The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) organised a transformative Capacity Building Workshop titled “Empowering Cooperatives for Inclusive Economic Growth & Sustainable Development in the Pacific” from 18-20 June 2024, in Fiji. The workshop brought together cooperative leaders, policymakers, regulators, and key development stakeholders from the Pacific region, addressing the unique developmental and environmental challenges faced by small island developing states (SIDS).

The workshop aimed to enhance understanding of cooperatives’ role in sustainable development, explore supportive legal frameworks, foster cooperative entrepreneurship and youth engagement, and promote diversity, inclusion, and cultural heritage within cooperative enterprises. The sessions were structured to facilitate experience-sharing, collaboration, and the building of sustainable partnerships for future community development.

The opening session featured speeches from prominent figures, including the Permanent Secretary of Fiji’s Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications, Mr. Shaheen Ali and senior delegates from UNDESA, namely Mr. Oleg Serezhin, Head of Technical Cooperation, UNDESA and Ms. Renata Preturlan, Social Affairs Officer. The first day delved into the role of cooperatives in sustainable development and climate action, with insights from leaders in Australia, and Fiji.

Mr. Ganesh Gopal, Lead – Entrepreneurship Development representing ICA-AP, delivered a session on engaging with youth and fueling enthusiasm through volunteerism for greater participation and inter-generational equity in cooperatives. His presentation highlighted successful youth-led cooperative ventures and emerging models of cooperative enterprises in domains such as services, digital and green entrepreneurship. He also discussed strategies to empower the next generation of cooperative leaders and make them believe in the larger people-centric cause that cooperative principles and the social and solidarity economy stand for.

The second day focused on legal frameworks and financial sustainability. Discussions were led by legal experts and cooperative leaders from the Pacific region, examining recent cooperative legislations and the current state of regulation in the region. Prof. Ann Apps, member of the Cooperative Law Committee of the ICA Global participated in the workshop on the potential for a regional framework for cooperative law. Prof Apps as the ICA-AP’s legal expert has authored the national reports for Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati and PNG and the sub-regional report for Oceania and Pacific as part of the Legal Framework Analysis (LFA) project under the ICA-EU Phase 1. The importance of creating supportive policies and regulatory environments was emphasised to enable cooperative development. Delegates reiterated the need for a greater voice through a more active role for the Pacific Island cooperatives within the larger global cooperative movement for a better exchange of technical cooperation and best practices.

Mr. Gopal also moderated a session on financing cooperative development, highlighting the challenges and good practices in accessing finances for cooperatives. Presentations covered successful cooperative financial institutions and strategies for strengthening business operations and management including the specific trust fund, iTaukei Trust Fund Board focusing on the development of indigenous communities.

Specific discussions were held on the need for technical training support and the promotion of school cooperatives in the region. ICA-AP explained and suggested avenues to explore opportunities to address these needs.

The last day addressed climate change mitigation and adaptation from the cooperatives’ perspective where delegates discussed the impacts of climate change on key economic sectors and policy options to support cooperatives in adapting to these changes. The workshop concluded with group discussions on lessons learned and new avenues for future cooperation in the region.

During the visit, Mr. Gopal and Prof. Apps had the opportunity to meet with the Hon. Mr. Manoa Kamikamica, Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji and discuss revisions to the present Fijian cooperative law, advancing capacity-building activities in the Pacific region, cooperative education and celebrating the 2025 International Year of Cooperatives in the region.

Four ICA member organisations from the Pacific region, represented by the Registrars’ & Heads of the respective cooperative departments – Mr. Iosefo Koroidimuri (Fiji); Mr. Joe Iauko (Vanuatu), Mr. Ataake Baruo (Kiribati) and Mr. Brian Waffi (Papua New Guinea) participated in the workshop along with those from Samoa and Solomon Islands. The workshop fostered a sense of camaraderie among cooperative registrars. Plans to establish a Pacific Island Cooperative Network were discussed to share ideas, promote international trade, and improve cooperative governance. Other ICA member representatives such as Mr. Nick Hislop from BCCM, Australia and Ms. Maria Hidelita Bernal from FPSDC, Philippines, also participated in the workshop and shared best practices from their respective countries.

The UNDESA workshop in Fiji was a landmark event and provided a platform for cooperative leaders and stakeholders in the Pacific to learn and strategize through best practices and collaborations for sustainable development.