The African continent is undergoing a major economic and social transformation. With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) promising freer movement of goods and services, and with growing demand for inclusive economic models, cooperatives stand at the forefront of a new African economy — one rooted in shared prosperity, mutual support, and self-determination. For the South African cooperative movement, this is a defining moment. Unlike large corporations driven primarily...

Africa is not just South Africa’s neighbour — it is its most vital trading partner. While the country maintains trade ties with global powerhouses like China, the EU, and the United States, it is the African continent that provides South Africa with its most consistent and profitable export opportunities across goods, services, infrastructure, retail, and finance. With a growing population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050 and a rising middle class, Africa is not just a...

    Within the landlocked country of Zimbabwe, coffee is the second most lucrative cash crop, with the first being tobacco. Highlands located on its eastern border provide a perfect climate for high-quality coffee farming, producing beans that offer complex tastes of sweet fruits and full-bodied chocolate.   While Zimbabwe is known to produce some beautiful coffee, it has a turbulent history of crop failures, political disputes, and land reforms that...

Co-op Store Shea Butter is more than just a skincare product—it's a powerful example of how Africa’s cooperative movement can transform natural resources into sustainable revenue for communities across the continent and beyond. Made from 100% pure, unrefined shea butter, this product is sourced directly from women-led cooperatives in West Africa, where generations of traditional knowledge and ethical harvesting practices ensure a high-quality, natural butter. But its...