Following the Panama Declaration, the cooperative movement is taking its call for a peace economy to Lumbini, Nepal, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The World Summit for Peace Through Cooperatives, under the theme “Cooperatives for a Peaceful World,” will be held from 10 to 12 December 2026 at the Lumbini International Buddhist Meditation Center, bringing together cooperative leaders, policymakers, development partners and peace advocates from around the world.

The summit is organized by the National Cooperative Federation of Nepal (NCF), the apex body of Nepal’s cooperative movement, which provides national leadership to more than 32,000 cooperatives, in partnership with ICA and ICA-AP, government bodies, national federations and development and peace institutions. Around 650 delegates are expected, including 150 from outside Nepal.

The summit builds on a conviction voiced by ICA President Dr. Ariel Guarco, who has pointed out that more than 120 armed conflicts continue worldwide while military spending has risen for eleven consecutive years to USD 2.89 trillion, even as over 830 million people live on less than USD 2.15 a day. Cooperatives, the organizers note, act as “schools of peace,” building dialogue, transparency and solidarity across differences, and laying the foundations for positive peace before, during and after crises.

Over three days, delegates will explore themes including cooperatives and peacebuilding, economic equality, youth leadership and innovation, women’s empowerment, climate change and sustainability, alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, digital transformation and global partnerships. The programme opens with a ceremony, keynote addresses and high-level panels, moves to technical sessions, policy dialogues and the drafting of a summit declaration, and closes with field visits to local cooperative enterprises and a peace tour of the Buddha’s birthplace.

The summit will conclude with the adoption of the Lumbini Declaration for Peace through Cooperatives. Other planned outcomes include a proceedings report, policy recommendations for governments and international cooperative bodies, a Youth Cooperation Network and a Global Cooperative Peace Platform, with annual follow-up forums to keep the momentum going.

The registration fee is USD 250 per participant. Participants are expected to bear their own international and domestic airfare and hotel costs, while NCF will provide ground transportation, a half-day Lumbini heritage site visit and lunch throughout the three days. For ICA-AP members across the region, the summit offers a timely chance to turn the Panama commitments into shared action, and members are encouraged to register early.

For registration and enquiries, contact ncfcoop@gmail.com or ncfconference@gmail.com.

To register for the summit, Click here.