Economic Development and Social Inclusion

The demand for higher-quality food is driving up demand on already scarce natural resources like land and water due to factors including urbanization, population growth, economic growth, and shifting dietary habits. There will be 3.4 billion additional people to feed when the world's population reaches 10 billion in 2050.

Rooted in cooperative values, we improve livelihoods by creating dependable market-based opportunities and taking into account women, youth, and underrepresented groups. We use an evidence-based approach that supports local capacity building, market facilitation, and innovative solutions whose viability is assessed and implemented in collaboration with commercial and local partners.

We work to decrease inequality and encourage the full participation of women, youth, and other marginalized groups in community development by giving them access to resources, work opportunities, and cooperative education. Research have demonstrated that young, enterprising women have constructed solidarity economies and community are more resilient and with less inequities. People that work creatively together to improve their communities create shared wealth.

According to research, roughly one-third of all adults globally, lack access to financial services because they lack assets or credit from commercial banks. Having access to financing would be very beneficial for both short-term and long-term planning, emergencies, resources for farming investments, insurance, risk management, climate resilience, and other things.

We work closely with cooperative representatives and government representatives to develop and enhance the policy and regulatory environments for farmers, agricultural producers, micro, small, and medium-sized cooperatives, and businesses.