TITLE:
The Contribution of Cooperatives to Sustainable Development in Burkina Faso: An Analysis Based on Stakeholder Theory and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Criteria
AUTHORS:
François Sondo, Christophe Gbossou
KEYWORDS:
Cooperative, Sustainable Development, Stakeholder Theory, ESG Criteria
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Business and Management,
Vol.14 No.3,
May
29,
2026
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this article is to understand and document the contribution of cooperatives to sustainable development in Burkina Faso. It examines this contribution by drawing on stakeholder theory and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. Based on data collected during six focus groups, it highlights a clear environmental contribution and a significant social contribution. This underscores the important role cooperatives play in sustainable development. However, it shows that their contribution remains limited in terms of governance. In light of this finding, which shows that despite the strengths of the cooperative model, governance often remains the weak link in cooperatives’ participation in sustainable development, the article recommends that cooperatives place member participation at the heart of their decision-making and clarify and/or strengthen the rules governing the renewal of their decision-making bodies. This helps revitalize their internal governance systems.