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.
Cooperatives, which operate through a model of joint ownership and shared decision-making, have proven to be vital players in fostering community resilience, enhancing economic stability, and promoting sustainable practices. By prioritizing the needs of their members—who are also their stakeholders—cooperatives provide an inclusive approach that contrasts sharply with traditional capitalist models. This year will serve to showcase the diverse contributions of cooperatives in various sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, finance, and housing.
As the world grapples with multi-layered issues like poverty, inequality, climate change, and food security, the cooperative model is positioned as a crucial solution. By focusing on collaboration and mutual aid, cooperatives not only empower individuals but also enhance their capacity to confront these challenges collectively. The cooperative movement has made significant strides in recent years, demonstrating its effectiveness in implementing innovative solutions that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set forth by the UN. These goals aim to eradicate poverty, promote gender equality, ensure quality education, and encourage sustainable economic growth, among other objectives by 2030.
The 2025 International Year of Cooperatives will also serve as a platform for mobilizing stakeholders across the globe, including governments, non-governmental organizations, businesses, and educators, to support cooperative enterprises. The UN encourages communities to develop policies that promote cooperative business models and to invest in cooperative education and training programs that can empower individuals and foster a cooperative spirit.
The declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives underscores the urgent need to recognize and harness the potential of cooperatives to build a better world. As we approach this year, the UN invites all sectors of society to participate in celebrations and initiatives that promote the cooperative model as a key mechanism for sustainable development and community empowerment. Together, through cooperation and solidarity, we can take significant strides toward a more equitable and sustainable future.
“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.
