Millions of cooperators around the world joined the celebration of the 2026 International Day of Cooperatives on 4 July under the theme “Cooperatives Build a Peaceful World“, a day promoted by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) since 1923 and officially recognised by the United Nations since 1995.
The celebration highlighted the role of cooperativism as a tool for promoting peace, inclusion, social justice and sustainable development. This was affirmed by ICA President Ariel Guarco in a letter in which he called for building a future based on solidarity. He also released a commemorative video.
The day was marked by numerous in-person and digital activities across all continents. Institutional events, social media campaigns, cooperative markets, forums, cultural events, environmental initiatives, educational programmes and tributes to the history of the cooperative movement were held in countries including Belgium, Spain, France, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, India, Nepal, Kenya, Togo, Mauritius and Australia, among others.
Hundreds of initiatives
As part of the commemoration, the ICA and the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) organised an event within the framework of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development to examine the contribution of cooperatives to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The various regional and sectoral organisations of the cooperative movement emphasised that cooperatives promote peace by creating employment, encouraging democratic participation, fostering social inclusion, providing access to essential services, supporting local economic development and strengthening communities.
In his #CoopsDay message, ICA-Africa President Macloud Malonza reminded cooperators that lasting peace is built on justice, solidarity, inclusion and shared prosperity—the very values that lie at the heart of the cooperative movement.
From the Asia-Pacific region, ICA-AP President Chandrapal Singh Yadav reminded the movement of the transformative power of cooperation in building bridges, strengthening communities and creating a more peaceful world, while Chitose Arai, Chair of the ICA-AP Women’s Committee, shared a heartfelt message on the power of cooperatives to build stronger, more inclusive and sustainable communities.
Cooperatives Europe President Giuseppe Guerini spoke about why the cooperative economy is an essential prerequisite for peace, while Cooperatives of the Americas President José Alves de Souza Neto described the importance of cooperatives in building bridges across differences.
CICOPA, the International Organisation of Cooperatives in Industry and Services, issued a statement highlighting that “worker and social cooperatives contribute to peace every day, not only by creating jobs and economic opportunities, but also by strengthening democratic participation, social inclusion and solidarity among communities.” The International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) shared a series of stories demonstrating the many ways in which cooperation strengthens communities, from expanding financial inclusion and supporting people in times of need to sharing knowledge and solidarity across borders.
The President of the International Cooperative Banking Association (ICBA), Bhima Subrahmanyam, published a message on the importance of youth engagement and the commercial viability of cooperative financial institutions, and announced a new partnership with the financial education NGO Aflatoun International.
