Economic Opportunity

Pass the Mic: Growing from Our Roots: Exploring the History and Future of Cooperative Development Programming at Global Communities

By Paula Rudnicka, Sr. Manager for Public Affairs at Global Communities Global Communities’ history is deeply rooted in the cooperative movement. Our organization was created …

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New USAID-funded Program to Strengthen Worker Cooperatives in Guatemala and Kenya

Silver Spring, MD – Global Communities announces a new award from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to implement CLEAR+—the second phase of …

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Catalyzing Success for Sri Lanka’s Women Entrepreneurs through SCORE

Over 50 women entrepreneurs from across Sri Lanka recently gathered for “SCORE Women in Action: Advancing Women Entrepreneurs Through Digital Technology.” The event was organized …

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Collaborating for Impact in Kenya’s Cooperative Sector

By Tindi Sitati Collaborative partnerships are the driving force behind the Cooperative Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy and Research (CLEAR) program at Global Communities. These partnerships enhance …

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Recycling Cooperative in Brazil Gets a Boost from Young People’s Communication Skills

By Leticia Oliveira An estimated 800,000 trash recyclers collect 90% of Brazil’s recyclables every day. Many Brazilian cities lack formal recycling programs, so catadores (recyclers) …

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Providing Professional Development Opportunities to Graduate Engineers in the Gaza Strip 

By Ziad Bakri and Nour Zaqqout Seven graduate students are one step closer to building a better future for themselves and the world at large …

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USAID CLEAR Program in Kenya Launches a Series of Cooperative Management Education Videos

The Cooperative Leadership Engagement Advocacy and Research (CLEAR) program recently developed a series of training and educational videos to capture the curriculums and materials developed …

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Building the Resilience of Kenya’s Cooperative Sector through Capacity Building of Policymakers and Implementers

By Olga Oyier & Maureen Gitau, USAID/CLEAR Program Kenya’s devolved system of governance has provided the country with an opportunity to implement grassroots-led development programs …

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How Policy Innovations Can Strengthen Cooperative Businesses in Kenya

By Maureen Gitau, USAID/CLEAR Program Registration of cooperative businesses is a challenging issue for policymakers and stakeholders in the cooperative sector. Under Schedule Four of …

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How Village Savings & Loans Groups Saved $7,000 in Only Four Months

By David Mbulula Garamba National Park lies in the Haut-Uélé province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), along the border with South Sudan. …

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Up to Youth Program Supports Sweet Entrepreneurship in Kosovo

By Lizzie Hickman Do you remember what it was like to be a teenager, to have the entire world of possibilities open for you to …

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USAID CLEAR Program in Kenya Launches a Series of Worker Cooperative Videos

Kenya has a vibrant and dynamic cooperative movement. The worker cooperative model, while new to the Kenyan Cooperative sector, is gaining attention and recognition as …

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Supporting Economic Resilience through Increased Livelihoods in Sri Lanka

By Nagarajah Sathyaruban and Amila Jayamaha In Sri Lanka’s Mullaitivu district, a lack of job opportunities and career guidance avenues has contributed to a high youth …

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Equitable Partnerships to Support Women’s Economic Empowerment & Combat Gender-Based Violence

By Mabel Bejarano Cobo Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to be part of a panel at the Gender Plus Summit which was organized …

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Using the New Digital Savings Group Hub to Eliminate Paper, Inspire Savings 

Digitization can feel overwhelming — and even risky when considering inherent equity and access issues. Yet, with the right resources, organizations can go paper-free, or …

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Expanding Possibilities for Women Entrepreneurs in Guatemala

By Jessica Ayala Just over a year ago, Sucely Rocsana Reyes Molina never would have imagined that she would own a flourishing formal dairy business …

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USAID’s Zahabu Safi (Clean Gold) Project Launches Refiners Community of Practice to Help Set Up Responsible Gold Supply Chain from Eastern DRC

By Rachel Brass – Director, Market Linkages and Investment, USAID’s Zahabu Safi (Clean Gold) Project Gold refiners Heimerle + Meule, IGR, Italpreziosi, L’Orfebre, MKS PAMP, …

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Building Demand for Responsibly-Sourced Gold from Eastern Congo

Many communities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) rely on artisanal and small-scale mining as a primary livelihood. While a significant drive of …

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