Cooperatives As Hybrid Approach to Pull Off Sustainable Development and Livelihoods: An Analytical Review

Abstract

Cooperatives are an old idea, but one that is more relevant than ever if we look ahead at the development challenges and opportunities the world faces over the coming decades and they have the necessary reach and are being a key vehicle for sustainable livelihoods. This paper is an analytical review made by desk research of Cooperatives on the realization of sustainable development goals for livelihoods of people. Cooperatives help create more equitable growth by generating economics of scale, and improving bargaining power; tackle rural poverty by increasing the productivity and incomes of small scale farmers; expand poor people’s access to financial services, can provide a range of services such as health care, housing and utilities; provide an opportunity for self determination and empowerment of poor people and enable their members to have a voice and participate in a democratic process, thus having empowering development effects beyond their economic benefits. Co-operatives can help with conflict resolution, peace-building, social inclusion and social cohesion because they bring together people of different religious and ethnic groups they can build trust and solidarity leading to greater social stability. By considering the evidences on the contributions and achievements made by Cooperatives in all sectors of economy and in all aspects of the life of people, cooperatives are considered as hybrid approach that makes it more acquiescent than other business models to pull off sustainable development and livelihoods of world community.