The Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) has launched a new series of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) policy briefs under the theme Building a Better World Together, developed to mark the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025. Prepared by COPAC and the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) under the #Coops4Dev partnership, with contributions from ICA regional offices and sectoral associations, the briefs highlight the essential role of cooperative enterprises in advancing sustainable development, strengthening resilience, and supporting inclusive growth worldwide. All COPAC members—including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), International Trade Centre (ITC), and International Cooperative Alliance (ICA)—are invited to provide feedback throughout the drafting process.
Building on the Transforming our World SDG brief series published between 2018 and 2020, the new briefs respond to the rapidly evolving global landscape and the urgent need to accelerate SDG implementation. Since the earlier series, global crises, including COVID-19, the intensifying climate emergency, and geopolitical and economic disruptions, have underscored the resilience and counter-cyclicality of cooperatives as sustainable, people-centered enterprises. The updated briefs provide renewed background context, present new case studies from across sectors and regions, and offer expanded recommendations for policymakers, cooperative networks, donors, and development partners to strengthen the role of cooperatives in advancing a just, inclusive, and sustainable recovery.
The first five briefs align with the SDGs under in-depth review at the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF):
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth (expected publication in May)
- SDG 14: Life Below Water (expected publication in June)
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals (expected publication in July)
Each brief highlights cooperative contributions to sustainable development, identifies structural barriers and emerging opportunities, and offers forward-looking recommendations to strengthen the enabling environment for cooperatives. Regional case studies illustrate innovative cooperative solutions delivering measurable impacts across diverse contexts.
The SDG brief series also supports preparations for the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), to be held in Doha in November 2025. WSSD2 will also feature the official closing of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, providing a global platform to recognize cooperatives’ essential contributions to building more equitable, inclusive, and resilient societies.
About COPAC
The Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) is a global multi-stakeholder partnership working to promote cooperatives as key contributors to sustainable development. COPAC members include the International Labour Organization (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), International Trade Centre (ITC), and International Cooperative Alliance (ICA).
About the International Year of Cooperatives 2025
The International Year of Cooperatives 2025 (IYC 2025) was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly to highlight the contribution of cooperatives to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and to encourage greater recognition and support for the cooperative model. Under the theme Cooperatives Build a Better World, IYC 2025 celebrates the impact of cooperatives in fostering inclusive, resilient, and sustainable societies.