OCDC

The ICRG

International Cooperative Research Group

A Division of OCDC

OCDC’S COMMITMENT TO EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT

Gave the impetus to its decision to establish The Research Group. The research is designed around two predominant lines of work:

Establishing evidence of the usefulness and impact of cooperative development for alleviating poverty and inclusive economic growth.

Understanding more deeply the environments and conditions in which cooperatives flourish – or fail to flourish – and advance the economic and social well-being of their members.

The RG designs, directly undertakes and partners with academic and practitioner partners to carry out rigorous research that helps to bridge the gap between theory and practice. It also fosters a learning community within OCDC and provides resources and information related to cooperative development to OCDC members and to the broader international cooperative and development community.

CONTEXT: An expert group convened by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, prior to the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives, identified the lack of cooperative research as a constraint to the effectiveness of cooperatives. (“Cooperatives in Social Development: Beyond 2012.”)