Caracas, August 11, 2023 (Press Sunacoop) – On this day, August 11, 1966, the National Superintendence of Cooperatives (Sunacoop) was created, an action arm of the People’s Ministry for Communes and Social Movements, whose objective is to establish the general rules for the organization and operation, playing a fundamental role in the promotion of the cooperative model, based on the principles of mutual aid, social responsibility, economic democracy and solidarity.
Sunacoop’s commitment to strengthening the sector through constant training and education stands out. It has offered educational programs for cooperative members, seeking to strengthen a model of management, governance, and economic sustainability. Thanks to these initiatives, many cooperatives have grown and progressed under the premise of a social and self-sustainable economic model.
With the arrival of the Bolivarian Revolution by Commander Hugo Chavez Frias’ hand, starting in 2004, he promoted the creation of new cooperatives under socialist values for the benefit of the most vulnerable, which are formed by members of the popular sectors that were historically made invisible by the neoliberal capitalist model that prevailed in Venezuela.
In this sense, it is worth mentioning the creation of new legal instruments such as the Organic Law of the Communal Economic System and the Socialist Plan of Communal Economic Development.
Likewise, one of the great achievements of Commander Chávez was to establish financial mechanisms to support the growth and sustainability of cooperatives. The creation of the National Fund for Endogenous Development (Fonden) was fundamental to guaranteeing economic resources to the cooperatives, allowing them to invest in infrastructure, technology, and training.
Commander Hugo Chavez promoted the education and training of cooperative members, recognizing that improving their knowledge and skills was vital for the success of these organizations; through programs such as the National School of Communal Economy, theoretical and practical tools were provided to cooperative members, thus strengthening their capacity to manage their projects.
Currently, under the support of President Nicolas Maduro Moros, Sunacoop plays a fundamental role in the development of the social and self-sustainable economy.
For the first semester of 2023, the Encounters of Experiential Experiences with Integration Organizations began in eight entities (Sucre, Lara, Portuguesa, Barinas, Falcón, Táchira, Carabobo, and the Capital District) promoting the participation of 941 cooperative members.
The certification through the Integrated Management System for Cooperatives (Sincoop) of 1,698 cooperatives nationwide not only highlights the operational and administrative quality of the certified cooperatives but also underscores their commitment to fundamental values such as solidarity, teamwork, and social equity. Thanks to these certifications, more than 66,940 direct members have benefited from better conditions and opportunities in favor of a social and solidarity economy.
As for the training programs on Introductory to Cooperativism, 1,271 accompaniments have been carried out, benefiting 7,951 people; additionally, 1,067 permanent training processes have been carried out for the cooperatives, benefiting 8,798 people.
57 years after its creation, Sunacoop continues working on the training of its professionals to provide a better service to the organized Popular Power for the construction of new economic bases.
The working class of the National Superintendence of Cooperatives calls to form cooperatives, today represents a real alternative to the collective organization to address their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations, to generate comprehensive, collective, and personal welfare through processes and enterprises of collective ownership democratically managed and controlled.
Let us continue working together to build a solid future for cooperativism and an economy for life.
