A group of people (women, men and children) of an African cooperative is waving their hands to the camera, standing in front of a red brick house.

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Cooperatives

Group photo of workers from a cooperative supported by the ILO in the streets Lilongwe (Malawi). © Marcel Crozet/ILO

Cooperatives play a crucial role in job creation, mobilizing resources, generating investment, and contributing to the economy, while also promoting the fullest participation in the economic and social development of all people.

Mandate, Momentum, Impact

Mandate, Momentum, Impact

Advancing decent work and social justice in and through cooperatives and the broader social and solidarity economy (SSE): ILO 2024–25 Strategic results

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News and stories

From recognition to action: Strengthening India’s care economy
A group of women and children sit together outdoors under the shade of large trees in a rural village.

From recognition to action: Strengthening India’s care economy

In Senegal, green jobs are opening up new opportunities for women and young people
Mollusque

In Senegal, green jobs are opening up new opportunities for women and young people

More news and stories

Highlighted story

Our community now sees the value of care work

ILO Voices story

Our community now sees the value of care work

A story about how cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE) can help formalize care work, improve jobs and promote gender equality.

Guidance and resources

Education and training
A group of women sit on the floor and discuss

Education and training

A group of women sit on the floor and discuss
Law and policy
A wall of different national flags in a meeting room of the International Labour Conference

Law and policy

A wall of different national flags in a meeting room of the International Labour Conference
Statistics
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Statistics

A person holding documents writes on a sticker.

Latest publications and documents

Draft global road map on the transition to formality for decent work, 2027–32

GB.358/INS/8

Draft global road map on the transition to formality for decent work, 2027–32

Engaging informal economy actors in trade and labour policy in Africa

Research brief

Engaging informal economy actors in trade and labour policy in Africa

Development of the Timor-Leste vanilla value chain roadmap including associated skills needs and stocktaking of working conditions

Development of the Timor-Leste vanilla value chain roadmap including associated skills needs and stocktaking of working conditions

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Cooperatives and the World of Work series
Four Senegalese female dressmakers

Cooperatives and the World of Work series

Four Senegalese female dressmakers

The series of briefs highlights how cooperative model engages in the changing world of the work

Thematic areas

Care economy
Women caregivers support boys and girls in a learning activity.

Care economy

Child labour

Child labour

Crisis situations

Crisis situations

Gender equality
CEMRE is a women’s cooperative with members from among host community and refugee women who earn a living by producing jewelry, household textiles, clothing and other accessories.

Gender equality

Informal economy

Informal economy

More thematic areas

Projects

Strengthening the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) Knowledge Base – Phase 2

Strengthening the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) Knowledge Base – Phase 2

Enhancing Cooperatives’ Access to Markets for Decent Work and Resilience in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Enhancing Cooperatives’ Access to Markets for Decent Work and Resilience in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Fostering cooperative development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
A local produce seller displays his dates to clients at an exhibition.

Project

Fostering cooperative development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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Partnerships

Six people of different races shaking hands

We work with

Six people of different races shaking hands
International Year of Cooperatives 2025: ILO Engagements

IYC2025

International Year of Cooperatives 2025: ILO Engagements

Discover how the ILO is engaging in the International Year of Cooperatives, from global and regional events to initiatives that promote cooperatives’ role in advancing decent work and social jusice.

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Related topics

Social and Solidarity Economy
Three women sitting around a table rolling paper.

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Social and Solidarity Economy

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Social finance

Sustainable enterprises
blue sky, cloud and a skyscraper

Topic portal

Sustainable enterprises