The United Nations General Assembly declared the first International Year of Cooperatives in 2012 and called to highlight the contributions of cooperatives to socio-economic development, particularly their impact on poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. Cooperatives around the world celebrated this inaugural event under the theme Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World to encourage the growth and establishment of cooperatives all over the world.
Cooperatives are business enterprises owned and controlled by the very members that they serve. Their member-driven nature is one of the most clearly differentiating factors of cooperative enterprises. This fact means that decisions made in cooperatives are balanced by the pursuit of profit, and the needs and interests of members and their communities. Cooperatives take many forms and operate in all sectors of society. Most share a unique set of principles which keep them attuned with their member-driven characterization.
Cooperatives Build a Better World…
The 2025 United Nations International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025) theme will be Cooperatives Build a Better World, showcasing the enduring global impact cooperatives have everywhere. This theme puts a spotlight on how the cooperative model is an essential solution to overcome many global challenges and continues to play an important role in accelerating efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.