July saw worldwide celebrations of the International Day of Cooperatives, with notable events held in Kenya under the banner of Ushirika Day at the county and national levels. These gatherings brought together cooperators, government officials, and industry stakeholders, showcasing the strength and unity of the cooperative movement.
This year’s celebrations also coincided with the one-year anniversary of the United Nations’ designation of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC). As the year progresses, several achievements have already been made, prompting discussions on how cooperatives can harness this momentum for future progress.
Joseph Njuguna, Policy Director of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), noted that the strong global momentum of the cooperative movement is a significant milestone.
The official launch of the IYC during the ICA’s Global Conference in New Delhi last November was a pivotal moment, featuring high-profile attendees, including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who underscored the importance of cooperatives in promoting global solidarity and social cohesion.
Throughout the year, cooperatives globally have organized hundreds of activities, raising awareness and fostering collaboration.
The launch of the Cooperative and Mutuals Leadership Circle (CM50) by the ICA aims to unite leaders from major organizations to champion the cooperative business model, demonstrating its potential to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
At the launch, four key objectives were established: to raise awareness of the impact of cooperatives, strengthen legal and policy frameworks, enhance partnerships across sectors, and build leadership capacity within the cooperative movement, particularly for youth and women.
Njuguna reported that significant strides have been made towards these objectives, with the widespread adoption of the IYC logo and supportive political declarations from various governments, including a resolution from the Japanese Parliament advocating for the promotion of cooperatives.
Looking ahead, the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) in Doha, Qatar, in November presents a vital opportunity for cooperatives to engage on social development issues at an international level. The summit will gather heads of state to adopt a political declaration that will influence the UN’s Sustainable Development agenda beyond 2030, with cooperatives playing a crucial role in discussions.
The official closing event for the UN IYC will coincide with the WSSD2, but celebrations will continue until the end of 2025, reinforcing the ongoing significance of cooperatives in fostering social justice, inclusion, and innovation worldwide.
