2025 UN International Year of Cooperatives

Credit: ica.coop - Watch the soft-launch

Them: Cooperatives Build a Better World

The 2025 United Nations International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025) theme will be Cooperatives Build a Better World, showcasing the enduring global impact cooperatives have everywhere. This theme puts a spotlight on how the cooperative model is an essential solution to overcome many global challenges and continues to play an important role in accelerating efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The UN teams are working to develop the logo, website and related materials to promote the year.

A UN Resolution recognising the role of cooperatives to accelerate the 2030 Agenda

On 19 June 2024, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives. The text recommends ways to celebrate and encourages all Member States, the United Nations, and relevant stakeholders to leverage this event to promote cooperatives’ contribution to social and economic development. Among others, Member States are also invited to consider establishing national committees to coordinate and prepare for all IYC2025 activities.

To kick off the celebrations, the UN Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the United Nations, hosted a soft-launch event. This event took place during the UN High-Level Political Forum at the UN Headquarters in New York on July 9, 2024. It coincided with the 2024 UN International Day of Cooperatives, celebrated under the theme Cooperatives Build a Better Future for All.

UN resolution proclaiming 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives

Cooperatives Build a Better World – The 2025: International Year of Cooperatives theme – 20 Jun 2024

The International Cooperative Alliance has announced Cooperatives Build a Better World as the theme for the 2025 UN International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025), showcasing the enduring global impact cooperatives have everywhere. This theme puts a spotlight on how the cooperative model is an essential solution to overcome many global challenges and continues to play an important role in accelerating efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Yesterday, 19 June 2024, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives (watch from 02:22:36 recording of the UNGA Session). Draft UN resolution A/78/L.71 on the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 can be found here. The text recommends ways to celebrate and encourages all Member States, the United Nations, and relevant stakeholders to leverage this event to promote cooperatives’ contribution to social and economic development. Among others, Member States are also invited 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.”

“Cooperatives are present in every aspect of our lives, and answering to each of the SDGs, everywhere,” said Ariel Guarco, President of the International Cooperative Alliance. “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.”

Read the full press release in the documents attached.

Join the official launch!

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 and UN representatives seeking to inspire cooperators worldwide. This will be followed by a year-long celebration of cooperatives’ impact on society, reflecting on achievements, and what actions come next to strengthen the cooperative movement and improve lives for everyone.

The International Cooperative Alliance plans to:

Increase the visibility of cooperatives and raise public awareness about their contributions to sustainable development,
promote the growth and development of cooperatives through capacity-building initiatives, knowledge-sharing, and collaborative partnerships.
advocate for enabling environment and supportive legal and policy frameworks for strengthening their entrepreneurial ecosystem
inspire young people to join the movement and promote the impact cooperatives have on building a better world.

Registration of the ICA Global Conference is now open!

“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.”

Ariel Guarco, President of the International Cooperative Alliance.