COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale

COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale is an Italian humanitarian organization founded on 15 April 1965 in Milan by Father Vincenzo Barbieri. It is a secular and independent non-governmental organization (NGO) and non-profit organization (ONLUS), legally recognized as a foundation since 2011. COOPI operates in 30 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia, implementing emergency, reconstruction, and development projects. Its mission is to contribute to the fight against poverty and the growth of communities through cooperation, with a vision of a world without poverty based on equality, justice, sustainable development, and social cohesion. Since its founding, COOPI has helped over 140 million people through more than 3,400 projects in 70 countries, employing 6,000 expatriate workers and 71,000 local operators. In 2023, COOPI was active in 30 countries with 194 humanitarian projects reaching more than 7.5 million people. The organization is headquartered in Milan, Italy, and is funded by institutional donors, private donations, and international agencies. COOPI is a member of various networks including VOICE, LINK 2007, and AGIRE. It publishes an ethical code and policies on key issues, and since 2015 has published an annual social balance sheet. COOPI's work spans food security, nutrition, protection, water and sanitation, environment, and education in emergencies.

COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale was officially founded on 15 April 1965 in Milan by Father Vincenzo Barbieri and eighteen lay volunteers. However, its origins trace back to 1961 when Barbieri came into contact with French international lay volunteer movements. In 1962, he helped open a house in Lyon to welcome and prepare Italian volunteers for missions. The following year, he returned to Italy and rented two houses in Milan for offices and volunteer housing. In 1964, Bruno and Enrica Volpi left for a mission in Rwanda, and Father Barbieri gave visibility to their departure. On 15 April 1965, Cooperazione Internazionale was officially founded. In 1966, thanks to the Pedini law (which allowed military service to be replaced by 24 months of civil service in developing countries), the association already had 25 active volunteers in 10 countries in Latin America and Africa. It co-founded the Federation of Christian Organizations for International Voluntary Service (FOCSIV). In 1969, COOPI moved its headquarters to via Francesco De Lemene in Milan, within a farmhouse that still serves as the Italian headquarters. During the 1970s, COOPI increased its projects and volunteers. In 1976, it began working on programs funded by the Italian government, the EEC, and the UN. That same year, it started a collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a government program in Malta, and in 1978 obtained funding for a European Community development project in southern Cameroon. In 1980, COOPI participated for the first time in an emergency intervention for refugees in Somalia, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNHCR. In the 1990s, COOPI increased its awareness and development education activities in Italy, and in 1993 became a partner of ECHO, the European Commission's humanitarian aid office. In 1997, it participated in founding the international Master's in Development Cooperation at the University of Pavia. In 1999, it took part in the "Missione Arcobaleno" for the Balkans crisis. In 2001, three regional offices were opened, and in 2002 the Emergency office was established. Important projects began in the Middle East. In 2004, COOPI started working on disaster preparedness, with the first project in Ecuador. It also intervened in the Darfur humanitarian crisis and joined the ITALIA AIUTA committee, and responded to the Southeast Asian emergency. In 2005, COOPI and Father Barbieri received a special mention at the Lombardy Region Peace Prize and the Civic Merit Certificate. In 2006, COOPI began distance support programs. In 2007, it joined the VOICE Watch Group and the LINK 2007 and Mosaico networks. In 2008, it signed the Donors' Pact. In 2009, ITALIA AIUTA merged into AGIRE, which COOPI joined. In 2010, COOPI intervened in the Haiti earthquake emergency; on 9 December 2010, Father Vincenzo Barbieri died. In 2011, COOPI became a "participatory foundation," maintaining its ONLUS status. In 2015, its 50th anniversary, it presented its 2015-2020 Strategy and published its first social balance sheet. In 2016, it activated projects for the Lake Chad and Middle East crises. In 2019, it approved a decentralized organizational model.

• 2016

  COOPI activates projects for the Lake Chad and Middle East crises.

• 2015

  COOPI celebrates its 50th anniversary, presents its 2015-2020 Strategy, and publishes its first social balance sheet.

• 2011

  COOPI becomes a "participatory foundation," maintaining its ONLUS status.

• 2010

  COOPI intervenes in the Haiti earthquake emergency; Father Vincenzo Barbieri dies on 9 December.

• 2009

  ITALIA AIUTA merges into AGIRE, which COOPI joins.

• 2008

  COOPI signs the Donors' Pact.

• 2007

  COOPI joins the VOICE Watch Group and the LINK 2007 and Mosaico networks.

• 2006

  COOPI begins distance support programs.

• 2005

  COOPI and Father Barbieri receive a special mention at the Lombardy Region Peace Prize and the Civic Merit Certificate.

• 2004

  COOPI starts disaster preparedness work with a project in Ecuador; intervenes in Darfur crisis and joins ITALIA AIUTA; responds to Southeast Asian emergency.

• 2002

  The Emergency office is established; important projects begin in the Middle East.

• 2001

  Three regional offices are opened.

• 1999

  COOPI takes part in the "Missione Arcobaleno" for the Balkans crisis.

• 1997

  COOPI participates in founding the international Master's in Development Cooperation at the University of Pavia.

• 1993

  COOPI becomes a partner of ECHO, the European Commission's humanitarian aid office.

• 1980

  First emergency intervention for refugees in Somalia, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNHCR.

• 1978

  COOPI obtains funding for a European Community development project in southern Cameroon.

• 1976

  COOPI begins working on programs funded by the Italian government, EEC, and UN; starts collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a program in Malta.

• 1969

  COOPI moves its headquarters to via Francesco De Lemene in Milan.

• 1966

  COOPI has 25 active volunteers in 10 countries; co-founds FOCSIV.

• 1965

  COOPI is officially founded in Milan on 15 April by Father Vincenzo Barbieri and 18 lay volunteers.

• 1964

  Bruno and Enrica Volpi leave for a mission in Rwanda.

• 1962

  Barbieri helps open a house in Lyon to welcome and prepare Italian volunteers.

• 1961

  Vincenzo Barbieri comes into contact with French international lay volunteer movements.

Secular and independent humanitarian organization fighting poverty and promoting sustainable development.

Product categories. Emergency relief · Development projects · Food security and nutrition programs · Water and sanitation · Education in emergencies · Protection services · Disaster preparedness

1. 1COOPI official websitecoopi.org
2. 2Chi Siamo | COOPIcoopi.org
3. 3COOPI - Wikipedia (Italian)it.wikipedia.org
4. 4COOPI - Wikidatawikidata.org