On 15 November, during the International Co-operative Alliance's General Assembly and Global Conference in Kuala Lumpur, co-operators and development practitioners came together in a #coops4dev session to stress the importance of partnerships with co-operatives for international development.
The event featured high-level representatives of the European Union, International Labor Organization (ILO), CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and United Cities of Local Authorities (UCLG).
The session, which attracted over 200 participants, highlighted the importance of alternative economic models in development, which can prioritise human and economic growth in their approach towards development.
Co-operatives were described as main development actor to partner with due to their values and people-centred approach.