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.

News and articles

The human rights economy: Global Coalition partners highlight the role of the social and solidarity economy

Annual Forum of the Global Coalition for Social Justice

The human rights economy: Global Coalition partners highlight the role of the social and solidarity economy

Empowered with ILO’s training, women farmers in Sudan expand cooperative and market opportunities
Women cooperative members participating in training sessions in White Nile state

PROSPECTS Impact

Empowered with ILO’s training, women farmers in Sudan expand cooperative and market opportunities

More news and articles

Highlighted story

How cooperatives help advance decent work in artisanal gold mining in Mali
People working in a quarry under the sun

Our impact, their stories

How cooperatives help advance decent work in artisanal gold mining in Mali

People working in a quarry under the sun

With ACCEL Africa's support, miners now work more securely and efficiently. Boukary Sanogo, an artisanal gold miner and secretary of a newly formed cooperative in his village, shares how the cooperati

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
Legislation and policy
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Legislation 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.

Most recent publications

Formalization of micro and small enterprises and their employees: Experiences from Nepal

Formalization of micro and small enterprises and their employees: Experiences from Nepal

Formalization of micro and small enterprises and their workers: Experiences from Senegal

Formalization of micro and small enterprises and their workers: Experiences from Senegal

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 pages

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

See more projects

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
Three women sitting around a table rolling paper.

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Social and Solidarity Economy

Social finance
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Social finance

Sustainable enterprises
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Sustainable enterprises