All sectors

The National Cooperative Union of India released a statement on the role of cooperatives and the apex union in responding to the COVID-19 related challenges. The first initiative of Indian cooperators from across the country is to support the  Prime Minister’s clarion call to observe a self-imposed ‘Janata (public) curfew’ on Sunday 22^nd March and restrict their movement to very essential activities.

Cooperative Business New Zealand reported that even with significant government support schemes being rapidly activated around wage subsidies, bank loans, etc., the country was already seeing a significant rise in unemployment, now now anticipated to rise to between 10-30% over the coming year/s). Food supply is not an issue, as New Zealand is able to source locally and the cooperative community (generates 19% of New Zealand's GDP) provides a significant proportion of the food supplies (both as a producer, but also as one of the two major super market food chains).

AJEEC NISPED of Israel opened the doors to the first COVID-19 Situation Room in the Negev Bedouin community to  centralize efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. The Situation Room is a partnership between all the civil society and cooperative organizations in the Negev and all local municipalities.

A multitude of collective cooperative efforts in Iran are underway to increase production of materials and items needed for personal protection equipment. This includes masks, disinfectants, detergents, clothing and even raw materials.

COOPERAR from Argentina sent out a message to cooperators and the community as a whole to reaffirm that the cooperative model is the answer to the health emergency. The message can be read here. The cooperative shared vital information and news regarding the pandemic and concerning Argentinian cooperatives through their website and social media using #SigamosCooperando.

iCOOP Korea increased its capacities in special disaster zones and created a COVID-19 Social Healing Project which collected KRW 4.9 Million to support the underprivileged as well as travel and service organizations. Read more  on the iCOOP website here.

HeW Coop, Japan set up a task force on February 19, 2020 to take cognizance of the crisis and ascertain the role of cooperatives in fighting the pandemic. The Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union (JCCU) informed the government the difficulties and challenges in the healthcare and welfare businesses.