We connect, champion and challenge cooperatives across North America
Report on the European Association of Co-operative Banks' session on green finance and food at with contributors including Rabobank and Crédit Agricole
Food security has been a key topic at COP28, and the EACB panel explored the potential of agricultural co-ops
Around 60 US credit unions have reported outages after a ransomware attack against a third-party IT provider serving the sector.
Regulator NCUA says it is working with affected credit unions and assures memberrs that their deposits are safely insured
apex CHF Canada welcomes measures to support sector in federal budget announced by finance minister Chrystia Freeland
The provisions in the federal budget were welcomed by the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada
US outdoor leisure retail co-op REI has announced the largest ever investment from its Cooperative Action Fund, distributing US$6.1m to 264 nonprofit organisations working to create a more equitable outdoors
More than 200 of the recipients are local organisations championed by REI employees who work in-store
Agri co-op Fonterra has announced an on-farm emissions reduction target, and released a Climate Roadmap and voluntary Climate-related Disclosure report.
'The co-op’s approach will be to work alongside farmers, not against them, as we collectively make progress towards our target'
Vivian Silver, a Canadian Israeli peace and women’s rights activist – and co-founder of the Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment and Cooperation (AJCEEC) in Israel – has died aged 74. She was killed in the initial attack by Hamas on 7 October.
She was killed in the attack carried out by Hamas on 7 October
A United Nations resolution has this month called for a second International Year of Cooperatives in 2025.
The UN's Third Committee was told that 'co-operatives and people-centred enterprises bring people together in a more democratic and equal way'
Members of the two main credit union associations in the USA – the Credit Union National Association (Cuna) and the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (Nafcu) – have voted to approve the merger of the two organisations to form America’s Credit Unions
Jim Nussle, president and CEO of Cuna, will serve as president and CEO of the new association, America's Credit Unions
Over 120 people gathered in Taipei, Taiwan last month for the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF) Annual Co-operative Leaders Conference (ACLC), with an agenda including Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) and cybersecurity
The agenda included sustainability, cybersecurity and a session on emerging leaders
Informal economy workers gather in Brazil tomorrow to promote the model and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE), at an event led by StreetNet International
'By getting together and focusing on the SSE as a model of work, we shall be able to build more sustainable and protective workplaces'
As Newfoundland-Labrador Federation of Co-operatives (NLFC) celebrates its official 75th anniversary, it is ramping up activity with plans for a new incubator, which will help a group of aspiring co-operative entrepreneurs in Northeast Avalon to transform their ideas into successful social ventures.
'We’re a resource-based province, and they’re not going to last forever, and we need to be using them in the right way'
The International Labour Organization’s Cooperatives Unit (COOP) ran a pilot workshop last month in Tanzania to test its new training tool for co-operative managers and workers.
The training is designed to improve the management and sustainability of co-operatives
Australia’s Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) has announced five inductees to its 2023 honour roll, which “recognises the outstanding contributions of leaders” in the sector.
The 2023 honour roll inductees are Steve James of Judith Downes, Ross Higgins, Stephen Brown and Robert Keogh
As experts like Yoshua Bengio warn of the threats posed by rapid, unregulated development of , we speak to Felix Weth of platform co-op CosyAI, which is looking to establish a model for the technology
As experts warn of the dangers posed by artificial intelligence, Cosy AI looks to create a co-op model for its ownership, development and use
Australian dairy co-op Norco has defied the ongoing impact of last year’s catastrophic floods to record a profit of $9.1m for 2022-23. It has diversified its business after the disaster forced the closure of its Lismore ice cream plant, which will reopen after a major rebuild.
The co-op is getting ready to reopen its Lismore ice cream factory after a multi-million dollar rebuild including new flood defences
The Global Innovation Coop Summit in Montreal saw three days of discussions and presentations on topics including co-operative leadership, the circular economy and digitisation. The event also launched a programme to set up international co-op communities of practice. Co-op News hears from the delegation sent by the UK's Midcounties Co-operative
'We normally try to reach people's minds but maybe we need to capture people's hearts with the story of co-ops'
Over 300 co-operators gathered in Singapore for the second annual Co-operative Movement Night, organised by sector apex SNCF Singapore with a focus on sustainability
300 co-operators gathered to celebrate 15 co-ops’ work under the banner of 'Sense & Sustainability'
Ethical conference from FEBEA - European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers - discusses role of and other financial institutions in driving sustainability
Febear's annual conference, hosted by the Cooperative Bank of Chania, discussed lending initiatives, innovation and communication
The International School of Social Cooperatives, held on 5-8 October in Naples, Italy, gathered co-operators from around the world to discuss issues ranging from legislative frameworks to care provision and the circular economy.
Held in Naples, the sixth edition of the event for social co-op managers gathered 36 participants from eight countries
housing destroyed in air raids.
Co-op News hears from Izz Edin Abu Taha, chair of Palestine's Union of Housing Cooperatives
The Gaza Strip, which is being targeted in response to last week's attacks by Hamas, is home to 155 co-operative societies
The US National Cooperative Bank has released its annual NCB Co-op 100 rankings of the country’s top 100 revenue-earning co-ops, with agri-business CHS Inc. once more taking the top spot. The Bank has also awarded grants to four smaller to recognise their community impact
The National Cooperative Bank, which compiled the rankings, has also awarded grants to four smaller co-ops as part of its advocacy work for the sector
'Our people have faced many setbacks and challenges over the last 235 years, and we have no choice but to continue this struggle every day'
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service calls for support with its ongoing campaigns and work offering services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
'Our people have faced many setbacks and challenges over the last 235 years, and we have no choice but to continue this struggle every day'
Over 1,000 people have been killed in an attack by Hamas gunmen on kibbutz communities near the border with Gaza on 7 October.
The Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment, and Cooperation – Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development (AJEEC-NISPED) has been working closely with IsraAID, an international non-governmental humanitarian aid organisation based in Israel, to support communities affected.
The Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment, and Cooperation – Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development is helping those affected
US electric deliver substantial economic benefits to the country, providing nearly 623,000 jobs and adding an average US$111bn a year to the national GDP, says a study for NRECA and Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) by StrategeConsulting
'America’s electric co-operatives are crucial engines of economic development both nationally and at home in their local communities'
Vietnam’s National Assembly has adopted a new Cooperative Law, which comes into effect on 1 July 2024. The law was developed by the International Labour Organization with input from the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance and the country's Ministry of Planning and Investment
The legislation, developed with support from the ILO, simplifies the procedures for forming and running co-operatives
US electric rush to apply for U.S. Department of Agriculture's New Era programme for rural empowerment, says trade body NRECA
'It’s no surprise to see electric co-ops oversubscribe the New Era programme, which is an exciting and transformative opportunity'
With workers' rights under pressure through online platforms, can platform build a fairer, more democratic economy? And how will the movement have to adapt to accomplish this?
Review of Own This!, the new book from Trebor Scholz
In his new book, Trebor Scholz suggests adapting co-operation to meet the challenges of the digital age
'For co-operatives, technological innovation must always be accompanied by a capacity for social innovation that keeps the value of work high'
We speak to some of the organisers of Cooding – Giuseppe Guerini of Cecop, Piero Ingrosso of Pico Coop, Paola Bellotti of CoopFond and Petter Joelson of Digidem Lab – about the international conference held last weekend in Bologna to discuss the use of digital and new tech in the sector
'For co-operatives, technological innovation must always be accompanied by a capacity for social innovation that keeps the value of work high'
and the sector: Switzerland's Die Mobiliar introduces Mobi-ChatGPT, and a new platform from EY could offer the sector 'the transformative power of AI', says sector apex ICMIF
Swiss insurer Die Mobiliar has introduced Mobi-ChatGPT, and a new platform from EY could offer the sector 'the transformative power of AI'
Fairtrade International has launched a campaign to deliver decent incomes for workers on Fairtrade-certified banana plantations around the world.
Fairtrade says the new service allows the easy distribution of voluntary payments from retailers to workers, and the verification and reporting of payment receipts
The European Community Power Coalition – which includes REScoop.eu, Co-operatives UK, Friends of the Earth Europe, Enercoop, Coopérnico, Energy4All Ltd, and Son Energia – has released its manifesto ahead of next year’s European Parliament elections, calling for a people-centred transition to renewables.
The organisation has released a manifesto highlights calling on the European Commission and member states to involve consumers and communities in the move to renewables
A new United Nations report has highlighted the entrepreneurial ecosystem approach as a way to support in increasing economic and social wellbeing, and meeting the sustainable development goals. It sets out key steps and includes case studies of the movement and the Mondragon Corporation
'The peoples of the world and the environment urgently need to strengthen a system of economic relations that ensure prosperity, equity, democracy, and peace'
New Zealand dairy co-op Fonterra has announced its results for the year to 31 July, with profit after tax more than doubling to NZ$1.6bn. But the news comes against a backdrop of falling farmgate prices and the co-op has introduced a new advance rate schedule guideline to assist on-farm cash flow
'We are aware that there are challenging conditions on the ground for many of our farmers,' said CEO Miles Hurrell
The World Council of Credit Unions has announced a new credit union development programme for Burkina Faso, Kenya, Senegal and Guatemala, launching next month, with funding from USAID - US Agency for International Development
USAID has granted $9.3m to continue work on financial inclusion, SME growth, diversity and climate adaptation in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Senegal and Guatemala
The ICA Asia and Pacific Committee on Women celebrates its 25th anniversary in Tokyo on 19-20 September with an event hosted by the Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union (JCCU).
A booklet is also being released, featuring case studies of exemplary work on gender equality within the co-op sector
Uganda’s House Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry has investigations into the alleged financial mismanagement of government funds released to co-operative societies as war loss compensation.
The first hearing, relating to the government's war-loss compensation scheme, took place on 4 September in the Jinja District in eastern Uganda
Electric co-op members have submitted almost 47,000 comments to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protest its proposed rule for the country’s coal and natural gas power plants
NRECA
NRECA says the plan, which aims for net zero power sector emissions by 2035, will lead to 'more blackouts, higher costs, and greater uncertainty for Americans'
The sixth principle - co-operation among – and procurement power: Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada / Coopératives et mutuelles Canada publishes guide for co-ops wishing to intentionally direct their purchasing to other co-ops, and other purpose-led businesses
Co-ops can also develop guidelines to help them balance priorities of quality, price and social value, says the apex
Nick Money from the Swoboda Research Centre writes for Co-op News about his trip to , to find out about the work of its sector
Nick Money from the Swoboda Research Centre writes for Co-op News about his trip to Uganda, to find out about the work of its finance co-ops
'Co-operativism and solidarity economy is a real alternative, especially for immigrants and undocumented immigrants'
A look at the way the model is helping immigrant communities in East Boston deal with the threat of gentrification
Solidarity Economy Initiative - SEI
'Co-operativism and solidarity economy is a real alternative, especially for immigrants and undocumented immigrants'
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