UK co-operative leaders join global movement to launch International Year of Co-operatives 2025

A delegation of UK co-operative leaders took centre-stage at a global conference in India, joining over 3,000 global change-makers to officially launch the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives 2025.  

Co-operatives UK’s CEO and newly appointed International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) Board Director, Rose Marley, joined prominent figures from across the world at the ICA’s Global Conference, taking place from 25 November 25 to 30 November in New Delhi.   

Rose Marley shared the ambitions of the UK movement and made a call for all co-operatives to tell their stories more effectively in her keynote presentation.

India Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, described co-operatives ‘as a lifestyle’ for his country at the opening ceremony. Other dignitaries to address the conference – which featured thousands of delegates from 107 countries – included Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan, Manoa Kamikamica, Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji and United Nations Secretary General António Guterres.    

Shirine Khoury-Haq, Chief Executive of Co-op Group, said: “As the UK’s largest co-operative, we’re proud to join co-operatives worldwide in launching the International Year of Co-operatives 2025. This moment is a powerful reminder of the global impact of the co-operative movement and its ability to build stronger, fairer, and more sustainable communities. 

Its central theme, Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All, was explored via four sub-themes to develop an action agenda for co-operatives to accelerate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The action agenda covers:   

• Supporting policies and ecosystems in nations to increase the size of the co-operative movement 
• Updating the Statement on Co-operative Identity to address modern challenges 
• Empowering youth, women, and girls with skills through lifelong learning 
• Tackling inequality to build a just and resilient future 
• Launching the International Year of Co-operatives

The event officially launched the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives 2025 (IYC2025) in the presence of global leaders, academics and practitioners. The IYC takes the theme Co-operatives Build a Better World to inspire people worldwide to work together to strengthen the international co-operative movement.     

Events throughout the year include Co-op Congress, at Rochdale Town Hall on 4 and 5 July, which will attract people involved in co-operatives from across UK, as well as globally.  

Strong UK delegation  

 Representing the UK at the ICA conference are:  

• Co-operatives UK CEO and ICA Board member Rose Marley and Society Secretary Claire Dalton
• Co-op Group’s Denise Scott-McDonald, President of the National Members’ Council (NMC), and NMC Secretary Kate Brown
• Midcounties Co‑op President Heather Richardson and Chief Values Officer, Pete Westall
• Co-operative College CEO Jacqui Thomasen and Head of International Partnerships Sarah Alldred 
• Co-op News’ Executive Editor Rebecca Harvey and International Editor Anca Voinea  
• DotCoop’s CEO Violetta Nafpaktiti and Communications Officer Tom Ivey
• Confederation of Co‑operative Housing Chief Executive and ICA Board member Blase Lambert
• Coop Exchange’s Executive Director Aaron Stewart

Photography exhibition  

Another highlight of the event is a photography exhibition celebrating the power, diversity and achievements of co‑operatives throughout the world. It features a range of images from UK co‑operatives including Glasgow’s Green City Wholefoods, Leeds Bread Co‑op, Grimsby Community Energy, fan‑owned football club FC United of Manchester and consumer‑owned retail co‑operatives.