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

Recent developments in the promotion of the social and solidarity economy: Highlights for Africa
AU and ILO Brief

Recent developments in the promotion of the social and solidarity economy: Highlights for Africa

The African Union adopts a ten-year strategy on the Social and Solidarity Economy
AU’s STC-SDLE-5 focusing on promoting SSE ecosystems

The African Union adopts a ten-year strategy on the Social and Solidarity Economy

More news and articles

Guidance and resources

Education and training
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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
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

JEUN’ESS: Promotion of Social and Solidarity Economy and Creation of Decent Jobs for Tunisian Youth

JEUN’ESS: Promotion of Social and Solidarity Economy and Creation of Decent Jobs for Tunisian Youth

Fostering cooperative development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Fostering cooperative development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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.

Social and Solidarity Economy

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

Social finance