In a series of articles, The Indian Cooperative will provide details of the activities planned for each day of the mega cooperative event taking place from November 25 to 30. Here’s an overview of Day 1, November 25, 2024.
The United Nations’ 2025 International Year of Cooperatives will officially kick off at the start of the conference at Bharat Mandapam. Beginning at 3 p.m., speakers and distinguished guests from the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the United Nations, and governments worldwide will share their visions for the year, setting the stage for the events to follow.
Delegates are encouraged to wear their national dress, symbolizing the global nature of the cooperative movement and its mission to build a better world. A welcome dinner and a screening of The Rochdale Pioneers will follow. This film, commissioned by the UK’s Cooperative Group for the UN International Year of Cooperatives in 2012, recounts the story of the first cooperatives in the UK during the 19th century.
The evening will also feature the announcement of the Rochdale Pioneer Awards, honouring an individual or cooperative organization that has made a significant impact on the cooperative movement.
This celebration comes after a roundtable discussion among ICA members, apex federations, and government representatives on strategies for the 2025 International Year of Cooperatives.
With the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World,” IYC 2025 will highlight the role of cooperatives in advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, drawing attention to the cooperative model’s value.
On June 19, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, underscoring cooperatives’ contributions to sustainable development, poverty eradication, and inclusive economic growth.
Member states and cooperatives are encouraged to form national committees to coordinate and promote activities throughout the year. The initiative seeks voluntary contributions to fund these activities, with the goal of raising awareness and enhancing cooperatives’ impact globally.
This agenda serves as a roadmap for people, the planet, and prosperity, aiming to promote peace and freedom. Eradicating poverty, particularly extreme poverty, is recognized as the greatest global challenge and a necessary step toward sustainable development. For further details, refer to the SDG 2030 Agenda.
The UN Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), along with the Permanent Missions of Mongolia and Kenya to the UN, hosted a soft-launch event for the 2025 International Year of Cooperatives on July 9, 2024, during the UN High-Level Political Forum in New York City.
The UN soft launch provided a platform to delve into the IYC 2025 theme, unveil a media package, and discuss UN resolutions on the modalities of the official launch.
During the event, countries and institutions were encouraged to create national and regional committees to lead the organization of activities throughout the International Year. These committees aim to unite governments, cooperatives, UN agencies, and other stakeholders to promote cooperative values to the broader public.
By the end of 2025, the goal is for cooperatives to achieve greater visibility, operate in more supportive environments, and better assist Member States in reaching their sustainable development objectives.
