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Building a Better World Together: Cooperative Contributions to the SDGs is a policy brief series developed in support of the 2025 UN International Year of Cooperatives to showcase how cooperatives drive progress across the Sustainable Development Goals. The policy brief on SDG 17, Partnerships for the Goals, highlights how cooperatives strengthen global cooperation by linking grassroots initiatives to national strategies and international frameworks.
Drawing from real-world examples—from farmer cooperatives in East Timor and the Philippines to cooperative finance networks in Colombia, Armenia, and beyond—the brief demonstrates how cooperatives act as trusted partners in development, mobilizing resources, expanding access to finance, and building resilience in communities often left behind.
Produced by the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) and the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), this brief affirms the critical role of cooperatives in advancing SDG 17 during the 2025 International Year of Cooperatives and beyond.
The policy brief is available for download in English, French, and Spanish.
