This article discusses the theoretical foundations that led to the construction of policies of Social and Solidarity Economy in Latin America and the Caribbean. The policies have resulted in the reduction of problems related to poverty, unemployment and social inequality in the last fifteen years, by means of actions that are wider than simple income transference. In the first section of this paper, through a revision of the literature, the contributions of Coraggio, Razeto, Quijano and Singer are presented. The work of these Latin American authors of different nationalities (Argentinian, Chilean, Peruvian and Brazilian, respectively) originated a wide and crosscutting view about adequate public policies to face the serious and chronic problems of poverty and inequality in the countries of the region. In the second section of this article, the main public policies related to solidarity economy in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela are presented. Within this group of countries, the Brazilian policies undertaken through the National Secretariat of Solidarity Economy (SENAES) are emphasized. The conclusion is that the Social and Solidarity Economy, as well as its actions and outcomes, point to new trends and to effective opportunities to build new frameworks of articulation of innovating experiences to face the problems of poverty, unemployment and inequality.3113183rd International Multidisciplinary Scientific Conference on Social Sciences and Arts, SGEM 2016AUG 24-30, 2016Albena, BULGARIA