The solidarity economy can be seen a) as part of the «Third sector» in which economic activity is aimed at expressing practical Solidarity with disadvantaged groups of people, which contrasts with the Private sector, where economic activity is aimed at generating profits, and the Public sector, where economic activity is directed at Public policy objectives, or b) as a struggle seeking to build an economy and culture of solidarity beyond capitalism in the present.
The still evolving term «solidarity economy» is an English translation of a concept represented by the French «économie solidaire» and similar terms in several other languages. As such it is sometimes translated by other expressions such as «solidarity-based economy».
(source: http://en.solecopedia.org/index.php?title=Solidarity_Economy)