The Special Accreditation process for the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) is officially open!
Cooperatives and other organizations that are not accredited to ECOSOC must apply for Special Accreditation to participate in the Summit and its related events. Accreditation granted for other UN conferences does not transfer to WSSD2.
Key Information
Application period: Monday, 28 April – Friday, 13 June 2025
Who must apply? All cooperatives, social and solidarity economy (SSE) entities, civil society organizations, private sector companies, foundations, academia, and other stakeholders not already accredited to ECOSOC.
Who does NOT need to apply?
Member States
UN system organizations and specialized agencies
UN Secretariat
Organizations with ECOSOC consultative status
Intergovernmental organizations with observer status at the UN General Assembly
A signed letter on official letterhead requesting accreditation
Proof of the organization’s legal status (e.g., incorporation certificate)
A report outlining relevant activities over the past 12 months
Applications will be reviewed by the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS) and submitted for approval through the Office of the President of the General Assembly (OPGA). Organizations will be notified once the process concludes.
Please note: Special accreditation only allows organizations to access the registration process. Individuals must be associated with an accredited organization to attend, and separate participant registration will open later.
Why It Matters
The Second World Summit for Social Development will be a key milestone in advancing inclusive, sustainable societies. As we celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, it is crucial that cooperatives and SSE entities make their voices heard at the global level.
We encourage all eligible organizations to apply and share this information widely to ensure strong cooperative and SSE participation at WSSD2!
Building on the Transforming our World SDG brief series published between 2018 and 2020, the new briefs respond to the rapidly evolving global landscape and the urgent need to accelerate SDG implementation. Since the earlier series, global crises, including COVID-19, the intensifying climate emergency, and geopolitical and economic disruptions, have underscored the resilience and counter-cyclicality of cooperatives as sustainable, people-centered enterprises. The updated briefs provide renewed background context, present new case studies from across sectors and regions, and offer expanded recommendations for policymakers, cooperative networks, donors, and development partners to strengthen the role of cooperatives in advancing a just, inclusive, and sustainable recovery.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth (expected publication in May)
SDG 14: Life Below Water (expected publication in June)
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals (expected publication in July)
Each brief highlights cooperative contributions to sustainable development, identifies structural barriers and emerging opportunities, and offers forward-looking recommendations to strengthen the enabling environment for cooperatives. Regional case studies illustrate innovative cooperative solutions delivering measurable impacts across diverse contexts.
The SDG brief series also supports preparations for the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), to be held in Doha in November 2025. WSSD2 will also feature the official closing of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, providing a global platform to recognize cooperatives’ essential contributions to building more equitable, inclusive, and resilient societies.
About COPAC
The Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) is a global multi-stakeholder partnership working to promote cooperatives as key contributors to sustainable development. COPAC members include the International Labour Organization (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), International Trade Centre (ITC), and International Cooperative Alliance (ICA).
About the International Year of Cooperatives 2025
The International Year of Cooperatives 2025 (IYC 2025) was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly to highlight the contribution of cooperatives to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and to encourage greater recognition and support for the cooperative model. Under the theme Cooperatives Build a Better World, IYC 2025 celebrates the impact of cooperatives in fostering inclusive, resilient, and sustainable societies.
As part of the ICA Global Conference held in New Delhi, India, the session on Institutional Support for Cooperative Development brought together leading experts from international organizations to discuss how policy, law, and institutional collaboration can create enabling environments for cooperatives. The panel was a key segment of the broader discussion on “Enabling Policy and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems,” a critical theme of the conference aimed at advancing cooperative resilience and growth in the face of global challenges. Moderated by Professor Hagen Henry, Chairperson of the ICA Cooperative Law Committee, it featured panelists representing major institutional actors and COPAC members: ILO, UN DESA, FAO, and ITC. The discussion focused on the role of institutional frameworks in fostering sustainable cooperative ecosystems and explored synergies between cooperative movements and international policy initiatives.
The session emphasized the importance of policy and legal frameworks, institutional collaboration, and practical mechanisms that ensure cooperatives thrive within entrepreneurial ecosystems. Discussions underscored the need for robust institutional support to enable cooperatives to respond to global challenges and contribute to inclusive, sustainable development.
Ms Yang emphasized how cooperatives can capitalize on the International Year of Cooperatives in 2025 by engaging in key processes throughout the year, such as the World Social Summit, the Commission for Social Development, and the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF).
“Our work at UN DESA and COPAC focuses on advocating for cooperatives within the UN system. We try to raise awareness and advocate for cooperative issues in the General Assembly and similar bodies, but to do so, we need a consolidation of evidence and empirical data.”
Ms Simel Esim, Manager of the ILO Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) Unit, highlighted the organization’s long-standing support for cooperative development. She stressed the need for policy uptake and buy-in, urging a focus on implementation mechanisms and connecting established cooperative sectors with emerging ones, including those led by youth and women. Ms Esim also drew attention to the ILO’s 2022 International Labour Standards recommendation, adopted by over 120 countries, and the ongoing work to operationalize UN and ILO resolutions on the SSE.
Dr Ashish Shah, Director of the Division of Country Programmes at the International Trade Centre (ITC), contextualized the panel within global crises – the 4Cs: COVID-19, climate change, the cost-of-living crisis, and conflict. He positioned cooperatives as a transformative solution, offering innovation, collaboration, and advocacy as pathways to sustainability and resilience. Dr. Shah highlighted the significance of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 (IYC 2025) in driving these initiatives forward.
Panel Outcomes:
The session identified key areas for institutional collaboration and innovation, including:
The importance of aligning cooperative development strategies with broader policy goals like the SDGs and the IYC 2025.
Strengthening multi-stakeholder engagement and leveraging synergies between institutional actors, such as government agencies, international organizations, and cooperative movements.
Building capacity at all levels to ensure policies translate into tangible outcomes for cooperatives and their members.
Panelists collectively agreed on the need to reduce over-reliance on the state by harnessing broader ecosystems, including private sector actors and NGOs, to enhance resilience and mitigate political risks. This session was one of many with COPAC members’ participation throughout the week. For further updates follow COPAC on LinkedIn and X.
The UN International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025, themed “Cooperatives Build a Better World,” was officially launched on 25th November 2024 during the ICA Global Conference in New Delhi, India. It was inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister, Hon. Narendra Modi, who delivered a keynote address highlighting the important role cooperatives play globally and thanked the UN for declaring 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives. marking a historic milestone in advancing the global cooperative movement. The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, addressed the conference through a video message, underscoring the pivotal role of cooperatives in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He highlighted their significance in the context of the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), scheduled for November 2025 in Qatar.
The launch event featured other high-level speakers, including the Prime Minister of Bhutan, H.E. Dasho Tshering Tobgay; the Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica; the UN Resident Coordinator in India, Mr. Shombi Sharp; and the ICA President, Dr. Ariel Guarco. Each emphasized the transformative potential of cooperatives in fostering inclusive economic growth, social equity, environmental sustainability, and overall sustainable development.
India, with its long-standing legacy of cooperative innovation, served as a fitting venue for this global launch, reaffirming the critical contributions of cooperatives to building a more equitable and sustainable world.
Objectives of IYC2025
Proclaimed by the United Nations, IYC 2025 aims to:
Raise Awareness:Â Showcase the transformative power of cooperatives in fostering sustainable development.
Strengthen Policies:Â Advocate for policies and legal frameworks that create an enabling environment for cooperative growth.
Build Partnerships:Â Foster collaborations across sectors and regions to amplify the impact of cooperatives.
Key UN agencies who are also members of COPAC were present at the launch event and shared their commitments to advancing the cooperative agenda globally, led by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Trade Centre (ITC), the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), and the UN Research Insitute for Social Development (UNRISD). Each message reinforced the shared commitment to advancing the cooperative model as a solution to global challenges.
Key highlights of the event
Opening speeches:Â High-level dignitaries and cooperative leaders shared their vision for IYC 2025, highlighting the role of cooperatives in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Interactive panels:Â Sessions featured insights from global cooperative experts and practitioners, addressing key sectors such as agriculture, finance, care, and climate resilience.
Commitments for action:Â Stakeholders pledged to support the cooperative movement through new policies, partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives.
Communication to amplify IYC 2025
To maximize engagement and visibility, the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 is supported by dedicated communication tools and platforms:
Logo:Â A vibrant, newly designed logo symbolizes the spirit of cooperation and sustainability. The logo is available for use by cooperatives and organizations worldwide, with guidelines ensuring consistent and effective branding.
Website: A newly launched interactive website, serves as the central hub for all IYC activities. The site provides:
History of the IYC, the cooperative movement and the supporting partners
Information on events and campaigns. Share your events here to be featured on the IYC website:Â
National Mechanisms:Â The UN General Assembly in its resolution that proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives encourages establishing national coordination mechanisms for IYC activities, to ensure that global messages reach stakeholders at all levels and to support the coordination of activities at local, national, and regional levels. Here are the guidelines for creating national committees:Â https://2025.coop/national-mechanisms/
Get involved
COPAC invites governments, cooperatives, international organizations, and civil society to actively engage in IYC 2025 by raising awareness, using the logo, hosting events, and more.
To follow along with updates throughout the IYC, visit the official website: https://2025.coop/
Together, we can leverage the power of cooperation to build a fairer, more sustainable world.
