How to study the co-operative contribution to sustainable development

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop research instruments that enable analysis of the contribution of co-operatives to sustainable development. We achieve this by posing three research questions that explore the links between co-operative principles (CPs) and sustainable development goals (SDGs). Data obtained using qualitative methods guided the development of a quantitative survey tool designed to systematically measure the contribution of co-operatives to sustainable development (RQ1). This study also provides empirical evidence of a strong alignment between CPs and SDGs (RQ2). Whereas earlier studies began with forms of wealth and/or SDGs and connected them to CPs, this study contributes to the knowledge by articulating how co-operatives, as a movement, contribute to all SDGs by operationalising CPs 1-3 and 5-7 agreed by the International Cooperative Alliance. Finally, this study found a high level of support within the co-operative movement for the SDG framework (RQ3).