FUCVAM (Federación Uruguaya de Cooperativas de Vivienda por Ayuda Mutua, Uruguayan Federation of Mutual Aid Housing Co-operatives) is a federation of mutual aid housing cooperatives, and is the largest, oldest and most active social movement working on issues of housing and urban development in Uruguay. In 2001 a South-South Cooperation project was initiated to support the international transfer of the FUCVAM approach – which follows the key principles of solidarity, democratic participation, self-management, mutual aid and collective ownership of property – to other countries in the region and around the world.
With the support of the Swedish Cooperative Centre, government agencies and grassroots organisations, FUCVAM has transferred the approach to 15 countries across Latin America, adapting the model to local conditions in different contexts, setting up national federations and networks and supporting local efforts to influence government policy.
