This paper bridges social and solidarity economy (SSE) principles with contemporary supply chain management (SCM) practices. It aims to analyze how SSE can reshape foundational SCM principles, identify contributions and challenges of an SSE-based SCM approach through a literature review, and validate these findings via an empirical study of local supply chains in selected African countries. Results reveal the transformative potential of integrating SSE in SCM, offering conceptual insights and practical recommendations for research and paradigm shifts. The study emphasises changes in SCM's epistemology, ontology, and typology to align with SSE's values-driven, community-oriented priorities. Empirical findings highlight the unique needs and benefits of SSE in African supply chains, providing a foundation for future SSE-SCM models. This paper pioneers exploration of SSE's theoretical and practical impacts on SCM, advancing research on social value creation and empowerment within supply chain practices.