The world is still in the eye of the storm. In December 2021 at the World Cooperative Congress in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, cooperatives will be given the stage to showcase the challenges, opportunities they are facing during the pandemic, and highlight what the future new normal can look like.
This event will take attendees on a three-day journey. Cooperatives will share stories on how they have faced these health and economic crises with solidarity and resilience, remained committed to their communities, and examine ways to create a socially responsible economy and a more inclusive world for generations to come.
Below is a deeper look at how COVID-19 will be the topic of many relevant debates and topics that will shed light on how cooperatives are coping today, and how they can provide critical solutions for the future. To allow a greater number of cooperative members to be part of the event and many conversations, the Congress in Seoul will be held in person and also offer attendees to participate online or virtually.
Refreshing and strengthening priorities
The pandemic is forcing us to rethink how to take advantage of the digital age and technology available today to explore new ways of working, strengthening personal connections and communications channels. Before climate change became a political battle and sustainable development was linked to the United Nations, cooperatives prioritised these issues in their communities to simply protect their resources and future.
Equity during a global health crisis
Today’s global health crisis has shown us an old problem – those living in poverty are at greater risk, and don’t have access to the healthcare they need. Social distancing and border closures have also made it become more apparent that we need support and interaction with our community—all essential to the healthy development of humanity.
Congress attendees will engage in discussions and examine how open the cooperative business model and its democratic system has helped millions cope during the pandemic. Those that have succeeded will share stories on how they have continued to provide good healthcare and social services during the pandemic and provide a strong and proven model for the rest of the world.
Farmers bringing food directly to the table
The pandemic disrupted food production and distribution chains, causing cooperatives to shift – not stop, how they serve their members. Agricultural cooperatives relied heavily on grassroots and community outreach to better address new ways of balancing production and consumption in the global food distribution system that can be emulated for years to come – a topic worth focusing on outside of the pandemic era.
The cooperative identity and the new normal
The world continues to face unprecedented economic and health crisis, and for the cooperative movement, it is clear that cooperative solutions can help pave the way for a better future. Join us on this journey to Congress in Seoul, where we can strive to create a socially responsible economy and discover what our cooperative identity has to offer to support humanity in this era of the new normal.
The theme of the 2021 World Cooperative Congress is ‘Deepening our Cooperative Identity’. Within this, four themes will explore how cooperatives examine, strengthen, commit to and live the cooperative identity. Read more on these themes in future ‘Destination Congress’ newsletters!
Find out more about the ICA Word Cooperative Congress – and register your interest – HERE.
