World Social Summit in Doha to host closing ceremony of the UN International Year of Cooperatives
This landmark event comes 30 years after the first World Social Summit in Copenhagen [1995], which placed social development and solidarity at the heart of the international agenda
KAMPALA, October 2, 2025 — The International Cooperative Alliance [ICA] will host the closing ceremony of the UN International Year of Cooperatives [IYC2025] on 4 November 4, at the Qatar National Convention Centre, as part of the Second World Summit for Social Development programme.
This landmark event comes 30 years after the first World Social Summit in Copenhagen [1995], which placed social development and solidarity at the heart of the international agenda. In Doha, the ICA will build on that legacy, showcasing the cooperative movement as a driving force in shaping the new global social contract.
According to the ICA press release seen by this reporter, the ceremony will bring together Heads of State, UN representatives, cooperative and mutual leaders, governments, and international partners to celebrate the achievements of IYC2025 and to outline a bold roadmap in the years ahead.
“Cooperatives have demonstrated their power to build fairer, more resilient economies and societies. The recent draft Doha Political Declaration and the Secretary-General’s report both recognise this unique contribution. As we close IYC2025 in Doha, we look ahead with renewed energy to expand the cooperative footprint as a key accelerator to the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” said ICA President Ariel Guarco.
During the official closing ceremony of the IYC2025, UN entities will deliver messages of partnership and solidarity. On this occasion, the ICA will launch three flagship initiatives:
The ICA Global Strategy 2026–2030, setting priorities for the next decade of cooperative action.
A special edition of the World Cooperative Monitor dedicated to IYC2025, highlighting the movement’s global impact.
CM50 Manifesto and Global Commitment Plan, titled A Contract for a New Global Economy.
Global recognition of cooperatives
The event will adopt the Doha Political Declaration of the World Social Summit [taking place November 4-6], in which UN Member States explicitly recognise the role of cooperatives as leaders of the social and solidarity economy through fostering entrepreneurship, creating decent work, and driving social inclusion. The Declaration highlights cooperatives as key actors in eradicating poverty and catalysing social transformation, reaffirming their place at the heart of sustainable development strategies.
This builds on the UN Secretary-General’s 2025 report published in August on cooperatives in social development, which underscored the importance of cooperatives in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and called on governments to strengthen enabling environments for their growth. Together, these milestones reinforce the global consensus that cooperatives are indispensable partners in building fairer, more democratic, and more sustainable societies.
Celebrating achievements and launching new commitments
The ceremony entitled “Cooperatives Build a Better World: Supporting the SDGs and the Outcomes of the World Social Summit” will open with statements and keynote speeches from world leaders, setting the tone for a day dedicated to social justice, decent work, and sustainable development through cooperative action.
The programme will feature a roundtable showcasing cooperative sectors in action, with contributions from leaders in agriculture, finance, housing, health, insurance, fisheries, consumer and worker cooperatives. This exchange will demonstrate the breadth of the cooperative model’s contribution to innovation, resilience, and inclusive growth.
A highlight of the event, and perhaps the more tangible and lasting outcome of IYC2025, will be the presentation of the “Contract for a New Global Economy” by CM50 – the Cooperatives and Mutuals Leadership Circle. This entrepreneurial branch of the ICA unites 50 leaders of some of the world’s most influential cooperative and mutual businesses.
In Doha, a bold roadmap will be launched by the CM50 to expand the cooperative model’s market share and global impact, rooted in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and beyond. The Contract is a commitment to action and partnership, showing governments, multilateral agencies, and academia that another economy – more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable – is not only possible, but already operating at scale.
The Doha events, including the official launch of CM50, its manifesto and commitment plan on November 3, and the closing ceremony of IYC2025 on November 4, will not only celebrate the achievements of the International Year of Cooperatives but also lay out a vision for the cooperatives and mutuals’ role in shaping a new economy.
“The closing ceremony of the IYC2025 will be broadcast live via UN Web TV, enabling global audiences to follow the proceedings online. The CM50 meeting will take place on November 3, at the Hilton Doha,” says the press release.
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