The UN endorses the cooperative model as a global engine for development and inclusion

Cooperatives and social economy entities no longer occupy a secondary space on the international agenda. The United Nations (UN) has consolidated its recognition of this people-centered productive model through a special report highlighting its decisive capacity to generate decent jobs, anchor population to local territories, and advance toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In its analysis, the international body focuses on the regulatory and financial progress made by various countries. Spain emerges on this global map as a benchmark in public policies aimed at strengthening the cooperative and solidarity framework.

A State strategy backed by historic investments

The UN report highlights Spain’s firm institutional commitment to building a favorable ecosystem for purpose-driven enterprises. Among the main milestones mentioned is the Spanish Social Economy Strategy, a comprehensive framework designed to modernize and bring stability to a sector that ranges from agricultural and worker cooperatives to mutual societies and social insertion companies.

The true quantitative turning point has been the launch of the PERTE for the Social Economy and Care Economy. With a budget allocation exceeding 2.5 billion euros, this plan has directed public funding toward digitalization, professionalization, and ecological transition projects led by cooperatives. The scale of this investment sets an unprecedented benchmark in the European Union for directly financing the transformation of the social fabric.

Additionally, the UN highlights a key milestone for the economic visibility of the sector: the creation of the first official satellite account for the social economy through the National Statistics Institute (INE). Until now, the actual contribution of these organizations to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and quality employment metrics remained blurred within national accounting. This new statistical tool allows for precise measurement of their real macroeconomic impact and supports public policies built on verified official data.

Diplomatic leadership to democratize the global economy

Spain’s leadership in this field extends far beyond its borders. The United Nations explicitly praises the establishment of the Group of Friends on the Social and Solidarity Economy, a multilateral alliance launched alongside Brazil and Colombia. This diplomatic platform operates within the international architecture to bring the cooperative model into global resolutions on economic inclusion, equity, and poverty eradication.

This international recognition reflects a proven market reality: cooperatives demonstrate superior resilience during periods of economic uncertainty or financial crises. By prioritizing member well-being, stable job retention, and commitment to the local community over pure capital profitability, enterprises within the social and solidarity economy offer a proven and sustainable alternative to address the major economic challenges of our time.