

In This Section:

Original Cooperative Research That Bridges the Gap Between Theory and Practice
The International Cooperative Research Group (ICRG) collaborates, partners, and co-creates with local researchers and cooperative development stakeholders. We carry out rigorous field-based research that bridges the gap between theory and practice. In the ICRG’s research, learning, and application model, research activity builds trust, ownership, and uptake of outcomes through engagement with key local stakeholders. This collaborative approach amplifies our research outcomes, deepens local uptake of concepts, and thus changes lives.
Cooperative research that focuses on what everyone wants to know.
Capacity Strengthening
Strengthening Cooperatives and their Stakeholders through Training and Technical Assistance

Economic Development
Creating Opportunities and Improving Livelihoods through Cooperatives

Enabling Environment
Creating a Supportive Context for Cooperative Development at All Levels

Gender And Youth
Empowering Women and Youth to Participate in and Benefit from Cooperatives

Innovation
Promoting New Ideas and Approaches for Cooperative Development


Our Research Approach
Our goal is to increase effective international cooperative development through knowledge-based enhancement of impact and increased uptake of cooperative development as a strategy in a country’s journey toward locally led development.

Regional Partnerships and Collaboration
-
Research
Collecting and verifying new, data-driven evidence and developing data-informed internal and external solutions for challenges faced by cooperatives internally and externally.
-
Education
Designing, sharing, adapting, and applying experiential learning through a shared learning agenda with OCDC members and partner cooperatives.
-
Dissemination
Distributing key research findings to all levels of cooperative engagement and other stakeholders to inform local and international strategies.

Key Impact Areas
We advance cooperative development for…


The Building Blocks of Our Research
-
Practical Application
We believe in solutions-oriented research that bridges the gap between theory and practice and empowers local people and institutions to own the planning, implementation, and evaluation of their own sustainable development.
-
Local Engagement
We build trust through engagement with key local stakeholders.
-
Academic Rigor
We collect robust evidence and generate new knowledge through ethical, independent, academically rigorous and scientifically based research methods.

Our Experts & Advisory Committee

Judith A. Hermanson, PhD
Research Director

Barbara Czachorska-Jones, PhD
Learning and Training Manager

Sylandi Brown
Communications Manager

Rebecca Savoie, PhD
Senior Researcher

Nicholas Hung
Research Associate

Dr. Linda Shaw
Head of Research, the Cooperative College – United Kingdom

Dr. Michael L. Cook
Robert D. Patridge Chair Department of Agricultural Economics – University of Missouri

Dr. Sonja Novkovic
Academic Director, Sobey School of Business Saint Mary’s University – Canada
Resources
