Blog

Looking to the future of cooperative development in Zambia: A conversation with Eng. Linus K. Chanda, Chief Executive Officer of Zambia’s Rural Electrification Authority

The International Cooperative Research Group (ICRG), research arm of the U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council (OCDC), was pleased to support a study tour for the Government of Zambia in partnership with OCDC member organization, NRECA International. The purpose of the trip was to provide an opportunity for the Zambian delegation to interact with electric cooperative Read More

Embrace Equity and Celebrate International Women’s Day!

In the spirit of International Women’s Day 2023, we want to embrace equity by sharing how cooperatives create pathways for women around the world!Cooperatives have a positive measurable impact on women’s economic status and can help diminish the gender gap globally! – Source the ICRG’s “What Difference Do Cooperatives Make, Global Outcomes Report“.The WDDCM data Read More

Member Spotlight: Frontier Co-op – Doing Good, Works!

Thank you to Tony Bedard, CEO of Frontier Co-op for telling us how they have been showing the world since 1976 that Doing Good, Works! When was Frontier Co-op formed? Frontier Co-op was founded in 1976 in rural Iowa to help small grocers in the region pool their resources to gain access to the natural Read More

COVID-19 and Cooperative Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa

This research sought to identify the major challenges faced by cooperatives in sub-Saharan Africa during COVID-19, as well as strategies and strengths employed by cooperatives to mitigate adversities. The ICRG further endeavored to understand whether and how these challenges and strengths/ strategies related to cooperative business resilience during hardship. Through a combination of survey interviews, Read More

MiCDP: Mapping a global network that builds up cooperative development locally

The U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council (OCDC) and the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) launched a joint online data platform displaying international development projects run by Cooperative Development Organisations (CDOs) across the world. Explore the portal here > The Mapping International Cooperative Development Programs (MiCDP) platform proves the great impact of CDOs at local and global Read More

Member Spotlight: Equal Exchange

For our December 2022 Member Spotlight, we hear from Dary Goodrich, Chocolate Products Manager at Equal Exchange. Grab a cup of Equal Exchange coffee or cocoa to enjoy while reading this blog and learning more about this worker-owned cooperative!• What is Equal Exchange?Since its founding in 1986, Equal Exchange has been a pioneer and U.S. Read More

The U.S. OCDC and its members co-sponsor the international track at NCBA CLUSA’s 2022 Cooperative IMPACT Conference

The U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council (OCDC) and its members were pleased to co-sponsor the international track at NCBA CLUSA’s Cooperative IMPACT Conference for the fourth year. Made possible by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the event’s international track brought a global perspective that explored how cooperatives around the world are moving forward—together, Read More

Congratulations to Paul Hazen, OCDC Executive Director!

On October 6, 2022, Paul Hazen, OCDC Executive Director, was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame. This well-deserved honor recognizes his commitment, both professionally and personally, to the cooperative model and values. He has devoted his career to elevating the cooperative voice domestically and internationally. You can view the Cooperative Hall of Fame inductee Read More

Joy Doronila Palmada, 2022 International Cooperative Innovation Award Recipient

This year the U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council is pleased to present the International Cooperative Innovation Award to Joy Doronila Palmada. She has a long history of cooperative development in her district of the Philippines, dating back to 1990 when she helped form a marginalized group of market vendors into a cooperative in Pavia, Iloilo Read More

Announcing The 2022 OCDC International Cooperative Champion Award Recipient

This year we are pleased to present the OCDC International Cooperative Champion Award to Professor Isaac Nyamongo, Deputy Vice Chancellor Cooperative Development, Research and Innovation at the Cooperative University of Kenya. The award was formally announced at the 2022 Cooperative IMPACT Conference on October 6, 2022. You can view the recording of the award presentation Read More