UN to Declare International Year of Cooperatives Every Decade
NEW YORK – The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution recognizing the vital role of cooperatives in promoting inclusive economic and social development worldwide and calling for the proclamation of an International Year of Cooperative every 10 years. Following the success of the International Years of Cooperatives in 2012 and 2025, the resolution “calls for the proclamation of an International Year of Cooperatives every 10 years to encourage effective leveraging of the cooperative enterprise model to advance social and economic development”.
The UN Resolution 80-182 of December 2025 states: “Cooperatives, in their diverse forms, promote the fullest possible participation in the economic and social development of local communities and all people,” and “contribute directly to poverty and hunger eradication, social inclusion, gender equality, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.” The text highlights cooperatives’ specific contributions to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly improving the social and economic conditions of Indigenous Peoples, rural communities, and vulnerable populations, while promoting financial inclusion and local economic development.
Following the success of the 2025 International Year of Cooperatives (IYC), the UN resolution calls for governments to strengthen support for cooperatives through:
● Improved legal and regulatory frameworks
● Enhanced access to capital and fair taxation
● Support for agricultural and financial cooperatives
● Expanded digital access
● Strengthened research, data collection, and public awareness
● Promotion of gender equality in participation and leadership.
The resolution further calls on Governments, relevant international organizations, specialized agencies, and local, national, and international cooperative organizations to continue observing the International Day of Cooperatives (CoopsDay) annually, on the first Saturday of July, as proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/90. In 2026, CoopsDay will be celebrated on 4 July, with the theme to be announced soon. Dr Ariel Guarco, International Cooperative Alliance President, said: “In times of environmental crisis, inequality, and global mistrust, cooperatives prove that it is possible to produce and distribute wealth without exclusion, care for the environment, and strengthen social bonds. This UN resolution to declare an International Year of Cooperatives every decade gives our movement renewed optimism Beyond2025.” Jeroen Douglas, International Cooperative Alliance Director General, said: “Having both 2012 and 2025 declared as International Years of Cooperatives is rare, as the UN does not usually repeat designated year themes. So this decade cycle is an immense global recognition of cooperatives’ enduring contributions towards a more just and equitable world. The slogan of both IYCs – ‘Cooperatives build a better world’ – captures the heart of our movement’s mission. We thank the Government of Mongolia as the initiating force behind both the International Years of Cooperatives and this new proclamation.” The United Nations has long acknowledged the cooperative movement as a key partner in enhancing social development, and the model as suited to achieve the SDGs. The UN General Assembly has been adopting resolutions concerning cooperatives in social development since the 1950s and systematically every two years since 1992. In April 2023, the UN approved the first-ever Resolution on promoting the social and solidarity economy for sustainable development.