2012 International Year of Cooperatives

Theme

“Cooperative enterprises build a better world”
“Les coopératives, des entreprises pour un monde meilleur”
“Las empresas cooperativas ayudan a construir un mundo mejor”

Background

The theme linked to the observance of the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives. It sought to encourage the growth and establishment of cooperatives all over the world, and to recognize the actions of cooperatives to help achieve internationally agreed upon development goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals.

See more information on the official United Nations International Year of Cooperatives website, and on the COPAC webpage dedicated to the Year.

Messages from members

Additional Resources

In the context of the 2012 International Day of Cooperatives, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) opened a new liaison office for cooperatives and producer organizations. FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva declared that “this liaison office will allow cooperatives and producer organizations to have a stronger voice as FAO’s key partners in ending hunger and poverty”.

For more information about the FAO liaison office for agricultural cooperatives, see the FAO press release and the website of FAO partnerships with producer organizations and cooperatives.

The International Labour Office (ILO) published the following articles to celebrate the 2012 International Day of Cooperatives: