In 2023, the global cooperative development community has been a source of inspiration for improving locally led development for better lives and better communities through cooperatives. I thank our OCDC members, partners and supporters for being part of our organization, whether partnering with OCDC’s International Cooperative Research Group (ICRG) on research, providing technical assistance to a cooperative, working on cooperative policy changes, providing enhanced member services to improve livelihoods or the plethora of other ways that our partners engage and connect with cooperatives globally. As I reflect on the impactful endeavors of our community in 2023, I am pleased to highlight some of OCDC’s achievements that have shaped the course of the year.

• Advocacy Achievements: Championing international cooperative development at the U.S. Capitol is an annual activity that I enjoy because we have so many good things to share with policymakers. Research shows that cooperative members are better off financially than those that don’t join, cooperatives are a pathway for women to join the formal economy, and cooperatives are locally led development. This data has a significant impact that draws bipartisan support in Congress. Congress provides $18.5 million annually for USAID’s Cooperative Development Program (CDP). This past summer, USAID awarded OCDC members $90 million over five years to continue implementing the CDP. Learn more here.
• United Nations Recognition and Global Engagement: The theme of the July 1^st International Day of Cooperatives was Cooperatives for Sustainable Development. In June, I was invited to participate in an Expert Panel at the United Nations (UN). Cooperators from around the world met to develop resolutions on the role of cooperatives in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I must admit while we have much work ahead of us to achieve the SDGs, cooperatives are leading the way.
• The UN continues to support cooperatives and our role in providing social and economic inclusion around the world and declared an International Year of Cooperatives in 2025. Over 100 countries co-sponsored the resolution at the UN. I have been invited by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) to join the G20 Working Group. The G20 is comprised of the 20 largest country economies across the globe. The goal of the G20 Working Group is to ensure that cooperatives are included in the official resolutions. OCDC will be able to make a great contribution because of the evidence-based research conducted by the ICRG.
• New Award: In 2018, OCDC was awarded a cooperative agreement from USAID to fund the Cooperative Research, Education and Dissemination (CRED) program under the CDP. Since then, the ICRG has used its distinctive and rigorous methodology to pioneer the creation of new knowledge in 57 research projects across 21 countries, elevating the uptake and impact of cooperatives in the Global South. This year, USAID demonstrated its continued support of OCDC by awarding a new five-year award for our Cooperative Impact and Innovation through Research, Collaboration, Learning and Evidence (CIIRCLE) project. Look for more to come on this new program throughout 2024.
• IMPACT Conference: OCDC and our members once again collaborated with NCBA CLUSA to co-sponsor the international track of the Cooperative IMPACT Conference. The conference, themed Rooted, Resilient, and Ready, brought new energy and ideas with attendance from youth cooperative leaders from across the globe. Learn more here.

Looking forward to 2024, I am pleased to share that the OCDC Board of Directors has approved exploration of a new OCDC Associate Member category. We are hopeful to connect with Cooperative Development Organizations from around the world and continue to make OCDC the go to place for information, research and tools as we focus on our mission to Champion, Advocate and Promote effective international cooperative development.