SDGs Implementation: Are Cooperatives Fit for Purpose?
The 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) takes place at a critical moment in the global development calendar. It coincides with two key milestones: the second United Nations International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025) and the second World Social Summit (WSS) in November 2025.
Held under the IYC2025 theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World”, this year offers a vital opportunity to recognize and scale the contributions of cooperatives toward inclusive, sustainable development. The Voluntary National Review (VNR) process presents a key platform to highlight cooperative engagement in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those under review at this year’s HLPF:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 14: Life Below Water
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
COPAC and ICA have been working on a series of IYC2025 SDG Briefs, emphasizing the contributions of cooperatives to these priority goals under review, which can be found here: https://2025.coop/2025/04/28/copac-sdgbriefs/.
This VNR Lab will explore how cooperatives as enterprises built on democratic ownership, participation, and community values offer concrete, evidence-based contributions to SDG implementation. Drawing on regional case studies, government engagement, and multi-stakeholder partnerships, the VNR Lab will also identify ways to integrate cooperatives more systematically into national SDG plans, VNR consultations, and WSS preparations.
Registration is now open here.
Discover here for more informations.
Download the concept note below.
