The ILO Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy Unit (COOP/SSE) highlighted the role of cooperatives in care provision during the South4Care: Strengthening South-South Cooperation for the Care Economy event held from 15 to 18 September 2025 in Doha, Qatar. The event marked the launch of the ILO South-4-Care Platform and the first edition of the Learning Hub on the care economy in the Arab States, bringing together global leaders, social partners, and UN agencies.
Mr. Rayann Koudaih, Specialist on Cooperatives and Social and Solidarity Economy Development, emphasized that cooperatives can improve access to quality care, enhance working conditions, and promote gender equality through democratic governance and community-driven approaches. He noted that the cooperative model provides affordable and quality services, creates new job opportunities with better wages and benefits, and can be adapted to diverse contexts, including during economic austerity and demographic changes. Pilot initiatives from countries such as Colombia, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe were highlighted as examples of this model in practice.
The session also showcased a pilot childcare cooperative initiative in Nablus, West Bank, presented by Mr. Mohanad Shalabi and Ms. Mona Salem. Developed in coordination with the Palestinian Authority’s Ministries of Labour, Social Development, and Health, the cooperative aims to provide affordable childcare for low-income working families while creating formal employment opportunities for women care workers. This initiative demonstrates how trade unions can play a pivotal role in advancing worker-centered solutions, promoting decent work, and ensuring social protection and inclusion in care service delivery, particularly in crisis-affected settings.
Discussions during the session also addressed the role of employers’ organizations in multistakeholder cooperatives, highlighting the importance of collaboration between governments, trade unions, and private actors to expand access to care services and strengthen the care economy.
