Profiles of a Movement: Co-operative Housing around the World – Volume Two
Volume 2 of the Profiles of a Movement concentrates on the African continent. The goal of these profiles is to inform members and interested parties about how housing cooperatives function in different countries, including their history, scale, legal and financial frameworks, and the challenges they face. The intention is to highlight their successes and encourage others to adopt the model to address the global need for secure, affordable housing.
This second volume, released alongside the ICA General Assembly in Cape Town (November 2013), focuses on Africa, showcasing the impressive achievements of African cooperators despite difficult conditions.
The first volume includes the cooperative housing profile of 22 countries. The movement dates back to the mid-19th century and remains strong today, with long-standing co-ops still active across Europe and beyond. In countries like Poland, Sweden, and Norway, co-ops represent a significant portion of the housing stock. In others, such as Canada and the UK, the sector is smaller but shows the clear benefits of resident control.