Cooperatives are accustomed to working in partnership. The sixth cooperative principle—cooperation among cooperatives—incorporates the idea of collaboration as an essential element of cooperative enterprises. This principle also directly aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 17 on partnerships, emphasizing the importance of collaboration to achieve sustainable development.
The federated structure of the global movement extends from local groups to national and global networks, enabling horizontal cross-sector collaboration and vertical alignment with policy frameworks at all levels. This dynamic is reflected in activities and partnerships, both within the movement and beyond.
In Colombia, the Coopcentral Bank and its network exemplify long-term cooperative partnership work. Founded in 1964, Coopcentral has become the country's leading liquidity provider for the solidarity-based financial sector, connecting more than 590 entities to national and international systems. With support from DGRV (Germany) and USAID, Coopcentral has strengthened knowledge transfer and innovation by expanding access to electronic transactions, debit and credit cards, and ATM networks.
These partnerships have accelerated digital transformation during COVID-19, ensuring service continuity and expanding financial inclusion for millions of people excluded from the traditional banking system. This model demonstrates how cross-border cooperation and resource sharing can empower small institutions, build resilience, and promote sustainable development through financial solidarity.
A similar partnership dynamic is being observed in Africa. In Malawi, "Our Malawi Partnership," launched in July 2022 and running until mid-2027, is a collaborative initiative led by the Co-operative College of the United Kingdom and the Central England Co-operative Society, implemented by MAFECO, Malawi's national apex cooperative organization.
The initiative aims to strengthen cooperative unions in the tea, coffee, rice, and nut sectors, develop resilient agricultural practices, strengthen business ties with British cooperatives, and improve member training and education. It has already had tangible results, including an increase in coffee production, the provision of over 1,000 macadamia seedlings, the adoption of organic fertilizers, access to clean water for 37,000 people, and support for women farmers.
The partnerships also extend to Southeast Asia. In Timor-Leste, NCBA CLUSA (USA) has partnered with Cooperativa Café Timor (CCT) on the New Zealand-funded "Coffee and Cocoa Agribusiness Opportunities" (CACAO) project. This USD 10.5 million initiative aims to improve healthcare and household incomes through coffee and cocoa production. CCT, Timor-Leste's largest private employer and a major supplier of organic Arabica beans, has reached approximately 19,000 farmers by providing them with seedlings, tools (such as pruning shears), and training in sustainable and organic farming practices. The project included demonstration farms, business training, and support for women's economic empowerment, creating approximately 5,000 agricultural and seasonal jobs.
When cooperatives collaborate across borders, sectors, and institutions, they can mobilize resources, share knowledge, and build resilient systems that reach disadvantaged communities on a scale impossible to achieve if they worked alone. This is the essence of SDG 17: partnerships, both a cooperative principle and a powerful driver of sustainable development.
To learn more, read the ACI-AIC policy brief on SDG 17 here https://www.copac.coop/iyc-2025-series-building-a-better-world-together-cooperative-contributions-to-sdg-17/
