USFWC Director Calls On United Nations to Explicitly Recognize Cooperatives in the World Social Summit Declaration
Full remarks delivered by Esteban Kelly, Executive Director of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, at the United Nations on April 22, 2025
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, esteemed colleagues,
I am honored to speak today on behalf of the International Cooperative Alliance, the global voice of more than 3 million cooperatives and over 1.2 billion members worldwide. We call on Member States and all partners to ensure that cooperatives are explicitly recognized in the Political Declaration of the World Social Summit as key actors in achieving sustainable and inclusive development.
Cooperatives are not theoretical alternatives—they are well-established, people-centered enterprises delivering real impact. As highlighted in the Food for Thought paper, cooperatives are already addressing today’s pressing challenges: poverty eradication, decent work, social protection, gender equality, and food security. Rooted in democratic governance and shared values, they put people and planet above profit.
Around the world, cooperatives:
- Create more than 280 million decent jobs, with a strong focus on women, youth, and marginalized communities;
- Deliver affordable housing, health care, and financial inclusion;
- Build resilience through mutual insurance, fair trade, and sustainable agriculture;
- And advance the green transition through renewable energy and circular economy initiatives.
However, to scale this impact, cooperatives need enabling ecosystems: inclusive legal frameworks, access to equitable financing, and full integration into national and global policy agendas, particularly in the context of the SDGs and social development strategies.
We respectfully urge Member States to:
- Explicitly include cooperatives in the Political Declaration as recognized development stakeholders;
- Commit to growing the cooperative and mutual economy as part of a renewed social contract;
- And embed cooperative models into public policy on employment, housing, social protection, and climate resilience.
The 2025 UN International Year of Cooperatives is a pivotal moment and offers a global platform to showcase how cooperatives contribute to the SDGs and how they can serve as partners in accelerating progress toward Agenda 2030. Cooperatives around the world are mobilizing to raise awareness, deepen partnerships, and align efforts with governments, civil society, and the UN system.
Leaders from the cooperative and mutual sector look forward to actively participating in the World Social Summit in Doha, where they will present a Five-Year Commitment Plan outlining how the movement will scale its impact, advance the SDGs, and contribute to building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities beyond 2030.
In closing, cooperatives represent one of the most proven, inclusive, and scalable models of social innovation and collective well-being. With political will and strategic partnership, they can be at the forefront of the transformation this Summit seeks to achieve. We urge all Member States to recognize cooperatives as core solution providers in the Political Declaration and in the journey toward a fairer, more sustainable future.
Thank you.
