What is the theme of the 2025 United Nations International Year of Cooperatives?

The correct answer is Cooperatives Build a Better World.

Key Points

• The United Nations declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives with the theme "Cooperatives Build a Better World."
• This theme emphasizes the role of cooperatives in fostering inclusive growth, equality, and sustainable development across global communities.
• Cooperatives are recognized as people-centered enterprises that prioritize social and economic well-being over profit maximization.
• The initiative aims to highlight the importance of cooperatives in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty eradication, gender equality, and climate action.
• Global recognition of cooperatives aligns with efforts to encourage partnerships between governments, civil society, and private sectors to address pressing global challenges.

Additional Information

• Definition of Cooperatives:
  • A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet common economic, social, and cultural needs through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.
  • They operate on principles of mutual aid, self-help, and collective responsibility.
• United Nations and Cooperatives:
  • The UN recognizes cooperatives as key contributors to global economic resilience and social cohesion.
  • The first International Year of Cooperatives was celebrated in 2012 under the theme “Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World.”
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
  • Cooperatives are instrumental in achieving SDGs such as No Poverty (Goal 1), Gender Equality (Goal 5), and Reduced Inequalities (Goal 10).
  • They promote sustainable practices, equitable resource allocation, and inclusive decision-making processes.
• Global Cooperative Movement:
  • Cooperatives worldwide contribute to employment generation, financial inclusion, and community development.
  • The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) is a key organization representing cooperatives globally and driving advocacy efforts.