Roles of Cooperatives - SS1 Economics Lesson Note

Cooperatives are organizations that are owned and controlled by their members who share common needs and aspirations. These organizations can take different forms, such as worker cooperatives, consumer cooperatives, or agricultural cooperatives. Cooperatives are based on the principles of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, and solidarity.

 The main roles of cooperatives include:

• Providing goods and services to members: Cooperatives are established to meet the needs of their members, such as access to affordable goods and services, financial assistance, or marketing assistance.

Creating economic opportunities: Cooperatives provide economic opportunities for their members, such as jobs, income generation, and access to credit.

Building community: Cooperatives help to build community by bringing people together to solve common problems and to work towards common goals.

Promoting sustainability: Cooperatives promote sustainability by encouraging environmentally responsible practices and by investing in the long-term health and well-being of their communities.