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.

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.

News and articles

ILO constituents and partners strengthen knowledge on the social and solidarity economy to advance social justice

ILO constituents and partners strengthen knowledge on the social and solidarity economy to advance social justice

Social and solidarity economy: Strengthening jobs and local services in the Republic of Korea

Social and solidarity economy: Strengthening jobs and local services in the Republic of Korea

More news and articles

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
A person holding documents writes on a sticker.

Statistics

A person holding documents writes on a sticker.

Most recent publications

Cooperatives: Beyond the dichotomy between non-profit and for-profit - A joint ILO-ICA brief

International Year of Cooperatives

Cooperatives: Beyond the dichotomy between non-profit and for-profit - A joint ILO-ICA brief

Creating opportunities and promoting decent work for all in Jordan

Factsheet

Creating opportunities and promoting decent work for all in Jordan

Implementing the ILO Guidelines Concerning Statistics of Cooperatives: Insights from five countries (2025)

Implementing the ILO Guidelines Concerning Statistics of Cooperatives: Insights from five countries (2025)

All publications
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

Project

Fostering cooperative development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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Partnerships

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We work with

Six people of different races shaking hands

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Related topics

Social and Solidarity Economy
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Social finance

Sustainable enterprises
blue sky, cloud and a skyscraper

Topic portal

Sustainable enterprises