The second edition of the Global Youth Forum on cooperative entrepreneurship took place as a virtual event between Mar 25 and 27, 2021. As was the case in the first edition, GYF 2021 aimed at bringing together young co-operators to improve their skills, knowledge and motivation.

The session on "What did cooperatives do around the global COVID19 pandemic?" was facilitated Francesca Martinelli from Centro Studi Doc Foundation in Italy. ILO COOP Manager Simel Esim’s started her presentation with a short video from the ILO on cooperative responses to COVID19 global pandemic from different sectors. She also shared ILO COOP activities around the global pandemic including new online training tools, adaptations to projects, launching resource page on crises response through cooperatives.

Other speakers at the session shared cooperative experiences during the global pandemic from different regions including Sion Whellens (Calverts UK and CICOPA Europe), Salonie Muralidhara Hiriyur (SEWA Cooperative Federation in India), Iruma Tanaka (Seikatsu Club Kanagawa in Japan), Mo Manklang (US Federation of Worker Cooperatives), Samuel Oloo (Mutarakwa Harmony Cooperative in Kenya), and Camila Piñeiro Harnecker (NCBA CLUSA).

In the ensuing discussion, the participants asked about the role of cooperatives in relieving the pressures that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) face during COVID19. They also asked for examples of cooperatives in the health sector. The speakers were also asked to reflect on how cooperatives may fare in building a better normal in the post-COVID19 period.