The UN General Assembly, at its meeting on June 19th, declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025), to be celebrated under the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World”, following the theme of the first ‘CoopsYear’, held in 2012.
The theme highlights the lasting global impact of cooperatives and emphasizes that the cooperative model is a crucial solution for addressing various global challenges. Additionally, it underscores the significant role cooperatives play in advancing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
In its resolution, the UN General Assembly recommends ways to celebrate the year and encourages all UN Member States, the United Nations System, and relevant stakeholders to leverage this event to promote cooperatives’ contribution to social and economic development. Among others, the UN General Assembly invites Member States to consider establishing national committees to coordinate and prepare for all IYC2025 activities.
“The decision by the General Assembly could not be timelier. The innovative contributions of cooperatives for sustainable development will be crucial for accelerating progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals as we approach 2030,” said Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. “The second International Year of Cooperatives will be an opportunity to mobilize all stakeholders to support and expand cooperatives everywhere, strengthening their contributions for a better world.”
A soft launch of the IYC2025 will take place on 9 July 2024 during the UN High-level Political Forum at the UN Headquarters in New York. This hybrid event will be hosted by the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the United Nations. Organizers will unveil the IYC2025 theme, roadmap of event and communications materials at the event, which will also mark the International Day of Cooperatives, celebrated annually and globally on the first Saturday of July. For more information on how to attend this event, please visit: https://social.desa.un.org/issues/cooperatives/international-day-of-cooperatives-main
Official launch of the International Year of Cooperatives
The official launch of the IYC2025 will take place in New Delhi, India, during the ICA Global Cooperative Conference and General Assembly, scheduled for 25-30 November 2024, in the presence of global leaders seeking to inspire cooperators worldwide. This will be followed by a year-long celebration of cooperatives’ impact on society, reflecting on achievements, and actions to strengthen the cooperative movement and improve the lives for everyone.
The key objectives for IYC25 include:
1) Governments creating an enabling environment for cooperatives
2) Cooperatives promoting public awareness, developing new leaders, and leveraging cooperation
3) Institutions and development agencies promoting cooperatives through education, strengthening capacities, and facilitating international collaboration
4) The public understanding the cooperative identity and supporting cooperative initiatives
Responding to the challenges
After the UN declaration, the President of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) stated: “Cooperatives are present in every aspect of our lives and respond to each of the SDGs everywhere. This is the second time in history that the UN has dedicated an international year to cooperatives, and this is not a coincidence. Driven by concern for all communities, cooperatives have successfully adapted to overcome the evolving challenges of our time, and have shown repeatedly throughout history that, together, we are indeed building a better world.”
