Global Cooperative Leaders to Gather in Lumbini for World Peace, Registration Open for Participants

Kathmandu : Nepal's Lumbini is set to host the 'The World Summit for Peace through Cooperatives' from December 10 to 12, 2026, with the aim of promoting peace and prosperity through cooperatives.

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The summit will be held at the Lumbini International Buddhist Meditation Centre under the theme "Cooperatives for a Peaceful World."

The National Cooperative Federation of Nepal (NCF), the apex body of Nepal's cooperative movement, is organizing the event in collaboration with the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), ICA Asia-Pacific (ICA-AP), government agencies, national cooperative unions and organizations working in development and peace.

Around 650 participants from across the world are expected to attend the summit, including approximately 150 international delegates, according to the organizers.

The summit aims to strengthen the global movement for peace through cooperatives, which gained momentum following the Panama Declaration. The organizers say cooperatives can play an important role in promoting dialogue, trust, unity and social harmony at a time when conflicts are increasing around the world.

According to the figures presented by the organizers, more than 120 armed conflicts are currently taking place worldwide. Global military spending reached USD 2.89 trillion in 2025, marking the 11th consecutive year of growth.

International Cooperative Alliance President Dr. Ariel Guarco has also emphasized the role of cooperatives in building peace through dialogue, transparency, unity and mutual trust.

The organizers believe cooperatives can also help reduce economic inequality, particularly as more than 830 million people worldwide are living on less than USD 2.15 a day.

Acting Chairperson of the National Cooperative Federation, Ramesh Prasad Pokharel, said the three-day summit will focus on cooperative contributions to peacebuilding, economic equality, youth leadership and innovation, women's empowerment, climate change, sustainability, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), digital transformation and global partnerships.

The first day will feature the opening ceremony, keynote speeches and high-level discussions. The second day will include technical sessions, policy dialogues and discussions on preparing the summit declaration. On the final day, participants will visit local cooperative institutions and Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha.

One of the major outcomes of the summit will be the 'Lumbini Declaration for Peace through Cooperatives.' The organizers also plan to publish a summit report, present policy recommendations to the government and international cooperative bodies, establish a youth cooperation network and launch a Global Cooperative Peace Forum.

Annual follow-up and review programmes will also be organized to ensure the implementation of the summit's outcomes.

The registration fee has been set at NPR 6,000 for Nepali participants and USD 250 for foreign participants. Participants will have to cover their own hotel expenses.

The organizers will provide local transportation, a half-day visit to heritage sites in Lumbini, and breakfast and lunch during the three-day summit.

The federation has particularly encouraged ICA member organizations from the Asia-Pacific region to participate in the event.

Acting Chairperson Pokharel said the summit would provide an important opportunity to turn the commitments made under the Panama Declaration into practical action.

For registration and further information, interested participants can contact ncfcoop@gmail.com or ncfconference@gmail.com.

Eight Key Areas of Discussion

The summit will focus on eight major areas related to peacebuilding and sustainable development through cooperatives.

The key topics include the role of cooperatives in conflict prevention and resolution, reducing economic inequality, youth leadership and innovation, women's empowerment, climate change and sustainability, the contribution of cooperatives to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), digital transformation and international partnerships.

The summit also aims to strengthen the role of cooperatives in promoting global peace, social harmony and sustainable development. It seeks to establish cooperatives as an important means of inclusive economic growth and peacebuilding.

Participants will discuss how cooperatives can contribute to peace and social harmony. They will also share successful practices, new technologies and cooperative development strategies from different countries.

The summit will further emphasize stronger cooperation among governments, cooperative movements and international development partners.

Developing youth and women's leadership, creating supportive legal and policy frameworks for cooperative development, and preparing a common action plan for global peace will also be among the key priorities.

In addition, the summit aims to promote Lumbini as an international center for dialogue on peace.