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COOPERATIVISM

Cooperativismo

News about the International Year

Rochdale

History of cooperativism

The Rochdale pioneers: the origin of modern cooperativism

The history of cooperatives and social economy cannot be told without mentioning Rochdale (Lancashire, UK). This small industrial town became the centrepoint of a movement that transformed trade and social justice all over the world. The model, born from necessity in 1844, offered a radical alternative to the Industrial Revolution’s unbridled capitalism, laying down the foundations for a more democratic and human way to do business.
World Summit in Doha

CMDS

The solidarity economy takes off at the UN: cooperatives set the global course

On November 4, 2025, the World Summit for Social Development (WSSD) in Doha, Qatar, was the venue for the official closing ceremony of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 (IYC 2025). The event, organized by the UN Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) and the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), served to cement the demonstration that “cooperatives build a better world.”
Housing cooperatives in Uruguay

Cooperatives in the world

Uruguay: the cooperative housing model used as a state policy

The International Year of Cooperatives 2025 (IYC 2025) has put the global spotlight on how the cooperative company model can be an essential tool for sustainable development. A brilliant example of this thesis can be found in Uruguay, a country that has turned housing cooperativism into a successful, internationally renowned public policy. 
Cooperatives in emply Spain

Rural Spain

Healthcare cooperatives in rural areas: a safeguard against depopulation in Spain's increasingly empty regions

In so-called “empty Spain”, having a doctor nearby or accessing treatment is not always easy. Villages with few inhabitants and winding roads mean that many elderly people have to travel dozens of kilometres to reach the nearest hospital. In these empty areas, where the public model is overwhelmed and the private model is not profitable, health cooperatives in rural areas have proven that a different way of organising healthcare is possible. 

Cooperatives and ecological transition

Ecology

Co-operatives and the green transition: stories that inspire change

The green transition isn’t just measured in gigawatts of renewable energy or hectares of organic farming. It is also measured in shared stories, in communities that decide to organise themselves differently in order to make progress towards a fairer and more sustainable future. And in Spain, these stories have a recurring leading actor: cooperatives. 
Cooperatives in Brasil

Cooperatives around the world

Cooperatives in Brazil: A successful model in the healthcare sector

In Brazil, cooperatives are an essential pillar of both the economy and society, with an undeniable impact in different sectors. In this gigantic Latin-American country, the cooperative model has been shown to be particularly innovative and effective, making a significant contribution to the accessibility, quality and efficiency of medical care. Let us analyse how these entities face up to the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities in a constantly evolving environment.
Artificial intelligence applied to cooperatives

Artificial intelligence

AI for cooperatives: advantages, challenges and steps towards an ethical, participatory futureticipativo

Cooperatives move in areas where efficiency cannot be separated from values and democratic participation. For this reason, when thinking about AI for cooperatives, the debate revolves less around the pure technology in itself and more around how to integrate it, without giving up the group identity. 
Quebec and its social economy model

Cooperatives around the world

Quebec and its social economy model: a commitment to the future

In the Canadian region of Quebec, the social economy generates economic impact, territorial cohesion and sustainable innovation. A model that combines inclusion, resilience and a forward-looking approach.

 

 

International Year of Cooperatives 2025: boosting social economy and sustainable development

The International Year of Cooperatives 2025, designated by the United Nations (UN), aims to recognize and promote the essential role of cooperatives in the social economy. These organizations, based on a democratic, equitable, and sustainable management model, seek to generate economic, social, and cultural benefits for their members, while contributing to collective well-being and community development.

The International Year of Cooperatives 2025 will highlight the importance of these entities in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing their ability to foster inclusive economic growth, gender equality, access to technology, and the promotion of a green and socially responsible economy.

Throughout this year, various initiatives will be launched to increase the visibility of cooperatives and raise awareness about their contribution to global economic and social development. Cooperatives are a key part of building a more just and sustainable world for everyone.

 

 

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