What is a cooperative? A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly and democratically controlled enterprise. As self-help organisations, cooperatives in both developing and developed countries help raise the income and employment prospects of its members. The strength and reach of cooperatives are illustrated by the success of both small and large scale farmers in India who help 11 million families earn part of their income from dairy cooperatives. In Africa, cocoa and coffee growing cooperatives, which have a considerable export market, reinvest profits in their communities to obtain potable water, sanitation facilities, and resources for local villages. Cooperatives are also multi-billion dollar businesses, such as Sunkist and Ocean Spray, as well as self-organised artisans and rural farmers. The Associated Press, one of the oldest cooperatives, employs 3,700 people and provides current news to 121 countries in five languages. Thus cooperatives can be a source for information, credit, food, social protection, housing, and job creation. https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/social/cooperatives/documents/CoopsAtWork.pdf