The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) has opened registration for the 33rd World Cooperative Congress, scheduled for December 1-3, 2021 in-person in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, and virtually. This year’s hybrid event will bring together representatives from cooperative organizations around the world.
The World Cooperative Congress will feature a series of sessions exploring how to deepen the cooperative identity by examining its values, strengthening its actions, committing to its principles and living its achievements. The event will also look at how to address challenges such as the COVID-19, climate change, sustainable development, peace and equality, the future of work, housing and renewable energy.
Keynote speakers will include activist and founder of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) Ella Bhat; ILO Director General Guy Ryder; and UN Special Rapporteur for Extreme Poverty and Human Rights Olivier De Schutter.
ICA president Ariel Guarco said the World Cooperative Congress is an opportunity to bring together “thinkers, doers, activists and storytellers” who will lead conversations around four sub-themes of cooperative identity: examining our cooperative identity, strengthening our cooperative identity, committing to our cooperative identity and living our cooperative identity. “It will also be a time to celebrate how cooperatives have led the way through the pandemic and to thank our members for the enormous efforts they have made,” he said.
“This month also marks our 126th anniversary of the ICA. With the world going through so much, this is an important time for us to come together. I very much look forward to welcoming you to Congress, whether that is in Seoul or online,” Guarco added.