Resources on cooperatives

  1. Strengthening women's economic empowerment and access to Decent Work in Sri Lanka's Northern province

    01 March 2022

    At the core of women's economic empowerment is access and agency; while access to skills, resources, services, and market opportunities is one aspect of advancement, the other, agency is about the power of decision-making. This document provides a snapshot of different approaches implemented by LEED+ towards achieving the above.

  2. © Diomari Madulara 2022
    Coconuts, commitment and changing circumstances

    07 December 2020

    Coco chips are widely used by farmers and gardeners. The ILO’s LEED+ project works with the private sector and local communities in Sri Lanka to develop coco chips as a mutually beneficial business.

  3. Sweet dreams are made of sugar and spice

    03 December 2019

    The Rise of Women Entrepreneurs: Women of the Northern Province are stimulating a culture of entrepreneurship

  4. Sri Lankan women making waves in local industry

    05 November 2018

    With determination, detergent and the support of the ILO project promoting local empowerment through economic development in Sri Lanka, a group of women-headed households have gained social and economic power.

  5. ILO participates in an observance of the International Day of Cooperatives at the United Nations, New York

    09 July 2018

    The Director ILO Office for the UN Director presented the relevance of cooperatives in promoting decent work and sustainable development at an observance of the 2018 International Day of Cooperatives held at UN Headquarters in New York.

  6. All-female cooperative brings women farmers to the fore in Sri Lanka

    22 March 2018

    Cooperatives have enjoyed success in Sri Lanka. By banding together, farmers and fishermen have been able to access markets, enjoy the advantages of collective purchasing and marketing, tap credit facilities and access social welfare programs.

  7. EMPOWER: Building peace through the economic empowerment of women in Northern Sri Lanka

    22 December 2017

    The objective of this project is to increase access to economic empowerment, social integration, resilience and peacebuilding participation for conflict affected women in Mullaitivu, one of the most conflict-affected Northern Districts of Sri Lanka. The project is funded by the UN Peace Building Fund and implemented by the ILO, WFP, and Puthukkudiyiruppu Women Entrepreneurs’ Cooperative Society.

  8. Free from debt and bonded labour in Sri Lanka’s fisheries

    01 November 2017

    ILO's project helps free fishermen from debt bondage and supports livelihoods.

  9. Local Empowerment through Economic Development (LEED) Project

    26 May 2010

    The Project contributes to poverty reduction, sustainable job creation and peace building through an improved environment with strengthened governance, effective community-based services and public-private partnership that economically empower vulnerable groups in conflict-affected populations in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.