Sectors
OCDC members provide a wealth of expertise and technical assistance in the following areas:
Agriculture & Natural Resources: Alternative development, farm- to-market systems, value-added processing, trade and export (including fair trade practices), organic foods, production, food security, food assistance, monetization, farm organizations.
Business: SMEs and microenterprise, strengthening and management of cooperative. businesses and systems, privatization.
Community Development: Housing and shelter, community services, infrastructure, health, sanitation, municipal development.
Civil Society: Democracy building and advocacy, business and trade associations, NGO strengthening, coordination of (business, NGOs and government, equipment donations, development education and outreach, volunteer programs, women's economic and social development.
Disaster & Reconstruction: Food relief, water, shelter, infrastructure reconstruction.
Energy: Rural and village electrification, alternative energy and energy efficiency
Finance: Cooperative financial systems, credit unions, financial services, group-based insurance, micro-finance institutions, banking guarantees, mortgage systems, village and rural banking.
Public Policy & Advocacy: Cooperative policies, legislation, regulation, public policy and advocacy.
Telecommunications: Privatization, regulations, legislation, rural telecommunications, telecenters, information systems.
The following are two areas in which cooperative development has changed lives, communities and countries.
Cooperatives & HIV/AIDS
U.S. cooperative development organizations are working to help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and mitigate its effects on individuals and communities, especially in East and southern Africa.
Cooperatives & Democracy Building
As democratically run entities, cooperatives foster grassroots democracy, help communties address conflict and by providing a vehicle for self government, can reduce terrorism.