Co-operative Development
International Institutions:
International Cooperative Alliance
ICA is an independent, non-governmental association which unites, represents and serves co-operatives worldwide. As the voice of the co-operative movement, ICA promotes and defends co-operative identity, ensuring that co-operative enterprise is a recognised form of enterprise that is able to compete in the marketplace. It also raises awareness about cooperatives through publications, meetings and workshops, helps its members in lobbying for new legislation and more appropriate administrative procedures that respect the co-operative model, and provides technical assistance to co-operatives through its development programme.
World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) is the global trade association and development agency for credit unions. WOCCU promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services.
The International Raiffeisen Union (IRU) is a worldwide voluntary association of national co-operative organizations which work and ideas are based on Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen’s principles of self-help, self-responsibility and self-administration.
The ICA and ILO initiated Global Co-operative Campaign against Poverty
The International Labour Organisation and the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) have joined forces and formed the Global Co-operative Campaign Against Poverty. It aims to strengthen the capacity of co-operatives to make a significant contribution to poverty reduction particularly with regards to the Millennium Development Goal of reducing poverty by half by the year 2015.
North America:
The Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF) works in partnership with the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) to mobilize resources and equip people with the co-operative tools to change their lives for the better.
ACDI / VOCA is a private, non-profit organization that promotes broad-based economic growth and the development of civil society in emerging democracies and developing countries.
The National Co-operative Business Association’s CLUSA Program has worked in developing countries to economically empower individuals and communities through the development of effective, sustainable group businesses, community-based organizations and democratic practices. Cooperative development, both at home and abroad, is a critical component of NCBA’s mission.
The Canadian Cooperative Association website provides links to co-operatives, non-governmental and governmental organizations and research institutions engaged in international co-operative development.
The USDA Rural Development, Business and Co-operative Programs produces a monthly Rural Co-operatives Magazine. The July/August, and November issues can be downloaded here.
Développement international Desjardins (DID) is a component of the Desjardins Group, the largest cooperative financial group in Canada. DID, which is currently active in twenty countries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, specializes in providing technical support and investment for community finance. DID works in partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank and many other multilateral organizations.
Europe:
The Rabobank Foundation (Netherlands) is committed to improving the lives of underprivileged and disadvantaged groups of people by providing them with the opportunity to live full and independent lives. In line with Rabobank’s own co-operative background, the Rabobank Foundation especially focuses on establishing and promoting co-operative savings and loan systems.
NORCOOP (The Royal Norwegian Society for Development)
The EZAI Foundation is a research institute in Spain that was set up in 1998 to promote the research and improvement of social-economic and co-operative policies.
The Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC) was created by the Swedish Co-operative Movement in 1958, and its founders and present member organisations represent all major Swedish co-operatives and sectors where co-operatives play a central role in Swedish society and economy. Through long-term development work and “help to self-help”, the SCC equips people with the tools needed to fight poverty themselves.
Fonds voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking
Federation of Danish Co-operatives (in Danish)
Belgishche Raffeisienstichting
Deutscher Genossenschafts und Raiffeisenverband e. V. (DGRV – German Cooperative and Raiffeisen Confederation) has over 17 million members spread across about 5,300 cooperatives.
Euro Coop – European Community of Consumer Cooperatives was founded in 1957 as the first consumer organisation in Europe. Euro Coop is the apex body for European consumer coops and facilitates dialogue on a range of issues including on development.
Africa:
COPAC – Co-operative and Policy Alternative Center promotes co-operative sector development in South Africa, providing information, technical tools and capacity building resources.
The International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) is a long established and unique global organisation representing cooperative and mutual insurers from around the world. ICMIF aims to promote and work with the cooperative and mutual insurance sector globally by being a leader in providing information and services to members, and representing the interests of, the global cooperative and mutual insurance sector.
Asia
The Rural Development and Management Centre in New Dehli, India is a non-governmental organisation, which aims “to develop and improve human resource as a contributory factor to strengthen civil society aimed at uplifting the conditions of rural poor, farmers, both men and women, and small and medium enterprises through better governance and management.” The centre conducts research and offers various types of colloborative training and development programmes. It has produced some useful articles which discuss agricultural co-operatives. These can be downloaded in the “Useful Resources” section of our website.
If you have any suggestions for additional sites, please email us.
