Cooperative Financial Institutions (CFIs) comprising cooperative banks, credit unions and mutual financial organisations represent one of the most established yet often under- recognized responses to the challenges the international community formally acknowledged in 2025.
Through the Sevilla Commitment adopted at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development and the Doha Political Declaration of the Second World Summit for Social Development, governments affirmed that the future of development depends on financial systems that are inclusive, equitable, locally rooted, resilient, and capable of mobilising domestic resources. These international agreements do not merely call for more finance; they call for different models of finance that CFIs already practice.
The main objective of the Symposium is to initiate a structured process to position Cooperative Financial Institutions as key actors in the implementation of these global commitments, particularly in the lead-up to the UN International Year of Cooperatives in 2035.
The ICA Global Strategy 2026–2030 has provided a forward-looking framework for strengthening and scaling the contribution of cooperatives to global development. Central to this strategy is the recognition that cooperatives must continue to practice their internationally recognized values & principles, promote the cooperative model as an essential pillar of the global economic architecture, and protect the cooperative identity that ensures their distinctiveness, legitimacy, and effectiveness. Cooperative Financial Institutions occupy a uniquely strategic position within this framework, serving not only as financial intermediaries but also as enablers of broader cooperative development across sectors.
Building on the successful collaboration between ICBA and ICA in 2022 marking the centennial of ICBA, this Symposium represents a critical moment to bring cooperative finance more centrally into global discussions on development financing at the United Nations. It also forms part of a broader trajectory toward strengthening cooperative finance as a cornerstone of the cooperative movement’s contribution to the global development agenda.
The Symposium will also contribute to protecting the cooperative identity and institutional integrity of CFIs. As CFIs grow and evolve within increasingly complex financial and regulatory environments, ensuring that regulatory frameworks recognize their distinct governance structures, member ownership, and social purpose is essential. The Symposium will examine how enabling regulatory and policy environments can be strengthened to allow CFIs to grow and innovate while preserving the democratic governance, autonomy, and community orientation that define their cooperative nature.
The Symposium will explore three interconnected thematic dimensions reflecting the priorities of the ICA Strategy and the evolving realities of cooperative finance.
This dimension examines the business foundations that enable Cooperative Financial Institutions (CFIs) to remain competitive, resilient, and scalable in evolving financial markets. It explores how CFIs mobilize member capital, retain earnings, and access external financing while preserving cooperative identity and governance.
CFIs play a critical role in mobilizing domestic resources and directing them toward productive sectors including small enterprises, agriculture, housing, and community infrastructure. This dimension explores how cooperative finance can strengthen investment vehicles, social and green finance, and partnerships with development institutions.
This dimension focuses on strengthening cooperative identity, governance systems, and institutional capacity as foundations of legitimacy and resilience. It explores regulatory frameworks, digital transformation, leadership development, and youth engagement to sustain the future of cooperative finance.
The Symposium is intended to produce concrete outcomes that contribute to strengthening cooperative finance as a pillar of inclusive and equitable development. It will articulate a Cooperative Finance Response Framework that will aim at positioning cooperative financial institutions as implementers of global development commitments and contributors to the broader strategic objectives of the cooperative movement.
An outcome will be the development of a forward-looking action agenda to strengthen enabling regulatory and policy environments for cooperative financial institutions. This will recognize that regulatory frameworks designed for investor-owned financial institutions often fail to adequately account for the cooperative identity, governance, and operational characteristics of CFIs. By identifying pathways toward proportionate and enabling regulation, the Symposium will contribute to protecting the cooperative nature of CFIs while enabling their sustainable growth.
The Symposium will also contribute to strengthening the capacity of cooperative financial institutions to practice effective, innovative, and impactful finance. It will advance discussions on cooperative investment vehicles, blended finance mechanisms, digital transformation, governance strengthening, and data systems that enhance institutional effectiveness and impact measurement. These efforts will help ensure that cooperative financial institutions are equipped to meet evolving development challenges while remaining grounded in cooperative principles.
The Symposium is conceived as part of a continuous strategic trajectory rather than a standalone event. Its conclusions will feed directly into the ICA General Assembly in Panama in September 2026 and contribute to broader cooperative discussions on enabling environments, cooperative finance, and cooperative development. In doing so, it will help establish a clear and coherent pathway connecting the ICBA Symposium in New York to subsequent global cooperative processes and milestones, including the roadmap toward the 2035 International Year of Cooperatives.
Through this process, the Symposium will contribute to the implementation of the ICA Strategy 2026–2030 by strengthening the ability of cooperative financial institutions to practice inclusive and democratic finance, promote the cooperative model as a recognized and essential component of the global financial architecture, and protect the cooperative identity and enabling conditions necessary for their continued growth and effectiveness.
Over approximately one and a half days, the Symposium will bring together leaders of cooperative financial institutions and cooperative investment organizations, representatives of governments and regulatory authorities, United Nations entities, development finance institutions, cooperative federations, researchers, and youth cooperators.
| Component | Focus |
|---|---|
| Opening Session | High-level remarks and keynote addresses positioning Cooperative Financial Institutions within global development commitments and the roadmap toward the UN International Year of Cooperatives 2035. |
| Practice: Competitiveness, Capital, and Development Impact | Examination of the business case of CFIs, including access to capital, cooperative investment mechanisms, financial sustainability, and their role in financing productive sectors and supporting inclusive growth. |
| Protect: Governance, Identity, and Enabling Regulatory Frameworks | Dialogue on strengthening cooperative governance, leadership, and institutional capacity, and advancing proportionate regulatory and policy environments that safeguard cooperative identity while enabling innovation and growth. |
| Promote: Innovation, Outreach, and Global Positioning | Exploration of digital transformation, financial inclusion, youth engagement, and strategies to enhance the visibility and strategic positioning of cooperative finance within global financial systems. |
| Forward Path toward 2035 | Strategic reflections and adoption of a Cooperative Finance Response Framework contributing to global cooperative processes and strengthening CFIs’ role in implementing international development commitments. |