Earlier this year, 35 co-operative and mutual leaders from around the world participated in the inaugural meeting of the Cooperatives and Mutuals Leadership Circle (CM50).

Many of these C-suite executives represent some of the world's largest and most influential co-operatives, spanning industries from finance and agriculture to retail and healthcare. Their mission? To position the co-operative and mutual model as a viable alternative to traditional business structures while tackling urgent global challenges such as economic inequality, sustainability, and governance.

Spearheaded by the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), the leaders will draft a Charter and Commitment Plan that will be presented at the Second UN World Summit of Social Development in Doha, Qatar, later in November.

This plan aims to align the co-operative movement with the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), further cementing its role in fostering inclusive and equitable economies.

The launch of CM50 also coincides with the second International Year of Co-operatives 2025 (IYC2025), themed "Cooperatives Build a Better World." This global observance highlights the significant role co-operatives play in addressing global challenges and advancing the implementation of the SDGs by 2030.

The leaders also pledged to promote the visibility of co-operatives and mutuals, and move to influence global policy outcomes.

“The turnout on the first gathering exceeded my expectations, with leaders from over 20 countries expressing the joint urgency to show their collective strength in a world that is rapidly losing its moral compass,” said Jeroen Douglas - Director-General of the ICA.  

“CM50 can be our own Davos, as a response to the global oligarchy of the super wealthy that threatens democracy, peace and economic inclusion. This is the time to show the world that another model is possible,” he added.  

By Sng Ler Jun