Link: https://www.icco-cooperation.org/en/

Self-presentation can be found at ECCO Cooperation web site, section About

Who we are

ICCO is an independent non-governmental organization with business features. Our aim is to secure the livelihoods and rights of farmers and small businesses in low and middle-income countries.

Despite the fall in the number of people living in extreme poverty in the past decades, poverty remains pervasive and inequalities continue to increase. Millions of people are unable to realize their full potential.

We envision a world where people are empowered to build sustainable livelihoods within a society that upholds their rights. Our mission is to strengthen sustainable agricultural systems and realize resilient communities, with a special focus on women and youth.

How We Work

Half of the world’s population is employed in the agricultural sector, with 75% of all farmers estimated to be living in poverty. Over 800 million people suffer hunger, two billion experience micronutrients deficiencies.

Sustainable Agricultural Systems

Current systems of agricultural production are neither sustainable nor sufficiently efficient to ensure food and nutrition security for present and future generations. ICCO strives to put value chains in place to grow, harvest, store, process, pack, transport, market and consume food, as well as to dispose food waste.

We trigger positive changes in markets to transform agricultural systems. Markets that are inclusive, and accessible for smallholders farmers, agripreneurs and small businesses, as well as environmentally and financially sustainable. We want to ensure the viability of small-farm and business economies as a contribution to the fight against poverty and undernourishment.

How We Stand Out

This systemic change demands for a long breath and a multi-stakeholder approach. We adopt inclusive social change, and enhance a business-oriented way of working.

Key points in our strategy are:

• Targeting small and medium enterprises
• Focus on women
• Fulfillment of different roles: developer, implementer, advocate
• Use of digital technologies to underpin impact
• Application of a tailored mix of financial instruments
• Cooperation in public-private partnerships
• Understanding the impact of religion on development

Program Interventions

In concrete, our program interventions focus on:

• Farmer training
• Access to agricultural inputs
• Access to finance
• Access to technology
• Access to markets
• Business and human rights
• Collective marketing