Our Story
The National Union of Family Farming and Solidarity Economy Cooperatives (UNICAFES) was founded in June 2005 in Luziânia, Goiás, Brazil. UNICAFES was created to represent and strengthen solidarity economy cooperatives formed by family farmers, traditional communities, agrarian reform settlements, and other rural populations committed to inclusive and sustainable development.
UNICAFES is a national non-profit organization that promotes social and economic inclusion through rural development, income generation, food production, improved living conditions and well-being, biodiversity preservation, and reduction of social and regional inequalities.
Currently, UNICAFES is present in 21 Brazilian states, representing a network of approximately 1,500 cooperatives and involving more than 1 million family farmers. These cooperatives operate in various sectors, such as: credit, production, labor, marketing, and infrastructure.
UNICAFES is organized through state federations, working in partnership to offer specialized support and advocate for interests, promoting public policies aligned with the principles of the solidarity economy and sustainable local development.
The organization is guided by a commitment to gender equality and youth empowerment—both enshrined in its bylaws—ensuring that women and young people play leadership roles in the governance and development of cooperatives.
UNICAFES also actively participates in important national forums and councils, such as the National Council for Food and Nutritional Security (CONSEA), the National Council for Sustainable Rural Development (CONDRAF), and the National Aquaculture and Fisheries Forum.
Mission
To strengthen the cooperative economy of solidarity by representing the interests of family farming cooperatives and offering specialized services that promote integrated sustainable development—socially, economically, and environmentally—with equity in terms of gender, race, generation, and ethnicity.
Vision
To be a national and international benchmark in cooperative solidarity economy, based on social inclusion, democracy and sustainability. Principles and Values
• People in the center
• Democratic participation
• Solidarity and ethics
• Autonomy and plurality
• Gender, race, generation, and ethnicity equity
• Networking and inter-cooperation
• Transparency and sustainability
• Defending life, rights, and the environment
• Commitment to resilience and combating inequality and discrimination
• International Cooperation and Strategic Partnerships
Throughout its 19-year history, UNICAFES has built solid partnerships with national and international organizations, public institutions, and civil society actors. Of particular note is the organization's role as a partner in technical cooperation projects with the European Union and the Belgian NGO TRIAS, supporting capacity building, innovation, and inclusive economic development.
UNICAFES also works in collaboration with:
• National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES)
• Ministry of Labor and Employment
• Ministry of Social Development
• Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming
• National Service for Cooperative Learning (SESCOOP)
• UNICOPAS (National Union of Solidarity Cooperative Organizations)
• CONTAG (National Confederation of Rural Workers, Farmers and Family Farmers)
• Conexus
• REAF/MERCOSUR (Specialized Meeting on Family Farming of MERCOSUR)
• FAO, IICA, AgriCord, among others.
UNICAFES continues to expand its impact by promoting inclusive markets, agroecological transitions, and sustainable food systems in Brazil and internationally.
