At a time of profound change in the international order, the need for global cooperation remains clear. Conflict, climate change, inequality and rapid advances in artificial intelligence demand collective action—and institutions that are equipped to deliver it. 

Against this backdrop, Cooperation Canada CEO, Kate Higgins, and Director of Policy and Advocacy, Paul Farran, joined members, global partners and leaders in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. Throughout a busy week, our focus was on supporting our members, strengthening relationships with global civil society allies, building new collaborations, and advocating for Canadian leadership on international cooperation. 

We were encouraged by Canada’s role in launching Partners for Multilateralism, an initiative bringing together countries across regions to uphold international law, strengthen and reform the multilateral system and translate shared commitments into practical cooperation. We also applaud the Canadian government for their leadership on humanitarian assistance and peace in Palestine, the High Seas Treaty, global health security and the Global Partnership for Education. Cooperation Canada welcomes this leadership and the opportunities it creates to advance shared solutions to global challenges. 

Cooperation Canada was thrilled to partner with the Starling Institute on their flagship event exploring the “new constellations” of actors and relationships shaping the international order. The discussion brought together diverse perspectives on the changes underway and the possibilities ahead. We thank the Starling Institute team and all contributors for their insights and for bringing this conversation together. 

These conversations reinforced a central message: renewing international cooperation requires us to challenge entrenched power, make space for new actors and voices, and change institutions that are falling short. 

Civil society has an essential role in that work. Throughout the week, we connected with global civil society colleagues and fellow national platforms to exchange perspectives, strengthen partnerships and explore opportunities for collective action. These relationships help build a stronger shared voice and deepen our capacity to respond to global challenges together. 

We also met with Ambassador David Lametti to discuss Canada’s work at the United Nations and how civil society can contribute. We were thrilled to see many Cooperation Canada members in New York, demonstrating the expertise and commitment it brings to international cooperation, and the value of collaboration between civil society, communities, government, private sector and knowledge partners in advancing shared priorities. 

A highlight of the week was bringing together Canadians working across the United Nations and the international cooperation system. The gathering created an opportunity to connect around a shared sense of purpose and commitment to Canada’s role in the world. We thank everyone who joined us, including the Honourable Randeep Sarai and the Honourable Mike Lake. 

Across these exchanges, we saw both the urgency of change and the energy to pursue it. We were inspired by the growing momentum behind the Accra Reset—an initiative anchored by heads of state to rebuild global development cooperation around practical sovereignty, the capacity to turn commitments into action, and shared prosperity in the Global South and beyond. The International Panel on Inequality—a proposed permanent global expert body, modelled on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to measure, track and address extreme disparities in wealth and income worldwide—offered further inspiration. Both initiatives reflect growing efforts to rethink how global institutions respond to today’s challenges. 

This moment calls for ambition. We must invest in the renewal of multilateralism, making our shared institutions more representative, legitimate and effective. Common rules and global cooperation remain essential to addressing challenges that no country can resolve alone. 

Cooperation Canada returned from New York inspired by the leadership, relationships and ideas encountered throughout the week. We look forward to working with our members, Canadian leaders and global partners to turn that momentum into action—and help shape a fairer, safer and more sustainable world.

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