Crédit Cooperatif, Macif, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and funders from the two shores of the Mediterranean will launch CoopMed in a few weeks, a “social fund” that will participate in the funding and support of actors of the social economy (associations, cooperatives and social enterprises). “We will launch CoopMed in early 2014 for projects... ...

At a time when the world is facing a series of challenges, cooperatives can position themselves as builders of sustainability, delegates at the International Cooperative Alliance Global Conference heard. The event, taking place in Cape Town featured a plenary session on sustainability focused on a scan undertaken by the ICA, in collaboration with worker cooperative... ...

Ariel Guarco, President of the Cooperative Confederation of Argentina (Cooperar) and youth representative Gabriela Buffa, leader of Movilizador de Fondos Cooperativos (IMFC, Mobilizing Institute of Cooperative Funds in English), were elected on the Board of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) in Cape Town, last November. Mr Guarco, of Cooperar, ran for election on behalf of... ...

Oikocredit works in 67 countries, mostly across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Many Oikocredit investors want to experience first-hand the work of Oikocredit. Ueli Burkhalter, investor and board member of Oikocredit support association Deutsche Schweiz recently returned from Central America where he visited several Oikocredit offices, partners and end-clients. We spoke with Ueli... ...

November, 2013: Bitten Hogh from Yunnan Danyun Fair Trade Company, Limited, received a “2013 you bring charm to China” award from United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Tianjing Television for her work with the Threads of Yunnan project and the outstanding contribution this project has made to the lives of people in rural Yunnan. Bitten... ...

The problem of informality represents one of the major challenges in the fight against poverty. To address this issue, the traditional response has often been to apply Western entrepreneurial rationality to informal actors and consider small informal productive units as pre-capitalist firms whose growth potential can be realized, it is supposed, by providing them with... ...

Homeoner Miguel Rodriguez, right, carrying a panel with a member of Green City Force Oct 7, 2013 – Residential solar power has become increasingly affordable over the past few years as an environmentally friendly, cost-saving alternative to traditionally sources of energy. But the barriers to entry can still be too high for low-income communities, which... ...