On June 19, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, underscoring the vital role cooperatives play in sustainable development. This year’s theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World” underscores the enduring global impact of cooperatives, positioning them as essential solutions to today’s global challenges. It highlights their contributions to sustainable development across social, economic, and environmental dimensions, showing how cooperatives are key drivers in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The theme also emphasizes the unique ability of cooperatives to foster inclusive growth and strengthen community resilience.
The Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), a multi-stakeholder partnership uniting UN agencies and the International Cooperative Alliance, serves as the host of the International Year by championing and supporting people-centered and self-sustaining cooperative enterprises as leaders in sustainable development.