The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) has been selected as a member of the Global Gateway Civil Society and Local Authorities Dialogue Platform (GG Dialogue Platform), which was launched on 24 October by the European Commission at the margins of the Global Gateway Forum, held in Brussels on 25 and 26 October 2023.
The role of the GG Dialogue Platform is to assist the European Commission in the implementation of the Global Gateway Initiative, by ensuring that it contributes to sustainable investments and delivers on its goals in line with its principles.
As recognised by the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, “the launch of the Global Gateway Civil Society and Local Authorities Dialogue Platform marks an important milestone in the strategic engagement of civil society and local authorities on Global Gateway, enhancing its overall effectiveness and sustainability by feeding in additional perspectives, experience, and expertise”.
The ICA’s Director of Policy, Joseph Njuguna, noted that “strengthening the role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as development actors and giving them access to investments and impact funds will reinforce an inclusive, participatory, empowered, and independent civil society, able to contribute to sustainable development and address global challenges such as inequalities. Cooperatives are critical partners for progress in developing countries because they contribute to the nation’s social capital.”
The GG Dialogue Platform consists of 57 CSO networks, platforms, social partners, professional and business associations, and associations of Local Authorities (LAs), all working in the area of international development. The ICA is included into the category of social partners, professional and business association together with other three international organisations.
Cooperatives are doubly represented
Aside from the involvement of the ICA as a member of the GG Dialogue Platform, Mondragon Corporation is represented in the governance of the Global Gateway in the capacity of a member of the Global Gateway Business Advisory Group, which gathers CEOs or senior executives of European companies and business associations. Mondragon Corporation will be among the 47 private companies providing input to maximise the impact and effectiveness of investment and, more concretely, in the area of education and research.
About the Global Gateway
The Global Gateway is a new EU strategy to boost smart, clean, and secure links in digital, energy, and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world. The European Commission and the EU High Representative launched it in 2021.
Between 2021 and 2027, Team Europe, meaning the EU institutions and EU Member States jointly, will mobilise up to €300 billion of investments for sustainable and high-quality projects, taking into account the needs of partner countries and ensuring lasting benefits for local communities.
The Global Gateway is also fully aligned with the UN’s Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Photo: © European Union, 2023
