Welcome to the United Nations
Cooperatives have long stood at the intersection of economic empowerment and social solidarity. The Secretary-General’s latest report to the General Assembly, Cooperatives in Social Development (A/80/168), underscores their transformative role in advancing poverty eradication, decent work, and social integration—the very pillars of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development. With the Second World Social Summit approaching in November 2025, cooperatives are being placed high on the global development agenda as vital actors in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Cooperatives as Engines of Poverty Eradication
At their core, cooperatives empower people to pool resources, access markets, and retain greater value from their work. From agricultural cooperatives in Kenya improving incomes for smallholder farmers, to India’s Amul dairy cooperative transforming rural livelihoods, to women-led savings cooperatives in Nepal, cooperatives are giving voice and opportunity to groups often excluded from mainstream economic systems. These models demonstrate how equity, participation, and community-driven solutions can break cycles of exclusion and reduce poverty.
Creating Decent Work and Fairer Economies
According to the International Labour Organization, cooperatives provide work opportunities to more than 280 million people worldwide. By embedding democratic ownership and decision-making, they create workplaces where wages, conditions, and stability reflect the priorities of members rather than shareholders. From worker-led factory takeovers in Argentina to Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region—where cooperatives generate 30 per cent of GDP—cooperatives are proving that equitable, sustainable employment can thrive even in times of crisis.
Rebuilding Social Cohesion and Trust
At a time of growing inequality and declining confidence in institutions, cooperatives strengthen social fabric through transparency, accountability, and community ownership. Whether through Italy’s “Type B” cooperatives employing persons with disabilities, Indigenous cooperatives in Canada and Latin America safeguarding culture and livelihoods, or older persons’ associations in Asia fostering dignity and inclusion, these models show how trust and solidarity can be rebuilt from the ground up.
The International Year of Cooperatives, 2025
The United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Cooperatives under the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World.” The year has already mobilized thousands of initiatives across all regions, from Africa’s adoption of a model law on cooperatives to Asia’s regional launches and Europe’s high-level conferences on the social economy. Globally, leaders of the largest cooperative and mutual businesses have formed the Cooperatives and Mutuals Leadership Circle, preparing concrete commitments for the World Social Summit.
Recommendations for Governments
The report calls on Member States to create enabling environments that allow cooperatives to thrive. Key recommendations include:
Reforming cooperative laws to ensure autonomy, fair taxation, and access to capital.
Integrating cooperatives into national development plans and sectoral strategies.
Providing targeted budgetary support, especially for cooperatives led by women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities.
Collaborating with international bodies to strengthen cooperative statistics and impact measurement.
Supporting training, leadership development, digital innovation, and market access.
A People-Centred Path Forward
As inequality widens and trust in institutions erodes, the report highlights cooperatives as strategic assets for inclusive, people-centred development. By restoring agency, strengthening communities, and offering resilient economic alternatives, cooperatives are not only advancing the SDGs but also modeling democratic renewal. As the global community prepares for the Second World Social Summit, the cooperative movement is poised to showcase how solidarity and shared ownership can accelerate social progress and help build a more just and sustainable world.
To learn more, please download the full report here.
