The work of SEWA Cooperative Federation is shaped by principles that come from how women organise work, make decisions, and sustain their cooperatives. These ideas are reflected in everyday practice.
Cooperatives are owned and governed by their members. Decisions are made collectively, and responsibility is shared across the institution.
Women’s cooperatives are built to sustain themselves - economically and institutionally-through their own work, decisions, and systems.
Work is not only about income. It includes stability, social security, and the ability to sustain livelihoods with dignity.
Leadership is not concentrated in individuals. It is developed across members, with women taking on roles, responsibilities, and decision-making over time.
Cooperatives function through shared accountability—through meetings, records, and decisions that remain visible to members.
Cooperatives address both income and broader needs—health, childcare, social protection, and community well-being.
Learning happens through doing—through work, reflection, and shared experience across cooperatives.