The 17th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 17) emphasises that achieving the 2030 Agenda requires an unprecedented level of cooperation among governments, the private sector, civil society, the United Nations system, and other stakeholders. In a world facing deepening inequalities, demographic shifts, and rapid technological and environmental changes, cooperatives are inclusive, resilient, and community-driven enterprises that can deliver on the promise of the SDGs.

In the lead up to the Second World Summit for Social Development (4 - 6 November, Doha, Qatar), the ICA is working with partners, members and also in the context of the CM50 to progress dialogue and participate in collaborative action to demonstrate and educate how cooperatives can help build a better world.

Cooperatives are no strangers to working in partnerships. The sixth cooperative principle – cooperation among cooperatives – embeds the idea of working collaboratively as a vital element of cooperative businesses. This principle also aligns directly with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 17 on partnerships, underlining the importance of collaboration to achieve sustainable development. Read our case studies for some concrete examples of the difference partnerships can make.

The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) welcomes the draft Doha Political Declaration agreed by consensus through an intergovernmental negotiating process that took place at the United Nations in New York on 9 September. The text, which underscores the critical importance of social development, inclusion, and solidarity in shaping a just and sustainable future for all, will be formally adopted by the Second World Summit for Social Development , 4-6 November in Doha, Qatar.

The UN Secretary General has called for stronger support for sustainable growth and the development of cooperatives in a report on Cooperatives in Social Development (A/80/168). The document sets out a series of policy recommendations for Member States to strengthen the role of cooperatives in achieving sustainable growth and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), together with CICOPA, Abacus Cooperative, and the Arizmendiarrieta Social Economy Think Tank (ASETT), is hosting a special side event during UNESCO MONDIACULT UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development in Barcelona, Spain. The hybrid event, held on 26 September, will examine Cooperatives in Culture for Diversity, Cultural Rights, and Decent Work.

Since it was founded on 19 August 1895, the ICA has served as a forum to boost cooperation between cooperatives, while acting as the global custodian of the Cooperative Identity and advocating for the interests and success of cooperatives. Today, it represents 321 member organisations from 106 countries.

The last few months have seen the global cooperative movement engage in several events at the UN headquarters in New York, USA.

The Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) marked the International Day of Cooperatives (5 July) in an event held in collaboration with the United Nations Federal Credit Union and the New York City Department of Small Business Services

The 2025 UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development featured two sessions specifically dedicated to cooperatives, exploring the role of cooperatives in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their engagement in national development and Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) processes (15 July); and looking at the contributions of cooperatives to social justice, decent work and economic democracy in the Americas region (18 July).

In addition, the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations (UN) also celebrated the achievements of cooperatives during an event at the UN’s headquarters on 28 July. 

ICA America's second regional event of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 was held in Cancun, Mexico, under the motto “Cooperative Finance for Integration and Sustainable Development”. The event gathered cooperative leaders, representatives of international organisations and national authorities to explore the role of cooperative finance as a driver of social inclusion, territorial development, and the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda.

The International Cooperative Alliance has become a shareholder in Regenagri C.i.C, joining its board of directors. Regenagri is a global regenerative agriculture framework created by Solidaridad Network for securing the health of the land and the wealth of those who live on it. This agreement is part of a series of partnerships the ICA is signing in the framework of the ICA 2030 Strategy presented and approved at the ICA General Assembly in Manchester on 2 July. The public version will be launched at the end of this year.

Harsh Mukeshbhai Sanghani was elected the new President of the International Cooperative Alliance Youth Committee (ICA YC) at the committee’s Annual Plenary Meeting, held in conjunction with the 2025 Festival of Cooperatives. 

Members of the ICA Youth Committee gathered at the Co-operative Group’s head office, One Angel Square in Manchester, to elect their new President, as well as to discuss and review the ICA YC work plan, report progress toward achieving ICA YC objectives, and share experiences and ideas on youth policies.

The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), through its Cooperative Law Committee, has endorsed the statement issued by Cooperatives of the Americas, which welcomes the interim decision pronounced on 4 August 2025, on the validity of the Organic Law on Public Integrity, published on 26 June 2025.

Following the unanimous decision by its board, the ICA, through its Cooperative Law Committee, issued a statement expressing its disagreement with the Eleventh Transitory Provision of the LOIP. This provision mandated that a new Board of Financial and Monetary Policy and Regulation would, within 90 days of its appointment, issue regulations to identify savings and credit cooperatives that “must be transformed into private financial sector corporations”.

The second Global Cooperative Law Summer School, hosted by the Juraj Dobrilla University’s Faculty of Economics and Tourism in August in Pula, Croatia, brought together nearly 50 participants from 20 countries, with additional colleagues joining online. 

Organised by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and the International Centre for Co-operative Management at St. Mary’s University (Canada), the course was led by Prof. Hagen Henry, Chair of the ICA Cooperative Law Committee, and explored the relationship between cooperative law, cooperative identity, and sustainable development.

In July, cooperators from around the world convened in Greater Manchester for a week of events that included the ICA's General Assembly, hosted by Co-operatives UK and the Co-op Group, and a number of side events, including meetings hosted by the Gender Equality Committee and the Working Group on Cooperative Cultural Heritage, and the UK’s Co-operative Congress. The week kicked off with a compelling Law Forum co-presented by Manchester Law Society and Manchester City Council in partnership with the ICA Legislation Office at the invitation of Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP.

Held in Montreal from 8 to 11 July 2025, the ICA CCR Global Research Conference brought together over 300 cooperative researchers and practitioners from around the world to exchange knowledge on emerging and urgent issues shaping the present and future of cooperative research under the theme “Intercooperation for Our Common Futures”.

Dr Udai Shanker Awasthi, the 2024 ICA Rochdale Pioneers Award, retired last month from his duties as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO),  after 58 years in the fertiliser industry.

An engineer by training, he has been with IFFCO since 1976 and has been leading the cooperative since 1992.

The ICA has welcomed a number of new members this year. The National Council of Cooperatives (OSZT) from Hungary, the Guangdong Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives from China, the Philippine Family Farmers Agriculture Fishery Forestry Cooperatives Federation (AgriCOOPh) from the Philippines, and Cooperativa Multiactiva de Ahorro, Crédito, Consumo, Producción y Servicios “8 de Marzo Limitada” from Paraguay joined as new Full Members in the spring.

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) from India and the National Cooperatives Association of South Africa (NCASA) have also joined as new Full Members, with the National Cooperative Union of Turkiye (TURKIYEKOOP) from Turkiye returning as a Full Member, and the Instituto de Desarrollo y Crédito Cooperativo (IDECOOP) from the Dominican Republic returning as an Associate Member over the summer.

Most recently, Bidafarma S. Coop. and. Es, has joined as a Full Member from Spain, while the Institute of Cooperativism of the University of Puerto Rico, has joined as an Associate Member.

The ICA now has 321 member organisations from 106 countries, of which 277 are full members and 42 are associate members.

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Caring Cooperatively: Euro-American Dialogues on a People-Led Care Economy (16 September)
ICA - UNESCO MONDIACULT 2025 Side Event - Cooperatives in Culture for Diversity, Cultural Rights and Decent Work (26 September)
Cooperatives of the Americas IYC2025 event: El modelo cooperativo: alimentando la educación y las generaciones futuras (7-10 October) 
14th Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference (AMCCO) (9 October)
FAO event: Seeds of Inclusion: How women and youth-led cooperatives are transforming agrifood (15 October)
ICA Landmark Event at The Hague’s Peace Palace on United Nations Day (24 October)
Global Innovation Coop Summit (27-28 October)
Second World Social Summit (4-6 November)
10th EMES International Research Conference (3-7 November)
5th International Forum on Cooperative Law (13–14 November)
Cooperatives of the Americas IYC2025 event: Economía y sociedad del cuidado (24-27 November) 
12th Asia-Pacific Cooperative Forum at the 17th ICA-AP Regional Assembly (26 November)
ICBA Events in Warsaw (10 December)

Here are some highlights of #CoopsYear celebrations from around the world... Click on each picture to find out more - and tag @icacoops / #IYC2025 to be featured next month!

The articles in this newsletter related to international development are co-funded by the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the International Cooperative Alliance and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

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