What's New

ILO launches new grant scheme to promote co-operatives in Africa

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) announced the launch of the CoopAfrica Challenge Funds to support projects up to US$ 150,000. Co-operative organisation, institutions that provide technical expertise for co-op development and co-operative training institions will be elegible to apply.  The deadline for the first call for proposals is 15 June 2008.  See description of funds (link to the attached document)  or contact coopafrica@ilo.org.
CoopAfrica is a partnership programme implemented by the ILO and funded by the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) to support the development and promotion of cooperatives in Africa. Partners include ICA, UK Co-operative College,  International Trade Union Confederation, COPAC, and the African Union.

Co-operatives: Pathways to Economic, Democratic and Social Development in the Global Economy

A new paper about the contribution of co-operatives to contemporary global development has been released by the U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council (OCDC). The paper includes many examples of how co-operatives continue to make an instrumental contribution to international development via three primary pathways (a) economic pathway -alleviating poverty and stimulating economic growth (b) democratic pathway - providing a framework for democratic participation and (c) social pathway - building social capital and trust (including prior to and after conflict), bridging ethnic, religious and political divides and providing social services (especially addressing HIV/AIDS). Download the paper from OCDC

Eliminating Rural Poverty: The Israel Development Experience

The program is presented by the NEGEV Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development, 6-17 April 2008. The NEGEV Institute argues that rural poverty has been eliminated in Israel through a co-ordinated and integrated approach to rural economic and social development, The central focus of the course will be to present the Israeli experience as well as other international best-practice examples.

Protecting the Poor: A Microsinsurance Compendium

Published by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Munich Re Foundation on behalf of the GCAP Working Group for Microsinsurance.

This compendium brings together the latest thinking of leading academics, actuaries , insurance and development professionals in microinsurance.

Microinsurance Focus Notes

Twelve Microinsurance in Focus notes are being produced by the CGAP Working Group on Microinsurance. The notes are based on Protecting the Poor: A Microinsurance Compendium. Five have been published to date. They are in English but will also be translated into Spanish, French and Portuguese by August 2008.

ILO Online No 49 Wednesday 21 November 2007
How microfinance institutions can finance lasting social change

An estimated US$4 billion is invested annually in microfinance around the world. But while microfinance institutions must have strong business models in order to survive, they face the challenge of making profits while creating lasting social change.

Institutions de micro finance: Comment financer un changement social durable

Environ 4 milliards de dollars sont investis chaque année dans la microfinance à léchelle mondiale. Mais alors que les institutions de microfinance doivent sappuyer sur de solides modèles économiques pour survivre, elles sont confrontées au défi de réaliser des profits tout en créant un changement social durable.

Las instituciones de microfinanza pueden financiar cambios sociales perdurables

Cada año se invierten en el mundo cerca de 4.000 millones de dólares en microfinanzas. Las instituciones de microfinanzas deben seguir modelos de negocios muy consistentes para poder subsistir, y además enfrentan el desafío de generar beneficios mientras al mismo tiempo generan cambios sociales perdurables.


Canadian Co-ops on Poverty Elimination

Co-operatives: A tool for rural development and poverty elimination, CCA Executive Director Carol Hunter’s presentation to the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry examining rural poverty (April 26, 2007)

SaskCentral’s written response to the Senate committee report, Understanding Freefall: The Challenge of the Rural Poor.

Green Jobs, Global Warning and Poverty

ILO Online No 45 Green Jobs and global warming: ILO to discuss new initiatives for tackling climate change in the world of work.

The ILO at its 300th session of the Governing Body is set to discuss the threats and opportunities of climate change - including the impact on the UN Millennium Development Goals. ILO 45 is available in English, French and Spanish.

Cooperating out of poverty - The renaissance of the African cooperative movement - The renaissance of the African cooperative movement, Patrick Develtere, Ignace Pollett & Fredrick Wanyama (eds), International Labour Office, Cooperative Branch, Job Creation and Enterprise Development Department,

This publication includes the Foreword, Introduction and Executive Summary of Cooperating out of poverty: the renaissance of the African cooperative movement. The full book will be published in late 2007.

Launch of Co-operative Facility for Africa COOPAfrica
The Cooperative Facility for Africa - COOPAfrica was launched on the 1sI and 2nd October 2007 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) have joined forces to enable poor people to co-operate out of poverty through a Global Co-operative Campaign Against poverty.

This website will provide information about Co-operating Out Of Poverty and the contribution of co-operatives to poverty reduction. It will report on activities around the world, and promote the co-operative option through the dissemination of information on successful co-operative poverty reduction initiatives.

The website will be the source of news on poverty related issues from every region, and it will also provide links to other poverty campaigns and initiatives, such as the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) and the Millennium Campaign.

It will furthermore provide a voice for specialists (thinkers, academics, practitioners and decision-makers) who will contribute to our understanding of the complexity of the poverty issue.

Most importantly, it will be a platform for action for the co-operative world and those who believe that the fight against poverty is a global battle where co-operatives can make a contribution. We will draw on the experience, knowledge, resources and experience of our members and partners and we ask for their assistance in producing, collecting and disseminating this knowledge, as well as keeping us informed of their activities.

Last updated: 20 May 2008