Stories

What is the role of partnerships with governments and how do these impact the cooperative identity?

Parallel session 1.5 looked at the role of partnerships with governments and the impact these might have on the cooperative identity.

As part of Congress’s first key theme, Examining Our Cooperative Identity, delegates gathered on the afternoon of 1 December in Seoul and online to discuss cooperative and cultural heritage. In 2016, UNESCO formally recognised cooperatives as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and in her introduction, the session’s facilitator Stefania Marcone referenced this decision as something to reflect on in this conversation,  saying, “if we want to rebuild a better world, cooperative culture and the culture in cooperative sectors are fundamental.”

A parallel session on examining the cooperative identity through inclusive governance took a look at questions of representation and diversity, with panel chair Maria Eugenia Pérez Zea asking: “How can we make sure our cooperatives are inclusive?

Delegates at the World Cooperative Congress heard from a group of international leaders in cooperatives and communications in a parallel session on the first day (1 December 2021).

During the first round table of the World Cooperative Congress, an expert panel discussed the unique opportunities that the cooperative identity presents in meeting members’ needs and attaining expanded market share, taking the ongoing COVID-19 crisis as an opportunity.

CICOPA member organisations in Asia and the Pacific gathered in Seoul (Republic of Korea) during the 33rd World Cooperative Congress for the launch of CICOPA Asia-Pacific, the network of Industrial and Service Cooperatives in the region.

Delegates were presented a report from the International Co-operative Banking Association (ICBA), which looked at how its members contribute to and report on sustainable development.

The 15th ICA-AP Regional Assembly met on 30 November in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, and online, to discuss opportunities in the region and to hold elections to the regional board.

The 2021 World Cooperative Monitor (WCM) was launched on 30 November during a dedicated session ahead of the World Cooperative Congress in Seoul.

Two preparatory events took place ahead of Congress – the ICA Cooperative Research Conference and the 3rd International Forum on Cooperative Law, from 28 to 30 November 2021. Delegates gathered in Seoul and online to hear conclusions from both events which will feed into discussions around “Deepening Our Cooperative Identity” at the 33rd World Cooperative Congress.

With access to finance a longstanding barrier to cooperative growth, an update on a new global fund for the movement was given to the International Forum on Cooperative Law.

With Indonesia taking over the Presidency of the G20, Italian cooperators met with their Indonesian counterparts to hand over the presidency of the ICA G20 Working Group.

Over 50 young people from 13 different countries met in Chuncheon, a city northeast of Seoul (Republic of Korea) ahead of theWorld Cooperative Congress, for a three-day workshop organised by the ICA Global Youth Network, in collaboration with Korean hosts, Coop Pan.

We would love to see cooperators from around the world joining the conversation, sharing questions and discussion points and helping to amplify our collective cooperative voice!

The ICA Global Youth Network is organising a free all-day workshop on 27 November 2021 in the Republic of Korea prior to the 33rd ICA World Cooperative Congress.

Chhoan journeyed from Cambodia’s killing fields to work with the Inuit community of Nunavik as Senior Manager of the Socio-Economic Development for Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec, and will share his expertise in Congress session 3.4, ‘For Strengthening the Community’.

Last month, as part of the preparations for Congress, Bruno Roelants travelled to Seoul to thank the Korean cooperative and government partners for their hard work.

Revisiting the important role cooperatives play in positive peace.

To celebrate the International Day of Peace, we looked at how three cooperatives are helping to maintain peace in Rwanda, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Guatemala.

Om Devi Malla is the Senior Vice-Chair of the National Cooperative Federation of Nepal and sits on the global board of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA). She is a campaigner for peace and women’s equality and at the World Cooperative Congress is chairing the session exploring how cooperatives should be Committing to our Cooperative Identity … For Peace and Equality (session 3.2). Following World Peace Day (21 September), she shares her thoughts on the connection between peace and the cooperative identity.

Registration is open!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section.

Preliminary Programme!

As the countdown to Congress continues, we have many new names joining the lineup.

The Congress will be a hybrid event, taking place both in person in Seoul, and online. For participants attending Congress online, all sessions will be broadcast live in the Korean time zone (GMT+9). For those who cannot attend during the scheduled times, all the sessions will be recorded and made available online via the Congress online platform for viewing at a later time.

The world marked International Youth Day on 12 August, to highlight the challenges facing young people – and campaigners are highlighting the benefits of working together through cooperatives. The cooperative model – which brings the benefits of mutual support, economic ownership and autonomy at work – is uniquely placed to help young people negotiate their uncertain future of work.

Embrace the Cooperative Way to Rebuild the Future: 100 Days to CongressAriel Guarco Today marks 100 days to the 33rd World Cooperative Congress, and this year more than any other, I am very proud to be attending this event in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from 1-3 December. Congress will be the first opportunity since the …