International Seminar on Co-operatives and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s)
An event co-organized by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), OCB, Unimed do Brazil and OCESP.
São Paulo, Brazil
“We need to develop a plural economy. A solid society is composed of three pillars: a democratic government, dynamic companies and in the middle, a very strong co-operative sector, combining business and people. It is about bridging the economy and the society.
The co-operative movement in the world is huge: 3 million enterprises, over 250 million jobs serving over 1 billion members. Sometimes we are indeed too quiet, we need to communicate more about what we are doing.
The process of the SDGs is very important, and we are the first economic group in the world to support them. With the seminar, we will be able to reinforce this momentum to strengthen our support to the SDGs.”
- Monique F. Leroux, President of the International Cooperation Alliance
The seminar was hosted by Unimed, the most important health co-operative in the world. Unimed is more than a health care co-operative, playing a role of integrating people into the society and market, by educating people and facilitating access to education. This empowers a more sustainable and participative society and a better future for Brazil and the world.
“Co-operatives have always engaged in actions for the better mind of societies.”
- Eudes de Freitas Aquino, President of Unimed
Marcio Lopes de Freitas, President of OCB, opened the seminar by greeting the presidents around the table, stating that the co-operative movement needs to be engaged in the SDGs because it is in the DNA of the co-operatives, within their daily business. Co-operatives also need to learn how to show this to the world, make more noise and make people aware what they are doing.
According to Aloysio Nunes Ferreira, Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister, the Brazilian co-operative movement has grown considerably in recent years, being serious, strong and participative, with some examples of individual co-operators taking leadership roles in the ICA. There are over 12 million members of co-operatives in Brazil focused on social-economic projects that strengthen the communities. Co-operatives are one of the most dynamic factors in the sustainable development of the country.
“Without economic feasibility, co-ops cannot exist. But without social feasibility, co-ops have no reason to exist.”
- Geane Nazare Ferreira, Manager of Social Development of Co-operatives of the OCB
According to Maxwell Haywood from the United Nations Focal Point on Co-operatives, the process leading towards the SDGs has been the most inclusive process within the UN: series of global conversations with actors carried out, including CSOs, governments, businesses and academia. Furthermore, the values and principles of co-operatives are embedded in the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and co-operatives need to take the SDGs into their strategic action plans.
The co-operative bank of Kenya is the only co-operative bank in Africa owned by the co-operative movement, not by the government. It has nearly 150 branches, numerous agents via the co-operative movement and cash machines in the most remote areas. This is how it reaches 2 million members. The co-operative bank of Kenya also assists 5 000 students with scholarships, who could otherwise not pay for their education.
“A wish for the future would be a co-operative bank of Africa, owned by the co-operative banks in the region. This would increase the financial inclusion across the continent.”
- Stanley Muchiri, President of the ICA Africa
In Japan, there are 65 million members of co-operatives and 37% of the total households use consumer co-operatives. The economic growth in the country has brought on the one hand larger independence, but on the other hand, isolation.
“To act against the isolation in Japan, the co-operative movement has initiated ‘chatting parties’ and ‘hangout places’ for elderly people to meet and voluntary health care services, as well as ‘area watching activity’ to keep the contact with isolated families and persons.”
- Kenki Maeda, General Manager of JC-Soken
In Sweden, equality is pretty good for two reasons: first, there is a long tradition of democracy, and second, the strong co-operative movement is very important. Today, when more and more countries are closing their borders, Sweden is opening them, which is part of the success.
“The refugee crisis will not stop soon, especially because the number of climate refugees will increase as well. It is therefore necessary that more countries in the world keep their borders open. Of course, we need to work more with co-operative development and self-help, so that part of it can be tackled at the source. We need to work more with co-operative development around the world.”
- Anders Lago, CEO of the Swedish Housing Co-operatives
The increasing refugee wave has reached Italy and this is a concern for everyone. More than 100 000 people have arrived in Italy in 2016 and 58% were denied any protection or asylum. This is the current scenario to which the state and the EU has not been able to provide adequate solutions. In recent years, Italy has accommodated over 170 thousand migrants. The social co-operatives in the country try to help in this difficult situation.
“We have to acknowledge that diversity is an added value rather than a burden. Co-operatives organized under the name ‘Auxilium’ accompany children and organize a multitude of cultural activities.”
- Carlo Scarzanella, Vice-President of the Italian General Association of Co-operatives
Gender equality in another important subject for the co-operative movement. Observations show that a group’s decision-making is improved if diversity is ensured. Most successful organisations have targets, not necessarily quotas, but they do have a vision with a monitoring system in place.
“Looking at the organizations listed in the stock market, half of them did not have women in the board of directors. This means the co-operatives are better off, but far from where we should be. We need to do more.”
- Kathy Bardswick, CEO of The Co-operators Ltd.
The seminar concluded with Monique F. Leroux, President of the International Cooperative Alliance explaining that the co-operative movement is working on the five pillars for a co-operative decade: participation, sustainability, identity, capital and legal frameworks. Lastly, she thanked everyone for all the rich examples of co-operatives engaging in the SDGs, saying it has made her very proud to hear how the co-operative movement is bringing sustainable change.
“Uniting ourselves in our diversity, the values and the principles of the co-operative movement is what triggers co-operation between co-operatives.”
- Jean-Louis Bancel, Président of Crédit Coopératif
