How was the 2025 International Year of Cooperatives for you and your organisation?
An extremely intense year has come to an end, one that was also rich in activities, exchanges and experiences accumulated in different regions and sectors of activity. I truly hope that it will be a pivotal year in our history, one that will be remembered for a long time to come. Beyond the enormous symbolic significance of the United Nations’ proclamation of the International Year of Cooperatives, our movement really took up the baton and, at least from the ICA and all our member organisations, I believe that efforts have been multiplied to enhance the territorial, institutional, social and economic impact of our socio-business model. For the ICA, it was also particularly impactful to have closed the agenda in Doha, during the second UN World Social Summit, launching the Contract for a New Global Economy together with the CM50 and presenting the 2026-2030 strategic plan. A special edition of the already traditional Cooperative Monitor was also presented there.
Another milestone was the launch of the co-operative cultural heritage map. I would also like to highlight the extraordinary meeting in Manchester, where we held our annual assembly. All of this gives us a clear roadmap for harnessing the strength that 2025 has given us and continuing to advance the transformations that our societies and the planet need in order to be truly sustainable. Finally, on a personal level, I am very satisfied because I was able to visit many countries, some for the first time, sharing encounters, dialogues and, above all, learning from inspiring co-operative experiences.
What are your hopes for 2026?
I have repeated several times throughout this year that 2025 was not only the culmination of intense work to forge links with various international co-operation organisations, but also, fundamentally, a starting point. That is why next year will be even more challenging than this one. We must put into play the results of all the advocacy actions, exchange activities and experiences carried out in 2025. As I said, the ICA’s Strategic Plan is a roadmap that we have as the parent organisation of co-operativism worldwide, but all co-operatives are invited to join in the enormous challenge of building a more just, inclusive and peaceful world through economic, social and cultural co-operation.
