2016-09-302014-09-172016-09-302014-09-17https://ri.ucsal.br/handle/123456730/135The main propose of this study is to analyze the challenges and perspectives of popular cooperatives in State of Bahia. In order to reach this propose, were investigated the following cooperative: Cooperativa Múltipla Fontes de Engomadeira (COOFE). It was focused the historical construction and its constitution as well as economic and social evaluation. The study is based on the followings approaches: the management, the productive process and form new leaders as well as external aspects related to the incubation process in Incubadora Tecnológica de Cooperativas Populares from State of Bahia University (ITCP/UNEB); the scientific development, teaching process and extension programs developed by State of Bahia University (UNEB) on the economic and social evaluation of the cooperatives; and contextual analysis, considering the economic, social, historical and territorial approaches where the cooperative is inserted. The results indicate that the external aspects are relevant to the cooperative, mainly when it is referred to the market forecast. The main aspects were: access to the loan programs with low interest rate and a fair deadline transaction, different tax system and formal process of register need changes. In case of COOFE, the cooperative always invest in cooperative education background; it is always involved in informal and formal networks in order to develop public policies as well as democratic committees organized by the government. In addition, the cooperative has been formed new leaders and teaching them.Acesso AbertoCooperativismoCooperativismo popularEconomia solidáriaIncubaçãoCooperativePopular cooperativeSolidary economyIncubationDissertaçãoPlanejamento Urbano e Regional/DemografiaTerritorialização e Desenvolvimento Social