Wednesday, 15 April 2026 | 15:00–16:00 CEST (09:00–10:00 EST)
The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), through its Youth Committee (ICAYC), will host a side event at the upcoming ECOSOC Youth Forum 2026 titled “Innovate, Unite and Cooperate: Youth Cooperatives Driving Innovation, Sustainable Communities and Global Partnerships for the 2030 Agenda”.
With more than 3 million cooperatives worldwide serving over one billion people, cooperatives play a key role in advancing inclusive and sustainable development. Youth-led cooperatives, in particular, are emerging as dynamic platforms for entrepreneurship, innovation and community engagement.
Aligned with the theme of the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2026, this session will explore how youth cooperatives can drive innovation, strengthen sustainable communities and foster global partnerships to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda.
Register here to receive the Zoom webinar link. Interpretation will be provided in English and Spanish.
Objectives of the event:
- Emphasize Principle 5: Education, Training and Information as a key enabler for youth leadership, cooperative capacity and innovation.
- Showcase youth-led cooperative models contributing to inclusive economic growth (SDG 9).
- Highlight the role of cooperatives in building sustainable and resilient communities (SDG 11).
- Strengthen partnerships among governments, international organizations and youth networks (SDG 17).
Programme:
15:00 – 15:05 | Opening Remarks
Harsh Sanghani – President, ICA Youth Committee.
15:05 – 15:10 | Keynote Address
Representative from the United Nations (TBC).
15:10 – 15:40 | Panel Discussion: Youth Cooperatives as Catalysts for Innovation and Sustainable Communities
- Helena Gorroño (Spain)
- Social Economy and Coops Business Development Leader in TAZEBAEZ.
- Vice President for Europe of the ICA Youth Committee.
- S.Coop: Consulting, Education and Communication Cooperative in the Basque Country.
- Youth Ambassador of KONFEKOOP Basque Confederation of Cooperatives. - Dulce Bustamante (Philippines)
- PH, Executive Director of Union of Legitimate Service Contracting Cooperatives.
- Chairperson ICA-Asia Pacific Youth committee. - Nicolás Jacquet (Argentina)
- Consultant of the Argentine Federation of Consumer Cooperatives (FACC).
- President of the Regional Youth Committee and Board Member of Cooperatives of the Americas.
- Vice President of the Youth Committee and Board Member of COOPERAR.
- Professor of Cooperative Law, Argentina. - Ronald Yamukuwa (Kenya)
- Vice President for Africa of the ICA Youth Committee.
15:40 – 15:55 | Interactive Dialogue - Open discussion with participants
Moderators:
- Ingrid Colanero – Head of International Cooperation, ICA & ICA Youth Committee Coordinator
- Joseph Njuguna – Director of Policy, ICA
15:55 – 16:00 | Closing Remarks
Representative from the European Commission (TBC).
This event is organized under the ICA-EU Partnership (2024-2028) -also called #coops4dev🌍-, a five-year international cooperative development program co-funded by the European Union, that aims to strengthen the ICA network and position cooperatives as international development actors in the EU Development Agenda.
For more information, download the concept note below.
