Co-operatives around the world celebrated last month’s International Co-operative Day on July 6.
The day, with the theme 'Co-operative Enterprise Remains Strong in Times of Crisis', was marked at a high level by the International Co-operative Alliance, alongside non-governmental organisations such as the United Nations, the International Labour Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Farmers’ Organisation.
At the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon encouraged governments to support the co-operative model. He said: “We live in a time of global uncertainty. Multiple crises and natural disasters are testing even the most robust economies and communities. The International Day of Cooperatives is an annual opportunity to highlight how co-operatives can contribute to building resilience in all regions and all economic sectors.”
He highlighted how financial co-operatives have proven “strength and resilience” by maintaining high credit ratings, increased assets and turnover, and expanded their membership and customer base.
He added: “After disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and floods, co-operatives have shown their ability to mobilise solidarity for reconstruction. Agricultural co-operatives improve the productivity of farmers by facilitating access to markets, credit, insurance and technology. Social co-operatives can provide an important safety net in the face of declining or minimal public welfare. They also show considerable potential for empowering youth and alleviating the growing global youth jobs crisis.
“On this International Day of Co-operatives, I call on governments to encourage policies to support and strengthen co-operatives so they can contribute fully to inclusive and sustainable development.”
Around the world many co-operators came together to celebrate the day.
In Africa, the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives used the day to showcase the achievements of co-operatives. In the Nigerian state, the number of co-operatives reached the 13,000 mark in 2013; and the Lagos Co-operative College trained over 700 co-operators in the past year.
The South African Department of Trade and Industry hosted a special celebration in Durban to highlight the “positive role” co-operatives play in communities, according to Minister Dr Rob Davies.
To highlight the day, Co-operatives Europe teamed up with green campaigners to call for the EU to enact an urgent transformation towards a more socially and environmentally friendly energy system led by citizens.
In Canada, the government announced it will extend its help to develop smallholder farmer co-operatives in Ethiopia. The initiative, which will be implemented by the Canadian Co-operative Association and other partners, will provide farmers with agricultural necessities such as fertilizer and the ability to sell the crops.
In the UK, the Co-operative Group hosted a family day out that attracted thousands of people who learned how to set up a community garden and how to easily grow produce.
Jim Seetaram, the Minister of Cooperatives in Mauritius, celebrated the centenary of the country’s co-operative movement over two days. The Minister said for 100 years co-operatives have "been contributing substantially towards the empowerment of people”.
To highlight the day, Cooperatives Europe teamed up with green campaigners to call for the EU to enact an urgent transformation towards a more socially and environmentally friendly energy system led by citizens.
