The 63rd session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development (CSocD63), which took place in February 2025, focused on the role of cooperatives and the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) for the first time.
The session featured a multi-stakeholder panel titled “Promoting Solidarity and Social Cohesion through Cooperatives and the Social and Solidarity Economy as a Path to Achieving the SDGs,” moderated by Konstantinos Papadakis, the Principal Social Affairs Officer at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). The panel brought together distinguished speakers, including representatives from Mongolia, Paraguay, and France, to discuss the growing importance of cooperatives and SSE enterprises in advancing sustainable development goals. The interactive debate highlighted practical strategies such as developing supportive legal frameworks, promoting comprehensive and internationally comparable SSE statistics, and integrating SSE principles into educational curricula.
Insights from the discussions are expected to inform global conversations at the upcoming 2025 High-Level Political Forum and to shape a renewed consensus at the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha.
Joseph Njuguna, Director of Policy at the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and a COPAC member, stressed the vital role of cooperatives in promoting social justice, empowering communities, and mitigating inequalities.
Mr. Njuguna pointed out ICA’s initiatives to engage cooperative leaders through a Global Cooperative Charter and Commitment Plan, as well as the IYC National Mechanisms, which show how cooperatives can partner with governments, the UN, and other stakeholders to implement social policies, address inequalities, and enhance economic democracy—thereby contributing to the acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Papadakis highlighted the significance of specific legal frameworks for supporting the growth of the SSE sector, the creation of comprehensive, internationally comparable statistics on the SSE, education, and capacity-building for the SSE, and the involvement of SSE actors in national policymaking processes as essential for its success. He remarked on the crucial connection between cooperatives and SSE enterprises related to the upcoming United Nations Social Summit. “As we approach the Second World Social Summit in Doha, actions to promote the SSE and cooperatives will be pivotal in addressing the gaps in the implementation of the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration, as well as in aligning our efforts with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
Following this event, COPAC released a brief in recognition of World Day of Social Justice, titled “Cooperatives as Engines of Social Justice: Strengthening Social Inclusion and Cohesion through the Cooperative Model.” This publication aligns with the themes of social inclusion and cohesion discussed at the forum, showcasing how cooperatives can embed democratic governance, collective ownership, and community empowerment in their operations.
“The International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025) is a testament of the UN’s and global recognition of cooperatives’ critical role in sustainable development, social inclusion, and economic resilience. We look forward to deepening partnerships with the UN, governments, and key stakeholders to expand the impact of cooperatives, particularly through national mechanisms supporting the IYC2025 initiatives.”
~ Joseph Njuguna, Director of Policy, ICA.
