Welcome to the official website on the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC). Here you will find information on events planned throughout the year, as well as suggestions on how to get involved and participate.

International years are declared by the United Nations to draw attention to and encourage action on major issues. The International Year of Cooperatives is intended to raise public awareness of the invaluable contributions of cooperative enterprises to poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. The Year will also highlight the strengths of the cooperative business model as an alternative means of doing business and furthering socioeconomic development.

For more information on the aims and objectives of the Year, please visit our "About IYC".

New Global Forum and Workshop on "Harnessing the Cooperative Advantage to Build a Better World", 4-6 September 2012 at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

IYC Icon Call for Submissions! International Year of Cooperatives Short Film Festival. Deadline is 30 September 2012.

IYC Icon Ms. Daniela Bas, Director of the Division for Social Policy and Devlopment (DSPD) on the contribution of cooperatives to socio-economic development.

IYC Icon Rio+20 outcome document has affirmed that Cooperatives are key for sustainable development.

IYC Icon Advisory Group Members of IYC.

IYC Icon Rabobank Group has come forward as the first donor to the International Year of Cooperatives.

IYC Icon United Nations launched the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) at the UN General Assembly Hall on Monday, 31 October 2011 | Programme | Photos | Videos | Summary of Events during the IYC launch.

For more news on the year, please visit: http://uncoopsnews.org and to learn more about IYC Activities, please visit: http://social.un.org/coopsyear/iyc-activities.html.