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.

Topic portal

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

Discussion on advancing care provision through cooperatives undertaken in Zimbabwe
Validation workshop, care through cooperatives and other social and solidarity economy entities

Discussion on advancing care provision through cooperatives undertaken in Zimbabwe

Empowering beekeeping in Tunisia: ILO’s support for sustainable livelihoods through the Social and Solidarity Economy
Empowering Beekeeping in Tunisia

Empowering beekeeping in Tunisia: ILO’s support for sustainable livelihoods through the Social and Solidarity Economy

More news and articles

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

Legislation 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.

Publications

Strengthening women’s cooperatives: The experience of SEWA Cooperative Federation

Strengthening women’s cooperatives: The experience of SEWA Cooperative Federation

Providing care through the social and solidarity economy - Occupied Palestinian Territory

Providing care through the social and solidarity economy - Occupied Palestinian Territory

Providing care through the social and solidarity economy - Lebanon

Lebanon: An assessment summary

Providing care through the social and solidarity economy - Lebanon

More 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

Fostering cooperative development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Fostering cooperative development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

See more projects

Partnerships

Six people of different races shaking hands

We work with

Six people of different races shaking hands

Find out more from

Receive ILO news about cooperatives

Receive ILO news about cooperatives

Sign up to our mailing list and receive updates on the ILO's work on cooperatives.

Sign up

Related topics

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

Social and Solidarity Economy

Social finance
Man pushing a cart with paint buckets in front of a colourful wall.

Social finance