The firms included in the social economic group are agencies issued from collective entrepreneurship, which is characterized by the following principles: specific services to its members and to the community, management autonomy, democratic decision-making process, primacy of individuals and employment for capital as regards the repartition of surpluses and revenues, and individual and collective leadership.

As a prerequisite, these firms must produce goods and services, be financially viable and create durable jobs. Generally speaking, they have diversified financing sources and generate autonomous revenues.

The Commissioner of Rural Development receives and analyses financing assistance requests and technically assists firms operating in this sector in the elaboration of their project (start-up, expansion, consolidation and/or budget adjustment).