CUK Conference 2025

🌍 Conference Objectives

The general objective of the 2025 Joint Conference is to examine the role of cooperatives in addressing contemporary challenges facing African and African diaspora communities. Specifically, the key objectives of the event will be to:

Document and analyze the historical evolution of African and African Diaspora cooperatives.
Examine the role of cooperatives in addressing contemporary challenges.
Explore innovative cooperative models and their potential applications.
Foster international collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Develop actionable frameworks for strengthening cooperative movements.

Target Participants

The 2025 Joint Conference will gather researchers, practitioners, industry players, policy makers from National and County Governments, and students to exchange and share knowledge and experience in the areas identified in the sub-themes.

Key Outputs from the Confernce

(1) Linkages and networking among cooperative stakeholders and academia in the cooperative ecosystem locally and internationally.
(2) Interventions and re-alignments needed to enable the Cooperative movement for African and African Diaspora communities as it plays a leading role as a catalyst of sustainable development and adaptation.
(3) Publication of Conference proceedings.
(4) Publication of selected papers in CUK’s journals: “African Journal of Co-operative Development and Technology - AJCDT” and “Journal of Social Sciences, Business and Technology - JSSBT.”
(5) Formation of an international network for African and diaspora cooperative scholars and practitioners.
(6) Further strengthening CUK as a Center of Excellence in Innovation, Research, and Training in the area of African and African Diaspora cooperatives development.
(7) Development of policy recommendations for strengthening the cooperative movement.
(8) Documentation of best practices and successful cooperative models.
(9) Creation of a digital repository of African diaspora cooperative history and resources.

📜 Thematic Areas

The CUK 2025 Joint Conference is centered on the transformative potential of cooperatives in addressing critical socio-economic and environmental challenges faced by Africa and its Diaspora communities. Aligned with the 2025 UN International Year of Cooperatives, the conference seeks to highlight how cooperatives can serve as vehicles for economic empowerment, social justice, and sustainable community development.

By reenergizing the cooperative movement, the conference aims to foster collaboration, innovation, and resilience, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and sustainable world. The central question guiding the conference is: What role can cooperatives play in empowering African and African Diaspora communities to overcome systemic challenges and achieve collective prosperity?

Thematic areas | Objectives

🌍 Conference Objectives

Target Participants

Key Outputs from the Confernce

📜 Thematic Areas

Historical Perspective of the Cooperative Movement

Contemporary Applications

Innovation and Future Directions

Global Challenges & Cooperative Solutions

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation