Digitalization of SSE: MutualData as an Innovative Tool for Impact Measurement and Transparency in the Portuguese Mutual Sector

The Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) constitutes a pivotal pillar of social cohesion and sustainable development, providing complementary responses to both the State and the private sector in the delivery of essential services. Nevertheless, the absence of structured and up-to-date data concerning the activity and impact of mutual associations continues to hinder their public visibility, institutional recognition, and influence in the formulation of public policies. To address this lacuna, MutualData has been conceived as an innovative digital infrastructure that centralizes, digitizes, and analyses data on mutual associations in Portugal. Its primary objective is to strengthen information management capacities while promoting transparency, efficiency, and accountability within the sector. Currently under development, MutualData seeks not only to collect and systematize data but also to establish a robust foundation for concrete action, enabling mutual associations to articulate their social and economic impact with clarity. This article examines the development and implementation of MutualData, emphasizing the challenges of data collection within the SSE, the objectives of the platform, the adopted methodology, and the expected outcomes. By providing updated and accessible data on the activities of mutual associations, their economic and social impact, the scope of services delivered, and sectoral trends, MutualData aims to modernize the mutualist sector, strengthen its relevance both within the social economy and the wider economy, inform public policymaking, and promote greater recognition of mutual associations as pillars of social cohesion and the European social model