Resources on Rural economy

  1. Article

    On Mexico’s coffee farms, COVID-19 highlights need for fair recruitment

    17 August 2020

    Farmers and workers on the Mexico-Guatemala border have long relied on informal cross-border migrant labour, although these practices open the way to exploitation and abuse, and in the era of COVID-19, increase health and safety risks. Now, an ILO project is working with local organizations to promote fairer and safer recruitment practices.

  2. ILO COOP 100 Interview

    ILO COOP 100 Interview with Mr. Upali Herath, a cooperative practitioner from Sri Lanka

    04 August 2020

    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 cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE). The interviews reflect on their experience and contributions in the past and shares their thoughts on the future of cooperatives and the SSE in a changing world of work.

  3. ILO COOP 100 Interview

    Hans Lind, Interim Country Representative for Colombia and Senior Advisor on Cooperative Development at We Effect

    30 July 2020

    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 cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE). The interviews reflect on their experience and contributions in the past and shares their thoughts on the future of cooperatives and the SSE in a changing world of work.

  4. News

    ILO COOP participates in a webinar as part of an online training on My.COOP – Managing your agricultural cooperative

    29 July 2020

    The 2020 edition of the online My.COOP training of trainers (ToT) workshop is taking place from 1 June to 7 August, with the participation of 25 people from Africa, Asia and Europe.

  5. ILO COOP 100 Interview

    Mr Alexandre Soho, ILO Senior Technical Officer on agriculture and rural economy in the Fundamentals Branch of the ILO

    22 July 2020

    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 cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE). The interviews reflect on their experience and contributions in the past and shares their thoughts on the future of cooperatives and the SSE in a changing world of work.

  6. Publication

    HAMETIN - ERA Agro-Forestry Project newsletter June 2020

    15 July 2020

    To share news and information on ERA-AF project activities which are funded by the European Union (EU) and being implemented by the ILO as a component of the Partnership Support for Agro-Forestry (PSAF) Ai ba Futuru.

  7. © Murdani Usman/CIFOR 2020

    Briefing note

    Impact of COVID-19 on the forest sector

    14 July 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting public health and causing unprecedented disruptions to economies and labour markets, including for workers and enterprises in the forest sector. It has exacerbated existing challenges, with many enterprises and workers suffering as a consequence. In response, governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and other forestry stakeholders around the world, are collaborating to mitigate the impact of the pandemic with a view to protecting businesses and livelihoods, including through social dialogue and the promotion of international labour standards.

  8. News

    Assessing market opportunities in East Darfur and West Kordofan

    10 June 2020

    In March 2020, the ILO visited West Kordofan and East Darfur to assess opportunities for local economic development.

  9. Article

    Interview with Michele Pellegrini: The experience of a social cooperative, Cadore in Italy

    29 May 2020

    The ILO and its International Training Centre in Turin, mark ten-years of organizing the Academy on the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). Since 2010, more than 1,200 participants from all continents participated in the 11 editions of the academy. To mark this occasion, the ILO’s Cooperatives Unit is conducting a series of interviews that features colleagues and experts who have been closely engaged in making the last eleven editions of the ILO Academy on SSE possible. In these interviews, they reflect on their experiences and also share their thoughts on the current COVID-19 crisis and post-crisis situation.

  10. COVID-19: Protecting workers

    Sectoral impact: Agriculture and food security crucial to COVID-19 recovery

    12 May 2020

    While working to feed the world, many agricultural workers are unable to lift themselves out of poverty and food insecurity. As the pandemic spreads, the continued functioning of food supply chains is crucial in preventing a food crisis and reducing the negative impact on the global economy. Coordinated policy responses are needed to support agribusiness and the livelihoods and working conditions of millions of agricultural workers in line with relevant international labour standards.