This week, UBU Holdings joins the 5th Conference on Cooperatives & the Solidarity Economy (CCSE) in Sandton – a gathering of thinkers, practitioners, and partners committed to reimagining how economies can serve people, not just profit.

The conference theme, “Building a Better World Together,” echoes deeply with UBU’s work in strengthening cooperative-led development in South Africa.

Over the past year, UBU has been working alongside communities to build sustainable cooperative ecosystems from Siyakhula Bhaziya in the Eastern Cape, a model for rural transformation and shared ownership, to The Motor Spares Collective, which is empowering township mechanics to co-own their value chain.

Both initiatives reflect the same principle that drives this year’s conference: that progress comes from participation.

For UBU, attending platforms like the CCSE is part of a capacity-building journey, an opportunity to learn by doing, to engage with peers in the cooperative ecosystem, and to strengthen our approach through shared insights and collaboration.

These moments of exchange deepen our understanding of how solidarity economies can be scaled with credibility, integrity, and trust, values that remain at the heart of UBU’s mission.

As we participate in this year’s conference, we do so not only to share our experiences, but to continue learning, building the practical knowledge needed to support communities and cooperatives across South Africa in meaningful, sustainable ways.