All news: cooperatives

ILO Voices | Women’s economic empowerment

Together, as cashew farmers, we have a stronger voice in the market

With ILO support, cashew farmer Putuli Kheyang now leads a cooperative in rural Bangladesh, helping women gain new skills, confidence and better access to markets.

ILO highlights key role of cooperatives in EU external action

Speaking at a conference, the Director of ILO-Brussels underscored how cooperatives drive inclusive growth, decent work, and local ownership in EU external action. She called for deeper integration of cooperatives into the EU’s Global Gateway...

New partnership set to strengthen Lebanon’s cooperative sector through better data and digital modernization

The ILO, Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture and the General Directorate of Cooperatives join forces to update nationwide cooperative data, strengthen institutional capacity and improve support for cooperatives.

New study charts a path forward for Timor-Leste’s vanilla industry

A new study by the ILO’s EU-funded Agroforestry Skills and Employment Resilience Project highlights opportunities to develop Timor-Leste’s vanilla industry, create decent work and strengthen rural livelihoods.

New cooperatives strengthen livelihoods and opportunities in Timor-Leste

Two newly established cooperatives in Timor-Leste bring communities together to share skills, pool resources and build stronger pathways to markets and sustainable livelihoods.

Republic of Korea adopts Framework Act on the Social and Solidarity Economy

The new law establishes a coherent national policy framework for the social and solidarity economy, strengthening policy coordination in the Republic of Korea while offering a potential reference point for the wider region and international policy...

Costa Rica and Dominican Republic advance institutionalization of ILO cooperative training tools

Twenty-eight trainers from national institutions in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic have received ILO certification, strengthening national capacity to progressively integrate ILO cooperative training tools and methodologies into existing...

Global Accelerator

Uzbekistan strengthens capacity to develop care cooperatives

An ILO Training of Trainers explored how cooperative approaches can help expand quality care services and create decent work opportunities in Uzbekistan.

Spotlight Interviews with Co-operators

Advancing the social and solidarity economy in Switzerland: Support networks, needs and prospects

Constance André-Aigret, Coordinator of the APRÈS-VD Chamber of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), discusses how SSE support networks strengthen SSE entities, the key challenges they face, and the opportunities for advancing the SSE in...

Ibero-American ministers adopt new commitments on care, social and solidarity economy and digital labour

The declarations adopted in Avilés set a regional agenda on care, informality, artificial intelligence and platform work, with technical support from the ILO.

Article

Employment-intensive fish farming creates green jobs in Uganda

With ILO support, a fish farming group in Isingiro District is demonstrating how employment-intensive nature-based solutions can create jobs, strengthen community cooperation and protect wetland ecosystems.

Cooperatives for sustainable development, social inclusion and peace

Together, they are changing their communities: How cooperatives are advancing decent work across South Asia

From women cotton farmers in Madhya Pradesh and domestic workers in Bihar to care workers in Nepal and nursery teachers in Sri Lanka, women workers are coming together to establish cooperatives, creating new opportunities for decent work, economic...

Cooperatives

Better Together: Caribbean peer learning strengthens fisheries cooperatives

Within the framework of the ILO-FAO FISH4ACP Project, fisherfolk from Guyana participated in a study tour and learning exchange with peers in Barbados, strengthening cooperatives and regional collaboration.

Building gender-responsive trade unions: Strengthening women's leadership and representation

Central Trade Unions develop joint state-level action plans to advance women's leadership and representation.

Senegal integrates the social and solidarity economy into its national framework for professional integration

At the African Social and Solidarity Economy Forum (FORA'ESS), the ILO highlights the results of its support for cooperatives and backs a reform that opens new prospects for decent work for young people.

International Day of Cooperatives

Cooperatives for a Peaceful World: A message from the ILO Director-General

In his message marking the International Day of Cooperatives 2026, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo highlights the vital role of cooperatives in advancing peace through decent work, social justice and resilient communities.

Care Economy

Nepal advances care cooperatives to support care workers, families and women’s economic participation

A new national initiative to promote care cooperatives in Nepal is set to strengthen community-based care services, support care workers, and reduce the unpaid and invisible caring responsibilities that continues to limit women’s participation in...

International day of cooperatives

A youth-led poultry cooperative gives entrepreneurs in Ethiopia a pathway to decent work

With support from the ILO, a cooperative in Addis Ababa is showing how a sustainable enterprise can strengthen livelihoods and help create opportunities for young people.

Five international lessons on the social and solidarity economy for the Palestinian context

From crisis response and care services to local economic development and digitalization, countries around the world are increasingly turning to the social and solidarity economy (SSE) and its entities to address pressing social and economic...

How Motorbike taxi drivers are joining forces in a cooperative to secure decent work in Senegal