Co-operatives in the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Reaction to the Synthesis Report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations

 

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The International Co-operative Alliance welcomes the UN Secretary-General’s Synthesis Report: The Road to Dignity by 2030: Ending Poverty, Transforming All Lives and Protecting the Planet. The goal of sustainable development for all will require an inspirational vision, an ambitious and practical plan with global engagement, and the means to implement and monitor that plan. The International Co-operative Alliance and the co-operative movement welcome the UN Secretary-General’s synthesis report on the post-2015 agenda and are fully committed to supporting the Secretary-General and the United Nations in this work.

Democratically governed, values-based, people-focused and locally rooted, co-operative enterprises have demonstrated leadership in sustainable development, and will be particularly adept at tackling the challenges laid out by the post-2015 agenda. Their contributions can best be framed by the six essential elements presented in the synthesis report.

Dignity

Co-operatives are entrenched in the work of ending poverty – they identify economic opportunities for vulnerable groups and empower them to defend their interests using the leverage of a collective voice and decision-making process. All co-operatives are based on self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity, values crucial to the pursuit of dignity. For example, agricultural co-operatives help small farmers get fairer prices for crop inputs and access to markets through group purchasing and marketing.

People

The post-2015 agenda must be people-focused, and co-operatives are created by people for people. The inclusive nature of co-operatives is reflected in high rates of membership among women and young people, and by their willingness to put people over profits. For example, many savings and credit co-operatives improve access to education by offering low-interest loans to families to pay school fees.

Shared prosperity

Co-operative enterprises help build a strong, inclusive, and transformative economy. Co-operatives create more jobs than their corporate counterparts and invest in innovative approaches to wider societal problems, such as natural resource management and access to healthcare. As responsible businesses, co-operatives focus on long-term economic, social, and environmental objectives over short-term profits.

Planet

Environmental sustainability is integrated into the activities of co-operative enterprises, as part of their guiding principle of concern for community. Co-operatives are actively addressing climate change through leadership in renewable energy and resource use through sustainable agriculture and production.

Justice

As democratically run organizations with a “one member, one vote” system, co-operatives serve as an example for participatory and accountable governance. In crisis-stricken regions, co-operatives are instrumental to supporting survivors, rebuilding communities through peacebuilding and promoting citizen engagement in new government processes.

Partnership

Though many co-operatives are based in rural and isolated regions, they are part of a global movement that ensures its members’ voices are heard in national and global policy making processes. Co-operatives unite diverse people around the world for a common goal, and this solidarity and ready mobilization are essential to achieving sustainable development. Co-operatives have already contributed significantly to sustainable development, and are fully committed to implementing the post-2015 agenda. Their actions can be even more effective with a supportive policy framework. The International Co-operative Alliance considers that this is implied and in the spirit of the report but would like to see a more explicit reference to the role of co-operatives. The International Co-operative Alliance therefore suggests that co-operatives be recognized as a well-suited model to deliver the post-2015 agenda objectives, and calls on Member States to take this into consideration during the intergovernmental negotiations in order to support the work done thus far and encourage co-operatives to reach their full potential as actors in sustainable development.