The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), together with CICOPA, Abacus Cooperative, and the Arizmendiarrieta Social Economy Think Tank (ASETT), is pleased to announce a special side event during UNESCO MONDIACULT UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development in Barcelona, Spain. The side event will be a prelude to the wider advocacy towards positioning cooperatives in the global discussions and programmes that present culture as an indivisible aspect of sustainable development and bolster the work of the ICA Working Group on Cooperative Cultural Heritage.
This session will spotlight cooperatives as dynamic cultural actors and indispensable partners in building a just, inclusive, and sustainable future. With over one billion members and around 3 million cooperatives worldwide, cooperatives represent one of the world’s most deeply rooted and socially embedded organizational forms, anchored in seven principles that integrate economic, social, and cultural imperatives. The proclamation of 2025 as the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives, perhaps the only such recognition extended to an enterprise-form, affirms the position of cooperative enterprises as unique, democratic and people centred platforms of entrepreneurship that can deliver on the sustainability promise the international community has given upon itself since the 1970s.
Key themes will include:
- Cooperatives as innovative, equitable, and rights-based models in the cultural and creative industries, ensuring diversity of voices and ownership.
- Education as a cornerstone of cooperative identity, advancing cultural literacy, democratic participation, diversity, and lifelong learning.
- The ICA’s global initiative to map cooperative heritage sites as living expressions of cultural identity, diversity, and resilience across generations.
AGENDA
Cooperatives in Culture for Diversity, Cultural Rights and Decent Work
15:00-15:35 Opening remarks- Cooperatives a major force for cultural diversity and sustainability
- Maravillas Rojo, President of Abacus cooperative
- Nadia Quevedo, Commissioner for Economic Promotion of Barcelona City Council
- Iñigo Albizuri, ICA Board Member and Director of ASETT
- Ariel Guarco, President of the International Cooperative Alliance (video-message)
- Simel Esim, Head of ILO Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy Unit, Chair of the UNTFSSE (online)
15:30-16:15 Positioning Cooperatives as Cultural Actors in Achieving Sustainable Development
Presented and moderated by Laia Bonastra, President of Federació de Cooperatives de Treball
- Giuseppe Guerini, President, Cooperatives Europe
- Víctor Meseguer, Deputy Director-General of Abacus cooperative
- Giovanna Barni, Counsellor for innovation and development at CoopCulture and President of CulTurMedia Lega Coop, Italy (online)
- Patxi Olabarria, President of the High Council of Basque Cooperatives and Vice-President of UCOE (Spanish Cooperative Schools and high-schools)
- Liz McIvor, Manager at the Cooperative Heritage Trust (online)
- Heloísa Lopes, Vice President of Sicredi Pioneria, Brazil (online)
- Marta Lozano,President of WazoCoop
16:15-16:55 Cooperatives and culture in the post-2030 sustainable development agenda
Presented and moderated by Iñigo Albizuri Landazabal, ICA Board Member and Director of ASETT
- David Bonvehí, Director General for Social Economy and Cooperatives at Generalitat de Catalunya
- Aicha Errifai, Directrice Générale de l'office du Développement de la Coopération, Morocco
- Jokin Díaz, Director for Social Economy at the Basque Government
- Osamu Nakano, Board Member CICPOPA; Vice Executive Director, Japan Workers Cooperative Union
- P. Santosh Kumar, Director of legislation at ICA
- Sébastien Vauzelle, Head of the Local 2030 Coalition at the United Nations (tbc)
16:55-17:05 Conclusions and closing remarks
- Diana Dovgan, Secretary General of ICA Sectoral Organization on Industry and Service Cooperatives
- Francesca Martinelli, Centro Studi Doc Foundation, ICA rapporteur
** Registration link to follow **
To. note: this is a hybrid event organised by the ICA-EU Financial Framework Agreement and the ICA Working Group on Cooperative Cultural Heritage in cooperation with CICOPA and ASETT and hosted from Abacus Cooperative at Casa Abacus Carrer del Peu de la Creu, 4, Ciutat Vella, Barcelona, Spain.
Disclaimer: ICA is responsible for the choice and presentation of the ideas and opinions expressed in this information note which do not necessarily reflect the views of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization in any way
