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UN SG’s Report on Cooperatives in Social Development 2015
The UN Secretary-General’s Report on Cooperatives in Social Development (A/70/61) of 2015 was prepared by the Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) in the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). It highlights the essence of the cooperative model in the context of the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is the first SG Report on Cooperatives dedicated to the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.
The report discusses the principles and values of the cooperative model and points out that it is because of these principles and values why cooperatives are so resilient and have enormous potential for meeting the needs of people and achieving the SDGs.
The report reaffirms the role of cooperatives as sustainable and successful business enterprises that contribute directly to achieving the sustainable development goals related to:
(1) ending poverty and hunger;
(2) securing education, health, and basic services for all;
(3) achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls;
(4) combating inequalities;
(5) fostering inclusive economic growth and shared prosperity;
(6) protecting the planet, fighting climate change and using natural resources sustainably;
(7) strengthening governance and promoting peaceful, safe, just and inclusive societies; and
(8) revitalizing global partnership for sustainable development.
It also presents the main challenges facing cooperatives such as: national legislation and policy framework; awareness-raising; capacity-building; the danger of mission drift; and consistent data to support evidence-based research.
In addition, the report highlights the activities of the United Nations system and its cooperative partners that were carried out over the reporting period, in promoting the cooperative model, while pointing the way forward, by making five policy recommendations for the further advancement of the cooperative model. These recommendations, when honoured, will further empower the cooperative model in the global drive for implementing the SDGs. The recommendations are as follows:
1. The UN system is urged to provide more technical support and capacity-building to cooperatives and national Governments.
2. More awareness-raising of the cooperative enterprise model especially by promoting education and training in schools for the sound operation of cooperatives among potential and existing members and leaders of cooperatives. Also, there is a need to raise more awareness of the links between cooperatives and sustainable development, especially social inclusion, employment creation, poverty eradication and peacebuilding.
3. Member States should create enabling environment with a sound legislative and regulatory framework that recognizes the unique characteristics of cooperatives, their strengths and weaknesses, while respecting their autonomy;
4. In order to demonstrate the actual and potential contribution of the cooperative enterprise model, it is necessary to increase the availability and accessibility of research on the operations and contribution of cooperatives, and establish methodologies for the collection and dissemination of comparable global data.
5. More attention should be given to the role of cooperatives in Africa’s development. Support should be provided for greater networking and capacity-building among cooperatives in Africa, especially for addressing the needs of young people, women and girls.
What is the scope and depth of the cooperative model as discussed in the Report?
The cooperative enterprise model is found in the major sectors such as banking, insurance and funeral, agriculture, utilities, consumer, worker, housing, health, education & other social service, and purchasing or marketing. According to the UN Global Census of Cooperatives, globally 2.6 million cooperatives have over 1 billion members, and 12.6 million employees who work in 770,000 cooperative offices and outlets. Combined, cooperatives have an estimated US$20 trillion in assets which generate about US$3 trillion in annual revenue.
What are the ways cooperatives have addressed social inclusion?
The cooperatives principles and values are what define them and make them unique and effective, especially in social inclusion. Cooperatives are member-driven and are rooted in the fabric of the communities where they are located, leading to the development of enterprises that are positively aligned with the social, cultural economic, and environmental needs and vision of those communities. Cooperatives promote social inclusion of the poorest and by providing access to financial resources in order to attain the goal of inclusive finance by providing access to financial services for all. They support the inclusion of poor farmers in the economic life of nations. Cooperatives are actively providing social protection to their members. They provide critical services in times of natural disasters, and they have been active in peace-building efforts in places like Rwanda. Vulnerable social groups such as the unemployed, women, children, Indigenous People, the poor, older persons, farmers, the homeless, and racial and ethnic minorities benefit from the work of the cooperative model.
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