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International Day of Cooperatives is observed on first Saturday of July every year. It is an UN observance day. UN observance is aimed to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.
International Day of Cooperatives aims to demonstrate and celebrate the unique and important contribution of cooperatives to making the world a better place. This 2nd July, cooperatives all around the world will celebrate the 100th International Day of Cooperatives (#CoopsDay).
“Cooperatives are answering the wake-up call of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who warned that the world is ‘on the edge of an abyss — and moving in the wrong direction’, and exclaimed that ‘to restore trust, and inspire hope, we need cooperation, we need dialogue, we need understanding’. For nearly two centuries, cooperatives have been pulling in this direction. This was amply highlighted at the 33rd World Cooperative Congress, held by the International Cooperative Alliance in December 2021, which focused a spotlight on how their shared identity is moving cooperatives to take action to address the world’s problems” declared Bruno Roelants, Director General of the ICA.
Theme of International Day of Cooperatives 2022
International Day of Cooperatives is observed on first Saturday of July every year. It is an UN observance day. Each year the theme of the International Day of Cooperatives is determined by the Committee on the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC)
Theme of International Day of Cooperatives 2022 is “Cooperatives Build a Better World” The theme for the 2021 International Day of Cooperatives was “Cooperatives for building a people-centred and environmentally just recovery” as determined by the Committee on the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC).
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Quick facts about Cooperatives across the globe
Here are quick facts about Cooperatives across the globe:
- More than 12% of humanity is part of any of the 3 million cooperatives in the world;
- The largest 300 cooperatives and mutuals report a total turnover of 2,034.98 billion USD;
- Cooperatives employ 280 million people across the globe (10% of the world’s employed population).
- The International Cooperative Alliance is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in the world today by the number of people it represents: more than 1 billion cooperative members from any of the 3 million cooperatives worldwide.
What is International Co-operative Alliance
International Cooperative Alliance unites, represents, and serves cooperatives around the world. It’s one of the oldest non-governmental organizations and one of the biggest: 1 billion cooperative members around the world.
It is the apex body representing cooperatives, which are estimated to be around 3 million worldwide, providing a global voice and forum for knowledge, expertise and co-ordinated action for and about cooperatives.
History of International Day of Cooperatives
It’s the first Saturday in July every year when we celebrate International Day of Cooperatives. The first time it was celebrated under the auspices of the United Nations was in 2005, but it’s been observed by the cooperative movement and the International Co-operative Alliance since 1923. International Day is aimed at raising awareness of cooperatives and promoting international solidarity, economic efficiency, equality, and world peace. The International Day also aims to strengthen and expand partnerships between the cooperative movement and other actors, including governments, at all levels.