Cooperatives are uniquely positioned to contribute to the 2030 agenda. As people-centered, democratically governed enterprises owned and controlled by their members, cooperatives operate across all sectors of the economy and provide practical solutions to local and global challenges.
The side event aims to: Showcase the contribution of cooperatives to transformative and localized SDG implementation, drawing on evidence from the 17 SDG Policy Briefs. Highlight the role of cooperatives as partners in achieving the SDGs under review at HLPF 2026, particularly through community-driven and locally owned solutions. Demonstrate how cooperatives contribute to peace, resilience, and social cohesion, in line with the 2026 International Day of Cooperatives theme. Promote policy dialogue and partnerships among governments, UN entities, financial institutions, and cooperative organizations to strengthen enabling ecosystems for cooperative development. Advance recognition of cooperatives as implementation partners in national and local SDG strategies, Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), and broader sustainable development frameworks.
