What is CO[OPERA] 2026?
At its core, CO[OPERA] 2026, Italy’s National Conference on Development Cooperation, reflected a simple truth: progress depends on people and on partnerships. Real change happens when governments, institutions, businesses, and civil society come together around a shared purpose. That spirit of collaboration was felt throughout the conference, echoed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Antonio Tajani: “Italy strives for equal partnerships with other countries, thanks to our ability to empathize with the communities where we operate outside our national borders.”
![Antonio Tajani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy. Photo: CO[OPERA] 2026](https://sdgactioncampaign.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/024709062026-1024x712.webp)
How Does Creativity Support International Cooperation?
At the UN SDG Action Campaign, we were proud to contribute to the conference by bringing two artists who demonstrated how creativity and art can inspire reflection, challenge perspectives, and spark collective action. Those two Heroes of Tomorrow, with their artistic work, are driving change and shaping our shared future, while strengthening connections between people and their emotions.
In the opening plenary, the artivist and singer-songwriter Cill performed a powerful song, “All You’ve Got”. Her performance was a compelling call for active citizenship and collective action, reminding the audience that “my voice is my platform; the goal is to reform.” Her message brought a sense of urgency by warning that “the bridge we fail to fix today will fall upon the children” and encouraged individuals to move beyond awareness and play an active role in building more just and accountable societies.
In the closing plenary, Alhanislam, Nigerian spoken-word poet, the UN’s first Global Advocate for Peace, and the 2024 Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards Finalist, performed a powerful poem written exclusively for CO[OPERA] titled “Rome”. The piece explored history, migration, and shared responsibility, while calling for a more equal and forward-looking partnership between Italy and Africa.
Alhanislam’s words reminded the audience that “reverence belongs to those who understood humanity in time,” underscoring the importance of learning from the past to build a more just future. Reframing narratives around the continent, she affirmed that “Africa is not the edge of the world. Africa is the pulse of the next one,” highlighting its central role in global progress.
She further invoked the legacy of Enrico Mattei, who also looked at the architecture of global cooperation and dared to ask, “What if partnership did not have to kneel?”, using his question to challenge today’s world to imagine collaboration rooted in dignity. Her message ultimately called for unity over division, captured in the powerful line: “the bridge was always wiser than the border.”
Looking Forward
As captured in the highlights video, the conference showed that meaningful change starts with connection, by bringing together different voices, perspectives, and ideas to build shared understanding.
It reminded us that despite today’s challenges, there is still enormous energy, creativity, and determination to build a more just, peaceful, and sustainable future. The task ahead is to turn dialogue into action—together.
Key Takeaways
- CO[OPERA] 2026 demonstrated that art and poetry can translate SDG priorities into emotionally resonant, action-oriented language.
- Creativity in international dialogues is a strategic communication tool, not a symbolic gesture.
- Cill’s “All You’ve Got” reframed civic participation as personal responsibility.
- Alhanislam’s “Rome” challenged extractive narratives around Africa–Europe cooperation and called for dignity-based partnership.
