As part of the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) and the celebrations of the UN International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025), the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), in collaboration with the UN Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), hosted a Voluntary National Review (VNR) Lab at the UN Headquarters in New York on 15 July 2025. The session, titled “Are Cooperatives Fit for Purpose? IYC2025 and the Road to Doha”, brought together Member States, UN agencies, cooperative leaders, and development stakeholders to explore the role of cooperatives in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their engagement in national development and VNR processes.
The VNR Lab served as a strategic space to discuss how the cooperative model contributes to the SDGs, particularly in the context of national reporting and follow-up processes. It also aimed to build momentum toward the Second World Social Summit (WSS) to be held in Doha, Qatar, in November 2025, where the cooperative movement will present a global commitment plan to support the SDGs in the final stretch to 2030.
Opening and Framing the Dialogue
Opening the session, Mr Andrew Allimadi, Chair of COPAC and representative of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), highlighted the timeliness of the event in light of IYC2025 and the forthcoming WSS, urging participants to recognise cooperatives not just as contributors to development but as key partners in shaping and implementing national SDGs agendas.
The keynote address was delivered by H.E. Ms Ulziibayar Vangansuren, Deputy Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the United Nations. Mongolia, one of the strongest advocates for cooperatives within the UN system, reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to cooperative development both nationally and globally. Ambassador Vangansuren presented Mongolia’s experience with initiatives such as the “New Cooperative – Wealthy Herder” programme, designed to support rural livelihoods, and emphasised the need to create enabling legal and policy frameworks for cooperatives. She reiterated Mongolia’s support for the inclusion of cooperatives in the Political Declaration of the World Social Summit and called on other Member States to support this advocacy.
Policy Dialogue: National Experiences in VNRs
The event, moderated by Joseph Njuguna, ICA Policy Director, featured an engaging policy dialogue with Member States who shared their experiences in integrating cooperatives into their VNRs:
- Japan (represented by Ms. Mariko Komatsu): Japan’s 2025 VNR included more than 60 references to cooperatives, demonstrating their integration across eight SDGs (Goals 1, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, and 17). Ms Komatsu highlighted the VNR consultation process and how various stakeholders, including representatives from cooperatives, were included in the process. The report further highlights initiatives such as community health watch systems operated by consumer co-ops, partnerships with over 1,300 municipalities, and strong legal support for cooperative development. Japan’s comprehensive approach stands out as a best practice model for other nations.
- Chile (Mr Andrés Diaz, Permanent Mission of Chile to the UN): Noted cooperatives’ role in inclusive growth and the importance of government–cooperative partnerships in national planning and SDG 17 implementation.
- Guatemala (Mr Helmer Herrera, INACOP): Shared how cooperatives were engaged in SDGs 5 and 17 via multi-stakeholder consultations. Emphasised gender equality and partnerships as central outcomes.
- Lesotho (Mr Notsi Mokheseng, Cooperative Commissioner): Highlighted how cooperatives are aligned with all SDGs under review in Lesotho, particularly through their support to community-based economic activities and alignment with national development strategies.
Panel Discussion: Cooperatives in Action on Key SDGs under review
A technical panel showcased real-world examples of cooperative contributions to specific SDGs under review in 2025:
- SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being:
Dr Carlos Zarco (International Health Cooperative Organisation, Spain) illustrated how health cooperatives are bridging service gaps, particularly in remote or underserved communities. - SDG 5 – Gender Equality:
Dr Mallika Kumar (India) and Ms Pauline Effa (Cameroon) shared how cooperatives are empowering women through leadership opportunities, financial inclusion, and community organising. - SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth:
Mr Esteban Kelly (U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives) presented the worker cooperative model as a proven strategy for job creation, income equality, and inclusive entrepreneurship. - SDG 14 – Life Below Water:
Mr Gabriele Verginelli (Legacoop, Italy) discussed the role of fishery cooperatives in protecting marine ecosystems while securing livelihoods for small-scale fishers. - SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals:
Dr Rose Karimi (ICA Africa) and Mr Danilo Salerno (ICA Americas) described the growing number of regional partnerships that foster South–South cooperation and proposed stronger integration of cooperatives in UN country frameworks and SDG financing platforms.
Japan’s 2025 VNR: A Model of Cooperative Integration
2025 Japan’s VNR Report emerged as a model for cooperative engagement, with over 60 references to cooperatives, systematically linking them to a wide range of SDGs, providing concrete examples of policy integration, partnership building, and impact monitoring. Its approach demonstrated how cooperatives are embedded into national and local SDG implementation strategies through partnerships with more than 1,300 municipalities and extensive citizen engagement. The VNR also highlighted measurable outcomes such as health monitoring by consumer cooperatives and the mobilisation of cooperative finance.
The Japanese government has not only recognised the scale and scope of its cooperative movement but also demonstrated how this sector can be mobilised to advance national development goals in a measurable and inclusive way. Japan also underscored its commitment to strengthening legal frameworks and is exploring the adoption of a Basic Law on the SDGs to institutionalize cross-sectoral alignment.
At the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), 35 countries submitted their Voluntary National Review (VNR) reports, and cooperatives were recognised in 19 of these reports, a promising sign that their contributions are increasingly being acknowledged in national SDG implementation. However, this recognition remains partial as many VNRs still lack detailed strategies for supporting or scaling cooperative initiatives. Most notably, cooperatives are underrepresented in SDG planning, budgeting processes, and monitoring frameworks. This underscores the importance of advocacy to ensure that cooperatives are not only visible but are also actively involved in shaping development priorities at every level, given their important contribution to sustainable development.
Recommendations and Reflections
The session concluded with a number of strategic recommendations to enhance cooperative engagement in SDG implementation:
- Governments are encouraged to formally include cooperatives in national SDG coordination mechanisms and policy frameworks.
- Cooperatives are urged to proactively engage with relevant ministries, national development plans, and UN Country Teams.
- Donor agencies and the UN system are called upon to recognize, support, and fund cooperative-led development initiatives.
- Participants collectively advocated for explicit recognition of cooperatives in the Political Declaration of the World Social Summit, especially in relation to poverty eradication, decent work, gender equality, and social protection.
In her closing remarks, Ms Michelle Lau-Burke from the International Trade Centre (ITC) underscored the critical role of cooperatives as economic actors, service providers, and social anchors in times of crisis. She commended ICA and COPAC for creating a timely and inclusive dialogue platform and encouraged greater engagement between cooperatives and global development partners.
The ICA emphasised that with over 3 million cooperatives serving 1 billion members globally, the movement has the scale, experience, and values-based orientation necessary to advance the SDGs and build more resilient societies.
Looking Ahead to Doha
The VNR Lab served as a significant milestone during IYC2025, reinforcing the importance of cooperatives in the SDG ecosystem. It demonstrated that cooperatives not only support delivery of national development goals, but also provide scalable, inclusive, and community-driven solutions.
The ICA, together with COPAC and Member States, will host the official closing event of the International Year of Cooperatives at the World Social Summit in Doha. This event will launch a global commitment plan developed by the ICA and its Cooperative and Mutual 50 (CM50) leadership group, outlining the cooperative movement’s strategic contribution to the SDGs in the critical final years to 2030.
Member States and partners are warmly invited to join this event and collaborate with the cooperative movement to realise the promise of inclusive, sustainable, and people-centred development.
