Rapporteur

Parallel Session 2.2: By Supporting an Ethical Value Chain Management

Since January 2014, Ivanov has served as the Secretary-General of Euro Coop – the European association of consumer cooperatives uniting and representing 19 national organisations of consumer co-ops, predominantly active in food retail. Simultaneously, Ivanov is the Secretary-General of Consumer Cooperatives Worldwide (CCW) – the equivalent organisation on a global level. He manages both organisations’ Secretariats, leads the advocacy and representation activities towards the EU and UN Institutions and continuously upscales membership added-value through direct collaboration among national members in areas of shared interest and priority. Ivanov started his career in the Central Cooperative Union – Bulgaria, where he worked in the International Affairs Department and Co-operative Policy Department. He holds a PhD in Organisation and Management of Consumer Co-operatives, an M.A. in European Public Administration and a B.A. in International Relations & Politics.

How have cooperatives impacted your community? 

CCW is the global sector of the ICA and represents national organisations predominantly engaged in food/non-food retail (but not only). As retailers, our members’ network of stores remained open during the pandemic with the vital mission of supplying members, consumers and their local communities with their daily goods, vital medical supplies and gear. Moreover, they supported communities by addressing the needs of the vulnerable people (elderly, children, ill), including home deliveries, comfort against loneliness, managing the risk of mass panic (especially in the form of bulk purchases), donations to medical facilities and special services to personnel from the “frontline”.