Where We Work

Italy

Based in Italy for over 60 years with its headquarters in Milan, COOPI is today actively engaged in the country’s civil and social fabric, promoting food distribution initiatives, awareness-raising campaigns, and fundraising activities through a well-established network of collaborators, donors, and volunteers.

COOPI’s civic engagement in the Milan area takes shape through food distribution activities targeting the most vulnerable segments of the population, in continuity with the mission initiated by its founder, Father Barbieri. This commitment is embodied in the project “Contrasto alla povertà in Italia” which each month reaches a growing number of families and elderly people in need in Milan and its surrounding areas, offering food, essential goods, and social and informational support.

As part of the organization’s commitment to training, the School of International Cooperation was established in 2022 to respond to the growing need for professionalization in the development cooperation sector. The School offers highly specialized, hands-on technical training designed to strengthen the skills of both international and local staff, and to support the entry of new professionals into the field of international cooperation. Among its main training programs are courses for project managers and project administrators, two key roles that are in high demand among organizations working in humanitarian aid and development contexts.

COOPI is also a partner since 1997 of the Master in Cooperation and Development at the University of Pavia, actively contributing to the training of future generations of humanitarian workers. As a member of the Cooperation and Development Network, COOPI supports the promotion of high-quality academic education in the sector at an international level. Each year, it offers Master’s students the opportunity to carry out internships within the organization.

From its headquarters in Milan, COOPI promotes awareness-raising and fundraising initiatives aimed at strengthening the connection between Italy and vulnerable communities around the world. Support can take various forms, such as the Distance Support Program, which helps transform the lives of thousands of children and their families; the 5x1000, a simple yet meaningful act of solidarity; and legacy giving, all tools through which citizens can contribute to building a fairer future. The funds raised are used to support concrete actions, such as the distribution of food parcels to economically vulnerable families in the Milan area.


THE SITUATION IN Italy

29 /189

HDI - Human Development Index


Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2025

8,4% %

Families living in absolute poverty


Source: Istat 2025

6% %

Unemployment rate


Source: Istat 2025

19,3% %

Share of food expenditure per person


Source: Istat 2025

COOPI ACTIVITY IN Italy

2

Projects
Source: COOPI Annual report 2024

2,000

Beneficiaries
Source: COOPI Annual report 2024

1,117

New individual supporters
Source: COOPI Annual report 2024

100

Volunteers
Source: COOPI Annual report 2024

LATEST NEWS

Mourning for Gildo Baraldi

On 13 January, Gildo Baraldi passed away. He was one of the “fathers” of international cooperation in Italy. Active in the development...

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Mourning for Lidia Baiocchi

It is with sadness and dismay that we announce the death of Dr Lidia Baiocchi, our aid worker in eastern Chad in 2004 and in Mozambique between 2005 and 2008....

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The School of Cooperazione Internazionale, founded by COOPI, has opened applications for the two professional training courses "Project Manager" and...

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LINK 2007: Cease fire in Gaza

On December 12 2023, LINK 2007 sent a letter to the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, and to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, expressing deep...

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Goodbye, Alberto

It is with great sorrow that we announce the untimely death of Alberto Cogo, Administrator of COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale for 14 years, between 2006...

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Lettera al Presidente Draghi

Egregio Presidente del Consiglio, Onorevoli Senatrici e Senatori, Onorevoli Deputate e Deputati, renderemo pubblica questa lettera perché...

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Il Valore dell'Aiuto

La cifra record di 27,2 miliardi di dollari per gli aiuti umanitari globali (+6% rispetto all’anno precedente) è in...

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Si è spento Bruno Volpi

Sabato scorso, 16 settembre, è venuto a mancare all'età di 80 anni Bruno Volpi. "Dovevamo star via 2 anni, siamo stati via 8" -...

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Il CDA di COOPI si rinnova

Sabato 24 giugno, si è riunito a Milano il Collegio dei Fondatori che all'unanimità ha eletto il nuovo Consiglio di Amministrazione di COOPI,...

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In Africa è allarme fame

Sono 30 milioni le persone dell'Africa Centro-orientale che stanno affrontando oggi la peggiore carestia dalla Seconda Guerra Mondiale. Purtroppo non se ne...

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Ciao, Gemma!

Questa mattina ci è giunta una notizia tristissima: la nostra collega e socia, Gemma Occhioni, ha avuto un attacco di cuore ieri notte e ci ha lasciati....

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COOPI's heart is Barbieri

We told many times about who Father Barbieri was: the man who by his megaphone shook Italian people's consciousness during the 1960's. Now we want to...

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Rock Against AIDS

Lunedì 20 giugno, alle ore 20:30, presso il circolo Arci MONK si terrà l'evento "ROCK Against AIDS". Un grande concerto...

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Vinci uno show cooking!

  PARTECIPA AL CONCORSO   Qualche click, una semplice idea, un paio di ingredienti et voilà, potresti essere uno dei 20 fortunati che...

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CDN Intensive Program 2016

Apply now! Subscriptions till 11th April. In collaboration with COOPI, the Cooperation and Development Network (CDN) gives green light to the Intensive...

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Good Energy Award 2015

COOPI ottiene la menzione speciale per il progetto Set4food alla 6° edizione del Good Energy Award. COOPI Cooperazione Internazionale ha ricevuto il...

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