Cooperatives for a Peaceful World – Global Insights from DGRV’s International Project Work

Building Strong Communities Through Cooperation

Every year, the International Day of Cooperatives celebrates the unique contribution cooperatives make to building more inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies. This year’s theme, “Cooperatives for a Peaceful World,” highlighted an important message: 
Ppeace is not only fostered through dialogue, but also through trust, solidarity and opportunities for people to shape their own economic future. 

For more than a century, cooperatives have enabled people around the world to improve their living conditions through self-help and joint economic action. Across sectors and regions, they create employment, expand access to markets and financial services, strengthen local economies and enable members to participate democratically in shaping their communities. In doing so, they demonstrate that cooperative entrepreneurship can make an important contribution to resilient and peaceful societies. 

For decades, and with strong financial support from the German Government, DGRV internationally promotes the cooperative idea and supports the development of strong cooperative systems in many partner countries worldwide. Together with long-standing local partners, cooperative organisations and public institutions, DGRV works to strengthen the legal, institutional and organisational framework in which cooperatives can develop and thrive. In doing so, we support fostering conditions for strong member-based cooperatives that enable people to improve their own living conditions through economic self-help. We are grateful to both the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH) for granting us this opportunity for international cooperative cooperation at such a scale. 

One Cooperative Idea – Many Local Solutions

Although every country faces its own challenges, there is one common thread: cooperatives offer practical solutions to local needs while remaining firmly rooted in shared cooperative principles and values. 

To celebrate this year’s International Day of Cooperatives, DGRV invited its international project teams to share short video messages highlighting how cooperatives make a difference in the countries where they work every day. 

Have a look at the video: 

Our Projects

Colombia 

In Colombia, DGRV supports cooperatives in the financial and agricultural sectors to strengthen financial inclusion, rural development and sustainable economic opportunities. Together with its partners, DGRV promotes innovative cooperative solutions that improve access to finance, strengthen local value chains and contribute to resilient communities.  

 Vietnam 

In Vietnam, DGRV supports the development of a strong cooperative sector by improving governance, strengthening cooperative organisations and enhancing education and training. The project also promotes professional management, good cooperative governance and sustainable business development, while encouraging greater involvement of young people in the cooperative movement.  

 Philippines 

In the Philippines, DGRV works closely with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and cooperative organisations to strengthen the cooperative sector through improved supervision, capacity development and digital transformation. The project contributes to stronger and more resilient cooperatives while improving access to high-quality financial services for millions of cooperative members.  

 Cambodia 

In Cambodia, DGRV supports the development of a modern, market-oriented cooperative system. Working at national, regional and local levels, the project strengthens legal and institutional frameworks, promotes cooperative networks and helps agricultural cooperatives improve their governance, entrepreneurial capacity and market access, enabling farmers to sustainably improve their livelihoods.  

 Tunisia 

In Tunisia, DGRV supports the long-term development of a modern cooperative sector by helping to improve the legal and institutional framework for cooperatives. Together with its partners, the project promotes new cooperative initiatives, strengthens existing organisations and creates economic opportunities, particularly for women and young people, thereby contributing to inclusive local development 

Different Countries – One Cooperative Idea

Although the examples presented in the videos originate from very different countries and sectors, they all demonstrate the same underlying principle: people achieve more when they work together in democratically governed, member-based cooperative enterprises. 

Whether supporting agricultural cooperatives, strengthening cooperative financial institutions or improving market access and livelihoods, DGRV’s international cooperation promotes self-help by helping partners build strong and sustainable cooperative structures adapted to local needs.  

This year’s International Day of Cooperatives reminded us as well of the fact that cooperation is also a foundation for peaceful societies. Cooperatives foster trust, encourage dialogue and democratic participation, and create shared economic opportunities that strengthen social cohesion and resilience. 

Celebrating Cooperation Around the World

All over the world, the global cooperative movement used the International Day of Cooperatives as an opportunity to celebrate the power of cooperation t and, above all, the many people who put cooperative principles and values into practice every day. 

DGRV’s video and so many more posts and videos which had been posted throughout the world demonstrate how cooperative principles can be translated into practical solutions across very different local contexts. While the challenges may vary from country to country, it is the powerful commitment of cooperative members and practitioners as the common thread that is essential in improving their communities.   

A big thanks to our project teams in Cambodia, Colombia, the Philippines, Tunisia, and Vietnam for sharing their experiences and for their dedicated work alongside local partners.