At a time when Syria is undergoing a critical transitional phase that necessitates the concerted efforts of all national and social forces for reconstruction and achieving comprehensive economic and social recovery, the international community is commemorating the International Day of Cooperatives under the auspices of the United Nations on the first Saturday of July.
The Syrian Future Movement examines the historical roots of this international day, which was officially established by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 47/90, marking its inception in 1995. This day stimulates developmental partnerships between the international community and the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), founded in 1895, and serves as an annual platform to assess the impact of organized collective action in combating poverty and unemployment.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that this international occasion, in its essence, calls for the consolidation of a civilizational value system that transcends traditional economic models and is based primarily on: self-reliance, shared responsibility, participatory democracy, equality, and social justice, alongside ethical values that promote transparency, integrity, social responsibility, and concern for others.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the ultimate goal this day reinforces is empowering the most vulnerable communities by institutionalizing their individual efforts and transforming them into economic and productive blocs capable of withstanding structural crises. This constitutes the core vision needed in the Syrian reality today to transition from direct relief to comprehensive and sustainable development.
The Syrian Future Movement views cooperative work as a modern and civilized national philosophy that contributes to bridging the developmental gaps left by years of war and establishes a socio-economic model that guarantees distributive justice and the participation of the most displaced and affected groups.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that the cooperative structure empowers Syrian local communities to become self-reliant and to shift from a “relief and aid” mentality to one of “sustainable development and production.” This is essential for the transitional phase to ensure resource sustainability and the reintegration of the workforce.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the core values advocated by this international occasion; Self-reliance, shared responsibility, democracy, equality, and justice are the very constitutional and social principles upon which the future Syria must be built to overcome the effects of the crisis and move towards stability.
Based on reports from the United Nations and the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the Syrian Future Movement notes that the cooperative movement comprises more than 1.2 billion members worldwide, providing jobs and livelihoods for nearly 10% of the global workforce. The world’s 300 largest cooperatives generate revenues exceeding US$2.1 trillion, demonstrating the effectiveness of this sector as a robust and crisis-resistant economic force.
The Syrian Future Movement draws considerable attention to development reports specific to Syria, which indicate that vital sectors (such as agriculture, handicrafts, and small services) represent the backbone of the livelihoods of more than 75% of Syrians today. However, the absence of organized and modern cooperative structures, weak funding, and fragmented initiatives deprive these sectors of the benefits of economies of scale and limit their ability to lead the recovery phase.
Based on the requirements of the Syrian transitional phase, the Syrian Future Movement puts forward the following recommendations:
- Developing the Legislative Environment: It is essential to draft a modern and unified law for cooperatives in Syria that transcends outdated bureaucracy and grants housing, agricultural, and production cooperatives modern investment flexibility, along with incentive tax exemptions for the next five years.
- Establishing a National Fund to Support Cooperatives: It is crucial to forge a partnership between national capital and international organizations to create a revolving fund that provides accessible loans to emerging cooperative societies, particularly those led by women, youth, and displaced persons returning to their areas.
- Digital Transformation and Governance: We believe that the sustainability of cooperatives hinges on adopting sound governance practices and absolute transparency, and on transforming cooperative transactions and product marketing to digital platforms to connect Syrian producers directly with international markets without intermediaries.
- Linking Cooperatives to Alternative Energy Projects: We believe it is imperative to direct joint cooperative initiatives toward renewable energy production (solar and wind) to serve small agricultural and industrial clusters, thereby overcoming the current energy crisis that is crippling production.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms its full commitment to supporting every sincere national effort aimed at building a robust and balanced Syrian economy.
We see the International Day of Cooperatives as an opportunity to remind ourselves and our great people that God’s hand is with the community, and that solidarity and organized work are the only civilized gateway for Syria to reach the shores of safety and prosperity.
