSE is a people-centred and nature-responsible economic model characterised by voluntary cooperation, collective goods, local action, and democratic governance. Additionally, SSE initiatives contribute significantly to achieving various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), fostering resilience, promoting well-being, and reducing inequalities. Although SSE is revolutionary in its principles, it has yet to be studied in an interdisciplinary manner within peace and conflict studies. This review article explores the potential of integrating SSE into peacebuilding and development agendas. Our study provides policy recommendations to enhance the impact of SSE on achieving the SDGs and promoting peace. We also identify barriers and limitations, advocating for an integrated approach to ensure collective and solidarity-driven development.