Cooperatives help to move forward the UN 2030 Agenda and make SDGs a reality.
On 1 July, the cooperative movement will celebrate the 2023 International Day of Cooperatives under the theme “Cooperatives: partners for accelerated sustainable development”.
In September 2023, the international community will mark the mid-point in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and seek ways to accelerate progress in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is thus a real key moment to show very clearly the contribution of cooperatives in advancing the achievement of the SDGs.
Being one of the world’s oldest and largest business networks, the cooperative movement was the first group of enterprises worldwide to endorse the SDGS and be recognised as a partner in achieving these goals.
The cooperative way of working, inspired by the cooperative values and principles, has the accomplishment of the SDGs as part of its DNA. It is inherent among them to safeguard community relations, enhance local resources, advocate social responsibility, and adopt sustainable and long-term business practices.
As natural vehicles of collaborative partnership and prosperity for all, cooperatives contribute to economic, social, and environmental sustainability across regions and economic sectors.
Wenyan Yang, current Chair of the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), highlights that “only through strong global multi-stakeholder partnerships and cooperation will it be possible to step up the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. Cooperatives are a key ally in spurring transformative and accelerated actions towards a more inclusive and resilient world by 2030.”
United by the slogan cooperatives for sustainable development, COPAC invites cooperators across the globe to celebrate the International Day of Cooperatives and show the world what can be achieved through the power of cooperation.
The 2023 #CoopsDay action pack including the logo, key messages and other digital resources will be available soon on the CoopsDay’s website. Join the #coops4sdgs campaign!
About the International Day of Cooperatives
Celebrated worldwide for more than a century and officially proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on the centenary of the ICA in 1995, the International Day of Cooperatives is annually commemorated on the first Saturday of July.
The aim of #CoopsDay is to increase awareness of cooperatives. The event underscores the contributions of the cooperative movement to resolving the major problems addressed by the United Nations and to strengthening and extending the partnerships between the international cooperative movement and other actors. Since 1995, the ICA and the United Nations, through the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), have jointly set the theme for the celebration of #CoopsDay.
This year’s celebration will mark the 29th International Day of Cooperatives recognized by the United Nations and the 101st International Cooperative Day.
Through #CoopsDay, local, national, and international policymakers, civil society organisations and the public in general can learn about the contribution of cooperatives to a just and sustainable future for all.