Resources on Cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE) and Migration, forced displacement and crisis response

Migration, forced displacement and crisis response

In 2016, there were an estimated 244 million international migrants representing 3.3 per cent of the global population – over 150 million of these were migrant workers. In addition, there are over 65 million people forcibly displaced by conflict, violence and human rights violations of which 21.3 million are recognized as refugees and registered asylum seekers. Cooperatives are well-placed to provide a part of the response to both refugee and labour migration situations. In fact, cooperative interventions have been used to deliver on refugee situations across the world in recent years.

Migration and forced displacement





Crisis Response

Historically, during periods of crises, the value of cooperation, solidarity, and mutualism experience an increase in popularity. It is also during such times that there is a surge in membership and turnover of cooperatives and the wider SSE. This was the case during and in the aftermath of the 2007-8 global financial crisis, and the 2001-2 crisis in Argentina.