As the world prepares for the second-ever United Nations World Social Summit, a new alliance is positioning itself to ensure that cooperatives and mutuals are no longer overlooked in global decision-making. The CM50, a collective of CEOs from cooperative and mutual organisations across sectors and continents, is making its voice heard.
Born from an idea in late 2024, the CM50 has quickly evolved into a diverse and influential coalition. With around 60 CEOs representing insurance, banking, healthcare, agriculture, retail, and housing from over 30 countries, the group is united by a common goal: to showcase the strength and impact of cooperative and mutual business models in solving today’s most pressing global challenges.
The group aligns with the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), which holds special consultative status with the United Nations. This relationship offers a rare and strategic gateway into high-level global policymaking—a privilege that the mutual and cooperative sector is now prepared to leverage.
Driving Global Impact
At the heart of CM50’s mission is its Manifesto, a document that outlines the group’s purpose, goals, and desired outcomes. Among its top priorities are:
- Advocating for formal recognition of cooperatives and mutuals in at least 25 countries.
- Supporting the UN’s process of setting the next Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030–2040.
- Ensuring representation at the World Social Summit in New York this November.
- Sharing best practices and coordinated strategies across borders.
The group is already seeing momentum. In the UK, the Labour government has included a commitment to double the co-op and mutual sector in its party manifesto. A newly formed Business Council for Co-ops and Mutuals, involving some CM50 members, has begun working with ministers to drive this vision forward. This UK case study will serve as a template for similar efforts globally.
The World Social Summit, scheduled for November 4-6, 2025, will be a landmark moment. It is only the second such summit ever held (the first took place in 1995), and it marks the beginning of negotiations for the next generation of global development goals. The themes; climate resilience, food security, decent work, poverty eradication, gender equality, and more, align directly with the missions of cooperative and mutual businesses.
A recent UN draft paper titled “Food for Thought” outlines these emerging priorities and signals the start of a global consultation process. Thanks to ICA’s UN connection, the CM50 has early access and the chance to influence the outcome.
Significantly, the CM50 is advocating for the explicit recognition of cooperatives and mutuals as distinct from the general “private sector.” Their structure, purpose, and stakeholder approach offer unique advantages in achieving social and environmental goals—benefits that standard shareholder companies cannot match.
Next Steps for the CM50
The path to influence is already underway:
- Two virtual meetings of CM50 members have been held.
- An in-person meeting in Madrid and a side session at the ICMIF General Meeting in Manchester (July 2-3) are upcoming.
- A final pre-summit gathering is planned for November 2-3 in New York, where CM50 hopes to secure a formal spot on the main stage of the UN summit.
Members are also being encouraged to work within their national cooperative networks to engage government officials, using tools like the Manifesto and the UK playbook to advocate for policy commitments.
The CM50 represents a bold step forward for the cooperative and mutual sector—one that moves beyond traditional advocacy to take a proactive role in shaping the future. As global leaders gather to define the development agenda for the next 15 years and beyond, CM50 is ensuring that cooperative and mutual models are part of the conversation.
