For 75 years, the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF Canada) has worked alongside Canadian credit unions, co-operatives, donors, and volunteers to advance community-led, locally owned, and sustainable co-operative development. Our mandate has always been rooted in the belief that Canadian co-operatives have an essential leadership role to play, both at home and globally, in advancing inclusive economies and building resilient communities.
Today, as the International Year of Cooperatives comes to a close, CDF Canada is extremely pleased to announce a new Pan-Canadian Co-operative Alliance with Développement international Desjardins (DID). In the spirit of Co-operative Principle 6: Co-operation among Co-operatives, CDF Canada and DID have been working throughout the year to intentionally create an opportunity to live our co-operative values more fully and to strengthen collaboration across the Canadian co-operative system. Grounded in shared values and a shared mission of supporting the economic empowerment of vulnerable populations, this alliance reflects a deliberate commitment to deepening collaboration within the Canadian co-operative movement. It brings together the complementary strengths of two respected Canadian co-operative organizations to expand our collective ability to deliver meaningful, sustainable impact.
Développement international Desjardins (DID) is a leading Canadian co-operative development organization with decades of experience supporting inclusive economic development through financial co-operatives and community-based institutions worldwide. As the international development arm of the Desjardins Group, DID works with partners across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean to strengthen financial inclusion, build resilient institutions, and support sustainable, locally led economic growth. Together with CDF Canada, this alliance brings together complementary expertise and pan-Canadian co-operative leadership to deepen collaboration, expand impact, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of their respective development efforts.
“In today’s context of decreasing development funding, it is more important than ever to pool our resources and expertise, create new synergies, and achieve greater efficiency and economies of scale. That is precisely what this alliance allows us to do,” emphasizes Gerardo Almaguer, President and CEO of DID.
Desjardins International Development
We want to be clear: this alliance is not a merger or a structural integration, and it does not alter CDF Canada’s autonomy, mission, or identity. CDF remains an independent national charity with its own Board of Directors and longstanding relationships with Canadian credit unions, co-operatives, donors, and volunteers. All donor-supported programming, including our work in gender equity, food security, co-operative capacity development, climate resilience, and more will continue to be designed, delivered, and stewarded by CDF Canada. Your contributions, expertise, and leadership remain at the heart of our work.
This alliance is an opportunity to demonstrate, in a tangible and forward-looking way, Principle 6: Co-operation among Co-operatives. It reflects the deep belief shared across the Canadian co-operative system that collaboration strengthens the entire movement and expands our capacity to support co-operatives globally.
By working more closely with DID while maintaining full independence, CDF Canada will be able to:
For our credit union and co-operative partners, this means something essential: your contributions will go further, reach more communities, and amplify the visibility and impact of Canadian co-operative leadership around the world.
“This alliance will allow us to dedicate more resources to our work on the ground and to carry out a greater number of co-operative development projects,” says Benoît André, Executive Director of CDF Canada. “It is fully aligned with the sixth co-operative principle, Cooperation Among Cooperatives, which encourages collaboration at all levels—local, national, and international—to improve services, performance, and responsiveness to community needs.”
CDF Canada
This alliance reinforces CDF’s enduring commitment to protect and strengthen the co-operative identity of our work; to honour the trust placed in us by Canadian credit unions, co-operatives, donors, and volunteers; and to ensure that every partnership, every dollar, and every volunteer hour continues to reflect the values—democracy, mutual aid, equity, and local ownership—that define our sector. It also reaffirms our responsibility to uphold a Pan-Canadian perspective that includes and honours co-operatives across all regions, languages, and communities. We are proud of the legacy we have built together, and equally proud of the potential this alliance unlocks for the next generation of co-operative development. By joining forces where it strengthens our work, and maintaining independence where our unique identities matter most, we affirm that co-operatives achieve the greatest impact when they lead together.
With the support of Canada’s co-operative sector, this alliance positions CDF Canada to deepen its impact, innovate within community-led development, and ensure that Canadian co-operative leadership continues to shape sustainable, locally rooted solutions around the world while maintaining the independence, values, and sustainable impact our donors and partners trust and expect.
To learn more about Dévelopement international Desjardins (DID), visit their website
