All news: social and solidarity economy

History of the Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy Unit

Established by a decision of the ILO’s Governing Body at its third session in March 1920, the Cooperatives Unit marked its centenary in 2020. In 2024, it was renamed the Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy Unit to reflect its broadened...

Australian cooperatives and mutuals step up to support the bushfire affected communities

As the bushfire crisis continues in Australia, ILO COOP hears from the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) on how the cooperatives and mutuals have contributed to recovery efforts for the affected communities.

ILO COOP 100 Interview

Jürgen von Muralt, former Director of the ILO's Enterprises Department

Established in March 1920, the ILO’s Cooperatives Unit marks its Centenary in 2020. On this occasion, the ILO COOP 100 Interview series features past and present ILO colleagues and key partners who were closely engaged in the ILO's work on...

Strengthening cooperatives towards socio-economic development in Timor-Leste

The ILO conducted a training workshop with members of a union-supported cooperative in Timor-Leste on how to establish cooperatives based on community needs and how to put cooperative principles into practice.

Uruguayan Chamber of Senators approves a law on the social and solidarity economy

The law aims to advance the social and solidarity economy (SSE) in the country by establishing the definition and providing a regulatory and promotional policy framework for the SSE.

Spotlight Interviews with Co-operators

Brightly® – Scaling up worker cooperatives through the franchise model

“Spotlight Interviews with Co-operators” is a series of interviews with co-operators from around the world with whom ILO officials have crossed paths during the course of their work on cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE)....

ILO COOP sends a message to the MedUp Project Peer Review Meeting in Tunis

The message from ILO COOP Manager focused on the role of the ILO in the development of cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE) and how they can contribute to the promotion of gender equality in the Middle East and North Africa...

The 2019 ITC-ILO Rural Academy includes an elective on cooperatives

Co-organized by the ILO’s Cooperatives Unit and its partner, Agriterra, the elective focused on a range of topics including the role of cooperatives in rural development, basics of the cooperative business model and methodologies for cooperative...

Indian women co-operators are being trained to roll out Think.Coop

The Indian Academy of Self-Employed Women (IASEW) conducted a training of facilitators on the ILO’s Think.Coop training tool, with a view to further strengthening women cooperative entrepreneurs in the rural and informal economy in India.

The Republic of Djibouti passes a law on the social and solidarity economy (SSE)

The new law was adopted to promote the development of SSE organizations as a means of extending social protection and eradicating poverty in Djibouti.

Members of SADA Women’s Cooperative Trained On Preparations For General Assembly

UN Task Force on SSE discusses its priorities at a retreat in Trento

Members and observers of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) met in Trento to discuss key issues and priorities, including a possible UN Resolution on the SSE.

Sri Lankan women improve their livelihoods through cooperatives in the groundnut value chain

Two women producers supported by the ILO LEED+ project share their stories on how they increased their income through cooperatives in the groundnut value chain.

SADA Women’s Cooperative in Turkey was selected as one of the 10 projects for scaling up by the Paris Peace Forum

The cooperative was formed by women from host and refugee communities to undertake collective income generation activities with the support of the ILO. The cooperative was selected as one of ten projects to be scaled up and mentored by the Paris...

The SSE Momentum: Finance for Inclusion and the Future of Work

The international conference brought together around 100 participants to discuss the role of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) and supporting financial mechanisms in promoting decent work and sustainable development.

ILO participates in the ICA Americas 21st Regional Conference in San José, Costa Rica

An ILO official participated in the conference and presented on the key trends and challenges in the world of work and possible responses by cooperative enterprises.

ILO participates in a research workshop of UN Task Force on SSE on statistics

Officials of the ILO participated in a workshop on SSE statistics to present the Guidelines concerning Statistics of Cooperatives which was adopted in 20th ICLS in 2018 and approved at ILO GB in March 2019.

ILO COOP contributes to the green jobs and business models course in the waste sector

ILO kicks off a project on social and solidarity economy policies in Asia

An official of ILO COOP participated in a kick-off meeting of the ILO project on strengthening the social and solidarity economy (SSE) in Asia, held in conjunction with the annual conference of the Asian Solidarity Economy Council (ASEC), Asian hub...

ILO participates in the Forum on Cooperative Platforms in Paris

A representative from ILO Cooperatives Unit participated in a panel on positive externalities that can be brought by emerging cooperative platforms.