Palestinian cooperative leaders conclude study tour to Italy to advance inclusive economic development

ROME (ILO News) - A delegation of nine Palestinian cooperative leaders, government officials, academic partners and representatives of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), including five women representatives, concluded a five-day study tour to Italy (5–10 May 2025). Organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the Cooperative Support Programme (CSP) and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the visit was organized in collaboration with the Italian cooperative federation Legacoop and NGO Haliéus. The study tour fostered dynamic cooperative-to-cooperative and institutional exchanges, enabling the delegation to gain first-hand insights into Italy’s vibrant and diversified cooperative ecosystem.

The delegation engaged with leading Italian cooperatives and institutions in Rome, Bologna, and Ravenna, exploring innovative models in agriculture, care services, digital innovation, and education. Highlights included visits to CADIAI, Agribologna, CAB TER.RA, Refresh Academy, Indici Opponibili and Refresh Academy – Social cooperative, as well as academic exchanges with Roma Tre University and the University of Bologna.

The study tour also featured a restitution workshop in Rome with contributions from the ILO and Italian cooperative partners to reflect on the experience, learnings and the way forward. Discussions focused on replicating successful cooperative models in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)—such as CoopStartup for youth and women entrepreneurs, academic partnerships in cooperative education, and innovative financing and governance structures. Key follow-up areas identified from the study tour include:

• Strategic partnerships: Formalized MoUs between Palestinian institutions and Italian counterparts (e.g. Legacoop, universities); and Established channels for technical exchange, mentorship, and cooperative-to-cooperative collaboration.
• Pilot programmes in key areas: Launch of CoopStartup Palestine, targeting youth and women-led cooperatives; Establishment of training programmes adapted from 4Form and FonCoop; and Replication of models in sectors like Agro-food (e.g. Agribologna, CAB TER.RA) and Digital/social services (e.g. Refresh Academy, Indici Opponibili).
• Policy and Institutional Strengthening: Drafting or updating cooperative development policy or legal frameworks; and Creation of a Cooperative Innovation Fund, modeled after CoopFond.
• Recovery & Resilience: Focused recovery strategy for Gaza-based cooperatives, drawing on post-crisis Italian cooperative experiences; and Proposals to integrate SSE into post-conflict recovery plans.

This visit came at a critical time, as Palestinian cooperatives face major challenges in light of the ongoing conflict, with over 80 per cent of cooperatives in Gaza destroyed. The ILO continues to support the sector’s recovery and long-term development through institutional capacity building, promotion of social and solidarity, and inclusive economic growth.