Cooperatives as Catalysts for Change

A Shared Message Across Continents

To mark the Cooperatives Day 2025, a joint video featuring voices from DGRV’s cooperative projects across the world was released. Among the contributors were DGRV partners from Vietnam, South-Africa, Kenya, eSwatini, Brasil, Paraguay and Colombia – all reflecting on how cooperatives contribute to building a better world:  

“Cooperatives create added value because they are not driven by profit, but by purpose – serving society and their members.”
– DGRV Project Team eSwatini 

“We support cooperatives so they can strengthen their governance and develop business models that serve people, not just markets.”
– DGRV Project Team Vietnam 

“It’s not just about finance. Cooperatives are part of our culture. They build jobs, dignity, and stability.”
– DGRV Project Team Colombia 

The video also highlights how cooperatives help deliver on multiple SDGs – from Goal 1: No Poverty to Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, and Goal 13: Climate Action. 

Local Action, Global Impact: How DGRV Projects Work

Behind every voice in the video is a concrete initiative supported by the DGRV’s international cooperation department (AIB). Whether it’s capacity building for agricultural cooperatives in Southeast Asia, strengthening financial cooperatives in Africa, or supporting youth entrepreneurship through cooperative models in Latin America – the DGRV’s work focuses on building strong institutions, informed leadership, and community-driven innovation. 

In all countries, the projects also collaborate closely with local partner organisations, government bodies and apex organisations to promote enabling legal frameworks, develop training curricula, and strengthen audit and accountability systems within the cooperative sector. These building blocks are essential to ensure that cooperatives remain resilient and true to their identity, even under pressure. 

“When we support a cooperative, we are not just supporting a business – we are investing in a community’s ability to solve its own problems.”
– Project Advisor, DGRV Latin America 

This long-term commitment is guided by the cooperative principles – but also by trust, partnership, and local ownership. By strengthening self-help mechanisms, the DGRV helps make development sustainable from within. 

Inclusive Structures for Lasting Impact

At the heart of the DGRV’s international work lies the belief that inclusive economic systems are key to long-term development. Cooperatives empower individuals and communities by giving them a voice, a vote, and a stake in their economic future. 

“We believe in the power of cooperation to strengthen self-help structures. Our projects are built around this principle – and Cooperatives Day 2025 was a great opportunity to show what this looks like in practice. It’s moments like these that demonstrate how we live up to our mission: by turning cooperative values into real, tangible impact around the world.”
– Andreas Kappes, Director International Cooperation, DGRV 

This approach includes direct support to local cooperatives, advisory services for partners, and capacity building for cooperative organisations.  

Raising the Cooperative Voice

The celebration of the Cooperatives Day 2025 was not just symbolic – it was a platform for visibility, advocacy, and connection. By sharing cooperative voices in a unified video message, the DGRV and its partners contributed to the broader global narrative: that cooperatives are essential to building a better, more resilient world. 

Watch the full CoopsDay 2025 video here:

As the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 continues, the DGRV reaffirms its commitment to the global cooperative movement — not only through project implementation, but also through dialogue, visibility, and knowledge exchange. German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). 

We thank all our partners, contributors and colleagues in the field who made this joint celebration possible.  

Because building a better world takes all of us — and we go further, together.