The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) is a Brussels-based global organisation established in 1895. Its founding congress in London gathered nearly 200 delegates from 14 countries to advance the cooperative movement internationally. Since its inception, ICA has aimed to promote knowledge sharing, uphold cooperative values, and facilitate commercial links among cooperatives worldwide.
Today, the ICA operates through its main office in Brussels, supported by four regional offices spanning Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. The structure is complemented by eight sectoral organisations covering fields such as agriculture, banking, retail, fisheries, health, housing, insurance, and industry and services. ICA’s members, numbering over 300, represent more than one billion people spread across more than half of the world’s countries.
The organisation is the custodian of the Statement on the Cooperative Identity, which sets out the definition and guiding principles for cooperatives internationally. Some milestones in its history include UN recognition in 1946, the refinement of cooperative principles, and formal partnerships with institutions like the International Labour Organization and the European Commission.
The ICA convenes regional and global congresses and supports research, advocacy, and policy work. Its activities range from organising studies on cooperative contributions to the economy to developing international standards and supporting networking among members. Recent projects include conferences on the future of work for cooperatives and the continual development of sector-specific resources. The alliance maintains a position of political and religious neutrality, consistent with its founding principles.