What is cooperative development?

We consider the private sector as an essential player in the development field. However, as cooperatives are part of both the private sector and civil society, they have unique views and impact on development processes.

We believe cooperatives are ideal engines for development since they represent people-centred businesses which empower citizens to fulfill their human, social and economic rights and needs.

Cooperative enterprises enable a sustainable, locally anchored and inclusive development process thanks to their specific model based on the cooperative principles, centred on self-help, democratic ownership and concern for the community.

Cooperatives’ actions have a particularly significant impact, since they function as efficient networks and encourage worldwide exchanges, such as discussions on good practices and reinforced partnerships between diverse cooperative actors. In addition to this collaborative approach, cooperatives have rich resources in human capacity, technical assistance, and finance.

Therefore, Cooperatives are key partners for actors interested in human, social and economic development around the world based on their strong assets to tackle hunger and poverty, provide employment in the form of decent jobs, strengthen self-help and empowerment of local communities, and provide learning opportunities for their members.