Co-ops Rally Nations to a Fair, Sustainable Economy
Doha, QATAR – The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) on November 3 officially launched the Cooperatives and Mutuals 50 (CM50) leadership circle, and published a landmark global framework: A Contract for a New Global Economy.
The Manifesto calls on governments and all institutions 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
- Integration of cooperatives into national SDG strategies
The aimed result is a fair, sustainable and resilient future for all. Launched ahead of the Second UN World Social Summit, the Contract outlines a bold
commitment by the world’s largest cooperative and mutual enterprises to accelerate progress on social development, climate action, and shared prosperity — while
urging policymakers to embed cooperative solutions into national and global economic strategies. With over 3 million enterprises, 1 billion members, and a presence in every country, cooperatives and mutuals already constitute the largest democratic business network in the world proving that community-owned enterprise models can deliver strong economies without sacrificing social justice. Ariel Guarco, President of the International Cooperative Alliance, said: “A better world is
possible, and cooperation is the way forward. As the world faces historic challenges climate disruption, inequality, and weakening trust cooperatives stand ready to help renew the global social contract.”
Established in 2025, CM50 unites the world’s largest cooperative and mutual enterprises collectively serving hundreds of millions of members and employing millions of people across
agriculture, insurance, health, finance, housing, and energy. Collectively, CM50 member organizations have a combined turnover of more than US$300 billion.
“The cooperative model already delivers the values the world seeks equity, resilience, and shared prosperity. The moment has come to scale it.”