Solidarity inter-local partnerships (SILP)- Impacts analysis (ex ante)

Theme: interterritoriality / twinning Territories of Co-responsibility Action Type: Solidarity inter-local partnerships (SILP)

General framework

The term solidarity inter-local partnerships (SILP) was inspired by local and solidarity partnerships between producers and consumers (LSPPC). This is compared with these that they have been defined. The LSPPC are intented to promote exchanges of proximity thereby begin a process of active relocalization of the economy. This is a militant and solidarity action between the actors, who create direct relationships, without intermediaries or hierarchy, based on trust and interdependence.

The term SILP refers to a whole package of initiatives that are in line with the LSPPC, extending their action to products unavailable locally. The products transport question arises more in an anhanced way for the LSPPC and also stands in a co-responcibility logic : producers undertake to consolidate the production in one place at the time of charging for transport. This transport can be arranged either by consumers themselves either by producers or by a third party.

There is no label, no official name, such as fair trade that the SILP wish to acquire because their proper functioning is guaranteed by the trust and shared responsibility between the producer and the consumer.

Objectives :

- Change the consumption approach : ancourage consumption that serves local development - Introduce a more equitable relationship between producers and consumers - Highlight local resources - Promote the values of social justice based on the principle of equity and solidarity

Possible impacts on the dimensions and ingredients of well-being (non-exhaustive):

A- Livelihoods

A01- Alimentation SILP offer varied food, open to products not available locally. Supplied products in the SILP, or in the LSPPC are also good, as when a commitment charter requires producers to follow organic farming methods.

A06- Employment / work The SILP help maintain local employment, providing new ways of development for small producers who have seen their business decline.

B- The living environment

B01- Hygiene / pollution / noise Via the SILP, producers undertake to combine production in one place at the time of charging for transport, which reduces the carbon dioxide impact of their activities compared to the production system and conventional transportation. B03- Infrastrucutres and service equipments The SILP offer a new way of producing and consuming. They constitute an alternative to the market.

C- Relations with and between organizations

C02- The functioning of justice The SILP go through a mutual collective commitment, ensuring greater justice for everyone : collective commitment of consumers to purchase a certain amount month by month during the season (corresponding to the total of individual amounts) and commitment of producers to deliver that quantity and bring together in one place at the time of charging for transport. C05- Organization, management, finances The SILP are based on direct relationships, whitout hierarchy. The organization of the activity is no longer in the vertical but in horizontality, for more proximity and social ties. This is accentuated by the trust that is built between producers and consumers.

E- Societal balance

E06- Economic balances The SILP and the LSPPC bring more economic justice and rebalance the market relations, providing direct marketing opportunities to small individual producers who don't have access to the market and that without such partnerships would lose an income opporunity essential for their development. E08- Relations between the society and the environment The SILP are a way of exchanges more respectful of the environment by organizing more efficiently the transport of goods, by cultiviting local products.

F- Personal balances

F02- Autonomy, freedom, independence They provide some indepedence to small producers allowing them to leave the market system and its hierarchical relationships. F06- Balance in the Relations to society The SILP rebalance relations between supply and demand by establishing direct exchanges based on trust and mutual commitment.

H- Attitudes et initiatives

H06- Engage in the society The SILP proceed from a militant approach, against the market system and the process of globalization that accompanies it. Producers and consumers who participate are fully committed to building a society more economically fair and more respectful of local balances(environmental, economic,...)

I- Relations in the society

I05- Proximity relations These partnerships promote close relationships and close territories, forging solidarity mutual commitments.