In the month we celebrate the International Day of Cooperatives, we invite you to learn more about these associations, which are increasingly present in our portfolio.
Did you know that small businesses can compete with big brands in the market? This can be done through cooperation, which is a good way to improve the competitiveness of a business. However, according to the Organization of Brazilian Cooperatives (OCB), only four out of ten Brazilians know about cooperativism. Check out everything you need to know about cooperatives below!
What are cooperatives?
To the cooperatives are associations of people who have the same interests and organize themselves democratic way to achieve them by improving the financial situation of specific groups of people and addressing these common needs. Strengths within a cooperative are the democratic management and the economic participation. It is as if all members were also owners.
How are cooperatives organized in Brazil?
Today, there are about 4,900 Brazilian cooperatives registered with OCB — which amounts to a total of more than 17 million members and more than 455 thousand people employed. These associations are divided into 7 main segments: Agriculture; Credit; Transportation; Labor; Production of Goods and Services; Health; Consumption and Infrastructure.
There are also some principles what govern these cooperatives:
- Free and voluntary membership;
- Democratic management;
- Economic participation;
- Autonomy and independence;
- Education, training and information;
- Intercooperation;
- Interest in the community.
You can find out more about how these organizations work by visiting Law No. 5,764/71, which establishes the National Cooperativism Policy.
How does Sitawi support these organizations?
About 12 cooperatives have already passed through Sitawi portfolio, supported by our Collective Loan Platform. With the support of over 500 investors, these organizations together captured, over R$3 million in resources to finance their projects. In addition to the loan, they receive mentorships and access to a Network to further develop your business.
Discover some of them:
- Ser do Sertão Cooperative
- Cooperative of producers in the agricultural sector of family farming in Bahia, it is made up of rural producers, supporters of agroecological production systems and focuses on the leading role of women and young people in agricultural production.
- Marajó seeds
- A cooperative extracting açaí from the Amazon region of Pará, which acts as a bridge to market the product. The fruit is extracted in a way that does not harm the forest.
- Coopercuc
- A cooperative of jams, sweets and beverages from Bahia, which implements sustainable agriculture projects and the processing of native fruits from the caatinga and other fruits grown in the region. The cooperative also seeks to improve the living conditions of the families involved.
We want help even more cooperatives to raise money for socio-environmental causes! If you have a business that generates a positive impact and are interested, check out here whether your organization's performance connects with our requirements.
And you, do you want to support impactful businesses like these cooperatives?
Now that you know about cooperatives and understand how they work, how about invest in them? In addition to contributing to a better world, you get a financial return. Our portfolio continues to grow and, soon, new impactful businesses will be recruited on our Platform.
Access our Collective Loan Platform and know when new opportunities arrive!
