The United Nations commemorated the 2025 International Day of Cooperatives (Coop’s Day) with an event at its headquarters in New York, bringing together global leaders under the theme “Driving inclusive and sustainable solutions for a better world”. The meeting included policymakers, cooperative and social leaders to recognize the essential role of cooperatives in building more inclusive, democratic, and sustainable societies.
The event was organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), in collaboration with the United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU) and the New York City Department of Small Business Services.
The opening featured the participation of the President of COPAC, currently held by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), and remarks by Charles Katoanga, Director of the Inclusive Social Development Division of UNDESA, who described cooperatives as “democratic, people-centered organizations” that embody the vision of the Copenhagen Declaration and offer tangible solutions for equity, participation and human dignity. E. Ankhbayar Nyamdorj, Permanent Representative of Mongolia, also spoke, highlighting the dynamic cooperative landscape in the Asia-Pacific and Mongolia’s national initiatives, including a multi-billion loan program to strengthen rural cooperatives.
Also speaking was his Kenyan counterpart, E. Ekitela Lokaale, who emphasized the role of cooperatives in Kenya’s economy, contributing 45% of the national GDP, and called for a stronger global environment.
Finally, Dynishal Gross, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Small Business Services, presented the city’s public investment in cooperatives, noting that New York currently hosts the largest number of worker cooperatives in the United States, thanks to the Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative.
During the celebration, two thematic panels were held. The first addressed how financial cooperatives are integrating impact through climate resilience, and the second explored how municipal governments and civil society are promoting worker cooperatives, again using New York City as a leading example of inclusive policy innovation.
International perspectives were highlighted, including a presentation by João Martins of UNI CAFES, who shared how family farming cooperatives in Brazil are advancing climate justice, food security, and rural transformation.
Upcoming key events
This event was another step in the lead-up to the Second World Summit for Social Development, which will take place from 4 to 6 November 2025 in the city of Doha.
During the closing of the gathering, Charles Katoanga stated that “this is a key moment for cooperatives to show their unique value in accelerating social development,” encouraging those present to support and harness the cooperative model “to build a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable world for generations to come.”
