Cooperative leaders from across the world met in Doha on 3 November, ahead of the second World Social Summit on Social Development, part of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 celebrations, to officially launch three innovative tools designed to help cooperatives continue to ‘Build a Better World’ and strengthen their global impact.
CM50: A Contract for a New Global Economy
The Cooperatives and Mutuals Leadership Circle (CM50), an initiative of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), published a new global framework: A Contract for a New Global Economy. The Contract invites policymakers to adopt five priority commitments: official recognition of the cooperative model; access to sustainable finance for cooperatives; regulatory frameworks enabling innovation and digital growth; protection of cooperative identity and democratic governance; and integration of cooperatives into national SDG strategies.
Please click here to read the full Contract.
ICA 2026-2030 strategy: A commitment to ‘Practice, Promote and Protect’ cooperation
The ICA published its 2026-2030 strategic plan designed to empower the future of cooperatives. Entitled Practice, Promote and Protect, the strategy aims to provide a global roadmap designed to strengthen cooperative enterprises, accelerate sustainable development, and expand economic democracy worldwide.
Please click here to read the full strategy.
Report: World Cooperative Monitor 2025
The 13th edition of the World Cooperative Monitor report was presented. This report was produced by the ICA in collaboration with the European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises (EURICSE) and is a special edition marking the 2025 UN International Year of Cooperatives.
The report provides a comprehensive overview of the global cooperative and mutual sector, highlighting how cooperatives contribute to sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economies worldwide.
ICMIF’s own ranking of the largest mutual and cooperative insurance companies in terms of premium income, the Global 500 report, was a referenced data set that contributed to the WCM ranking. ICMIF was also part of the Advisory Committee for the research.
It shows that in 2023, the top 300 cooperatives achieved a combined turnover of USD 2.79 trillion – the equivalent in GDP/capita to the world’s largest economy. Leading organisations by turnover include Groupe Crédit Agricole (France); State Farm (USA) – also the largest mutual insurer in the world as ranked by the Global 500; and REWE Group (Germany). By turnover relative to GDP per capita, India’s Amul and IFFCO top the global list.
Please click here to read the full report.
Also in Doha, cooperative leaders shared the direct impact of the cooperative model during a panel discussion that brought together leaders from different sectors, who demonstrated the real-world difference the cooperative way of working can have on people and the planet.
The conversation brought together three representatives from within the ICMIF membership, including Ayanda Seboni, Group Executive for Mutuality, PPS (South Africa); Diego Guaita, CEO, Grupo San Cristóbal (Argentina); and Dr K.J. Patel, Managing Director, IFFCO (India).
The panel discussed how, by putting people at the centre of decision-making, the distribution of profits in cooperatives is fairer, wages are higher and the long-term health of the business is greater when compared with traditional stock companies. Through cooperatives, social development can be more equitable and sustainable.
