EGM on the Cooperative Sector and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Date: Wed, Nov 16 2016 | Expert Group Meetings
Location: New York, USA
Time: All day
EGM on the Cooperative Sector and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

In September 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda that set out the road map for a future of shared prosperity and environmental sustainability. Cooperatives have contributed to the process that defined the content of this global policy framework, resulting in acknowledgement of the significant role of cooperatives in delivering development results for all. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the contributions of cooperatives and calls on them to work together with the international community in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by acknowledging “the role of the diverse private sector, ranging from micro-enterprises to cooperatives to multinationals, and that of civil society organizations and philanthropic organizations in the implementation of the new Agenda.”

The cooperative enterprise model has much in common with the 2030 Agenda. Synergies between cooperatives and the 2030 Agenda must clearly be identified and leveraged effectively. This Expert Group Meeting (EGM) will contribute to the process of cooperatives aligning themselves with the follow-up to the 2030 Agenda.

UNDESA DSPD organizes this EGM as an important part of the process of reporting to the UN General Assembly about the role of cooperatives in promoting Transforming  our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The event will take place from from 16 to 17 November 2016, at the United Nations Headquarters, New York.

The EGM is an opportunity for the exchange of ideas on the role of cooperatives in helping to achieve the United Nations SDGs. The results will serve to raise awareness on the challenges faced by the cooperative enterprise model to make greater contributions to sustainable development. It will aim to deepen the understanding of the relationships between the cooperative enterprise model and the SDGs. It will also strengthen follow-up and implementation of the 2030 agenda by identifying effective ways to leverage the contribution of cooperatives.

The experts in the EGM will strive to answers the following main questions:

  1. What are the economic, social, and environmental contributions, potential and achievements of coops in relation to the SDGs?
  2. What strengths do cooperatives bring to the partnerships for implementing the SDGs? What are the resources of the cooperative sector at various levels that can help in achieving the SDGs at the national level, especially in the least developed countries?
  3. What are the challenges facing cooperatives in implementing the SDGs and how to overcome them?

Documents

Expert Papers and Presentations

Resources