As a resource center, AWCF assists and provides services to co-op organizations and social development agencies (SDAs) in the areas of gender mainstreaming and co-op development. As an advocacy body, it promotes gender awareness and integration of gender concerns in co-ops and SDAs in the international, regional and local levels.

AWCF takes a two-pronged approach in its work:

1. To transform and enable co-ops to become vehicles for gender equality and gender equity
2. To enable women and men in co-ops to advocate change in and through co-ops for their benefit