ILO COOP 100 Interview
Hans Lind, Interim Country Representative for Colombia and Senior Advisor on Cooperative Development at We Effect
Established in March 1920, the ILO’s Cooperatives Unit marks its Centenary in 2020. On this occasion, the ILO COOP 100 Interview series features past and present ILO colleagues and key partners who were closely engaged in the ILO's work on cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE). The interviews reflect on their experience and contributions in the past and shares their thoughts on the future of cooperatives and the SSE in a changing world of work.
Could you tell us about your background? How did you get started in development work?
I have a background as social worker from the 80’s in Sweden. Due to being bilingual (Swedish Finnish) I mainly worked with migrants from Finland who due to high unemployment in Finland were seeking a better life in Sweden. And this led to work with other migrants and refugees in their adaptation to life in Sweden. The Swedish NGO Save the Children Sweden organized trainings on how to work with unaccompanied refugee children and by getting to know this organization – I found out they were recruiting a social worker to work in Mexico and Central America early 90’s. My job there was organizing psychosocial support program to refugees, conflict affected internally displaced population and children affected by war.Since then I have worked only in development work. 20+ years with Save the Children in various locations – Latin-American and African countries. First 10 years after coming home from Mexico my arena of work was children affected by armed conflict and forced displacement- but 2005- 2014 as country director and regional director in Ethiopia, South Sudan and Latin America.

What has been the nature of your engagement with cooperatives and farmers’ organizations?

The 5 years spent in Eastern Africa the majority of partner organisations were farmers cooperatives – but we made sure that the farmers got access to the expertise of other partner organisations working on gender equality, financial inclusion, advocacy and environment.
What do you think is the role cooperatives and farmers’ organizations can play in eliminating rural poverty?

You have been working with We Effect in different capacities. What is the relation of WeEffect to cooperatives?
We Effect was founded by the larger Swedish cooperative companies and organisations 1958. We are still owned and supported by the Swedish cooperative movement. They form our board of directors, give us guidance and ensure all knowledge gained 100+ years ago when cooperatives helped Swedes to get out of poverty – can now be used in our work today. This also means that our partners we support are mainly cooperatives or other member owned organisations.You have worked in Latin America and Africa. In your experience how is cooperative development different in the two regions?

But there are many similarities – we can learn form each other. Our Latin America program as been more successful on the right to adequate housing via housing cooperatives and our programs in Eastern Africa more successful on the right to access financial services- we ensure cross regional exchange and learning. Also, the cooperative development platforms of ICA ensure we learn from other organisations experiences. And this has suddenly been much easier due to Covid-19 pandemic where the world has suddenly shrunken due to all online meetings.
You are on the board of Agricord. What does Agricord do? How does it work with cooperatives and farmers’ organizations around the world?
Agricord is an alliance of 13 agri-agencies and 13 national farmers federations. All agri-agencies have in their strategies to work – via a program called Farmers Fighting Poverty – with farmers cooperatives, strengthening both their organisations but also their products and the access to markets. Agricord works closely with the regional farmers organization in Asia, Latin America and Africa.You worked for many years on child protection and child rights issues? Do you think cooperatives can play a role in improving child well-being in the communities where they work?
