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Update from the ICA General Assembly in November
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The ICA General Assembly on 29 November in New Delhi, India passed all items presented to members for decision. Here you can find some highlights, and the photos are here.
The ICA General Assembly decided to extend the current 4-year cycle for membership fee and voting rights calculations by one year. This means there will not be a recalculation based on updated membership figures in 2025. The ICA Board is continuing to work on a new scheme for membership fees and voting rights, and hopes to present it to the General Assembly in July. Members will have a number of opportunities to express their opinions about the proposals in early 2025. Learn more about the proposals in the latest meeting documentation provided to the General Assembly, starting on page 53.
The Cooperative Identity Consultation and Recommendations report was received well at the General Assembly, leading to lively discussion. Read the report and recommendations from page 63 onwards. Meanwhile, the General Assembly adopted the ICA Board of Directors’ recommendations on articulating, living, communicating and protecting our shared cooperative identity. They also agreed to call for a congress at a time and location determined by the ICA Board of Directors to consider changes to the Statement on the Cooperative Identity.
To mark the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives 2025, the UK Co-operative Movement will host the next ICA General Assembly on 2 July, under a wider programme of cooperative activities taking place from 2–5 July 2025 in Manchester in the UK. |
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IYC2025
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Global IYC2025 Launch in New Delhi
The 2025 UN International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025), themed Cooperatives Build a Better World, was officially launched on 25 November 2024 during the ICA Global Conference in New Delhi, India. This historic event was inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister, Hon. Narendra Modi, who emphasised the critical role cooperatives play in sustainable development and thanked the UN for designating 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives. We proudly hoisted the IYC2025 flag in Delhi and beyond (watch the video here).
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the gathering via a video message, highlighting cooperatives' contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and their relevance to the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), taking place in Doha, Qatar from 4-6 November 2025.
Other high-profile speakers including H.E. Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan; Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji; Mr. Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India, and the ICA President Dr. Ariel Guarco underscored cooperatives' transformative role in promoting inclusive economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability.
IYC2025 Objectives
The UN IYC2025 will focus on:
- Raising Awareness: Showcasing the transformative power of cooperatives in fostering sustainable development.
- Strengthening Policies: Advocating for policies and legal frameworks to create an enabling environment for cooperatives’ growth and development.
- Building Partnerships: Encouraging cross-sectoral, national, regional and global collaborations to amplify cooperatives’ impact on society, and accelerating SDG implementation.
- Empowering Leaders: Enhancing the capacity of cooperative members and leaders and inspiring young people to join the movement.
Get Involved: National Mechanisms and Collaboration
The UN encourages the formation of national coordination mechanisms to localise IYC2025 initiatives and enhance coordinated actions across regions. Please, connect with ICA Policy Director Joseph Njuguna at Njuguna@ica.coop to get more information. These mechanisms aim to:
- Disseminate global messages to stakeholders at the local level
- Facilitate the coordination of activities across local, national and regional levels.
Detailed guidelines for creating national committees can be found in the National Mechanisms Guidelines.
Governments, cooperatives, civil society and other stakeholders are invited to:
- Use the IYC2025 logo and branding materials to promote the IYC.
- Host events and engage in campaigns to raise awareness of cooperatives’ contributions to sustainable development.
- Organise activities that accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
To maximise engagement, the dedicated IYC2025 interactive website (https://2025.coop/) serves as a hub for:
- Updates on IYC2025 initiatives.
- Information on events and campaigns.
- Opportunities for stakeholders to connect, collaborate and share details of their events and initiatives.
CM50 to champion the cooperative and mutual business model
The first meeting of the Cooperatives and Mutuals Leadership Circle (CM50) was held online on 22 January. As shared by ICA Director General at the general assembly in New Delhi, India, this initiative brings together cooperative and mutual leaders from across the globe, many from the World Cooperative Monitor list. This gathering marks the launch of a dedicated effort by the ICA to expand the cooperative and mutuals market share as part of the UN 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and beyond. Leveraging the IYC2025, the CM50 first aim is to present a Charter and a Commitment Plan during the Second UN World Summit of Social Development (WSSD2) to be held from 4 to 6 November, in Doha, Qatar. The CM50 CEOs will champion the cooperative and mutual business model on the global stage, showcasing its potential to accelerate on the SDGs. We have prepared a press release you can read before anyone else here, we will soon send it to our whole database soon
2025: A golden opportunity to light up cooperatives
How can we – together – make the most of this International Year of Cooperatives? 2025 is a huge opportunity to gain greater visibility, to be seen and heard, and to encourage more people to join our movement. As Iñigo Albizuri Landazbal, Global Public Relations Head at Mondragon Corporation; Leire Luengo, ICA Director of Communications; Howard Brodsky, President of CCA Global, and Rinky Kumari, a social entrepreneur in India agreed during the Communications session in New Delhi, “Too much of the world knows too little about cooperatives”.
Let’s tell our cooperative story, and tell it powerfully, “because one light is small and easily missed. But lots of lights in the dark are visible”. Watch the session and get inspired.
***This is a call to communications professionals from ICA members’ organisations***
Join the ICA Communications Network today! Write to luengo@ica.coop to find out more. Because the more coordinated we are, the further we will get. We call on our member organisations to shout out loud in their countries and regions: get the cooperative word out in the media and take advantage of this special year to get greater visibility.
To make it easy for you, we’ve developed a series of materials, a logo, and a dedicated website. Tell us what you’re planning and we’ll make sure others get inspired too. We would love to share the events you’re organising on www.2025.coop.
Stay tuned to find out about our upcoming campaign for a collection of cooperative stories.
IYC Logo application and guidelines
Non-UN entities and organisations interested in using the IYC2025 logo must adhere to specific guidelines provided by the United Nations. The logo is available in six official UN languages – English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian – and it can be adapted to your regional/national language too! The ICA has facilitated members the adaptation of the logo in Italian, German, Turkish, Polish and Malay.
Please follow these steps:
- Review the Branding Guidelines: Before applying, carefully read the guidelines to ensure proper use of the logo.
- Submit an application: Complete and submit the application form, which will be reviewed by the IYC Secretariat.
- Sign the Waiver of Liability: As part of the process you will need to sign and submit a waiver of liability.
- Wait for Approval: The approval process typically takes one to two weeks.
- Receive the Logo Files: Once approved, you will be provided with the logo files to use in your materials throughout 2025.
For more information on the IYC logo or accessing branding guidelines, contact the IYC Secretariat at copac@copac.coop.
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Policy Processes
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The ICA continues to champion the cooperative movement on key global policy platforms. Recent and forthcoming activities include:
- G20: In 2024, the ICA collaborated with members in Brazil, led by OCB, to advocate for cooperatives’ inclusion in B20 taskforces during Brazil's G20 Presidency. This engagement will extend into South Africa’s G20 Presidency in 2025.
- G7: In 2024, the ICA worked with members in Italy, led by the Italian Cooperative Alliance, enabling cooperatives to participate in C7 working groups for the first time during Italy's G7 Presidency. Preparations are underway for continued engagement during Canada’s G7 Presidency in 2025.
- COP30: The ICA is preparing for cooperatives’ participation in COP30 in Brazil in 2025, in collaboration with OCB.
- UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF): Scheduled for 14–23 July 2025 at the UN Headquarters in New York, the HLPF will provide a platform to showcase cooperatives' contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4): This event in Spain from 30 June–3 July 2025 offers an opportunity to highlight the financial sustainability of cooperatives.
- Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2): Scheduled for 4–6 November 2025 in Doha, Qatar, the summit will focus on advancing social equity and development. The ICA aims to showcase the critical role of cooperatives in fostering solidarity, social inclusion, social cohesion and economic development. In collaboration with COPAC, the ICA plans to host the closing event for the IYC2025 during the summit, marking the culmination of the year’s global cooperative celebrations.
The UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025 (IYC2025) will serve as the cornerstone of our efforts, amplifying cooperatives’ contributions on these global stages. We encourage our members to actively engage in these platforms, raise awareness of cooperatives’ impact, advocate and influence policies and legal frameworks to support cooperative growth worldwide, and build partnerships with institutions, governments, international organisations and other stakeholders. |
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Intercooperation
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We are pleased to announce a new partnership between the ICA and Fairtrade International. Through this partnership, the ICA will be able to help improve international trade for members. Read more. |
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Meeting members
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Closer to our members
Since our latest newsletter in October 2024, the ICA Director General has recently visited members in Brazil, Belgium, the UK and India.
We’re pleased to welcome the following new members:
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Thematic Committees
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ICA’s Thematic Committees provide the opportunity for peer learning within essential areas. They also help the ICA respond to members’ concerns in thematic areas: research, gender equality, youth, law and development.
Gender Equality Committee
The Global Gender Equality Committee (GEC) of the ICA held its annual plenary meeting in December 2024; a key space to define and strengthen strategic actions going into 2025, declared the International Year of Cooperatives by the United Nations.
During this session, the GEC Presidency presented the report on activities carried out in the latter months of 2024, and each region also shared their respective reports.
In line with its commitment to strengthen institutional governance, the committee made progress on reviewing its law, a process led with the support of the ICA’s Legislation Commission. As part of this effort, it was agreed that a dedicated session should be held to evaluate the proposed changes, and an extraordinary assembly in March to submit them for the Global Council’s approval in April.
During this final session of the year, the 2025 Annual Work Plan was presented and approved. This document builds on the previous plan, and includes actions aimed at expanding communication and visibility of GEC activities through social media and its website. Read more.
Youth Committee
Youth Representatives of the ICA Youth Committee attended the Annual Plenary Meeting on 28 November 2024 in New Delhi in conjunction with ICA's Global Cooperative Conference. 2024’s accomplishments were discussed in the APM, which included opening an Instagram profile. Follow #coopyouth.
The Youth Committee also helped organise and promote the coopathon which took place from 26-28 November in New Delhi, and the third edition of the Youth Leadership Exchange Programme (YLEP).
In 2025, the Youth Committee will organise onsite and hybrid Cooperative Spring Training of Trainers programmes. Join the Youth Committee and be the first to learn about opportunities: contact Gretchen Hacquard at hacquard@ica.coop. |
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Sectors and regions
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ICA’s four regional and eight sectoral organisations represent the ICA across regions and sectors by providing valuable resources to members. Get involved and learn more about them.
Cooperatives in Educational Institutions: Strengthening Cooperative Identity – Parallel Session at ICA Global Cooperative Conference
At the ICA Global Cooperative Conference 2024 in New Delhi, the ICA-AP Committee on Cooperatives in Educational Institutions (ICEI) hosted a session titled "Cooperatives in Educational Institutions: Strengthening Cooperative Identity through Praxis and Leadership". The discussion highlighted the role of Cooperatives in Educational Institutions (CEIs) in fostering leadership and embedding cooperative values among youth to ensure generational renewal. Panellists from various countries including India, Malaysia, Spain and Japan, shared insights on the transformative impact of CEIs, showcasing case studies and initiatives that promote self-reliance, financial literacy, democratic governance, and entrepreneurial skills. The session highlighted the significant role of Cooperative Principle 5 – Education, Training, and Information – in shaping the movement’s future leaders. It emphasised the need for sustained investment, global collaboration, and integration of cooperative education in schools and universities to strengthen cooperative identity and cultivate values-driven leadership. With nearly 150 attendees, the session concluded with a call for collective action to scale and sustain CEI initiatives globally. Read more.
Empowered Leadership, Thriving Cooperatives: Strengthening Governance for a Better Tomorrow
In response to a members’ need assessment survey conducted as part of the ICA-EU Financial Framework Partnership Agreement 2 (FFPA 2), ICA-AP launched a series of online training programmes on “Empowered Leadership, Thriving Cooperatives: Strengthening Governance for Better Tomorrow”. The programme aims to equip cooperative leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the complex challenges of the modern world. The training will focus on enhancing leadership capabilities, tools and strategies necessary to lead effectively, promoting good governance practices and ultimately driving cooperatives toward sustainable growth and success.
On 18 November 2024, the first training of the series, a virtual training session on “Cooperative Governance, Challenges, and Solutions”, was conducted with 21 participants from 18 member organisations. Facilitated by Access Livelihoods, a social enterprise working on improving livelihoods in India, the interactive session covered the principles of cooperative governance, unique governance structures, common challenges and their solutions, using case studies and discussions to enhance practical learning. Read more.
ICA-MAFF (Govt. of Japan) Training Programme
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of the Government of Japan has collaborated with the International Cooperative Alliance through its Asia-Pacific regional office, on the implementation of the “Capacity Building Project for Agriculture Cooperative Sector in Asia and Africa (CBC Project in AA) – in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 of Japan.”
The first training, on Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture and Improvement of Farmer's Income through Development of Agricultural Cooperatives was held in Thailand and Japan. It aimed to review and study the roles of farmers’ organisations and find new ways to achieve “sustainable agriculture”. Seven participants from seven countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand) undertook the training.
Another training focused on African countries, titled Capacity Building of Farmers to Respond to Challenges through Development of Agricultural Cooperatives, was held in Japan. A total of six participants from Cameroon, Eswatini, Malawi, Mauritius, and Tanzania were nominated by the ICA Africa Office and the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) to learn the ways farmers are organised into cooperatives in Japan, and how to establish and strengthen agricultural businesses. This training takes a unique approach, exposing participants to agricultural cooperatives through a mix of classroom sessions and field visits. Each participant prepares an action plan, which is then implemented in their respective countries after the training.
News from the International Cooperative Banking Association (ICBA)
ICBA organized their General Meeting and Board meetings on 28 November 2024 in New Delhi, India. ICBA members from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas attended. MUFID Union, Cameroon was admitted as member of the ICBA. Shri Amit Shah ji, Hon. Union Minister for Home and Cooperation, inaugurated the joint opening ceremony of the National Federation of State Cooperative Banks Ltd. (NAFSCOB) Diamond Jubilee celebration and the ICBA.
The last issue of our Members’ Brief missed some news from the Americas, sent by our colleagues. Please accept our apologies for the oversight, you can read the articles via the following links:
Participation in the 23rd Cooperative Congress in Colombia
https://aciamericas.coop/en/noticias/participacion-en-el-23-congreso-cooperativo-en-colombia/
Accompanying Fecopar on its 17th anniversary
https://aciamericas.coop/en/noticias/acompanamiento-a-fecopar-en-su-17-aniversario/
Awareness Day on Cooperative Social Balance held: the tool to measure and report on cooperative impact
https://aciamericas.coop/en/noticias/se-realizo-la-jornada-de-sensibilizacion-sobre-balance-social-cooperativo-la-herramienta-para-medir-e-informar-sobre-el-impacto-cooperativo/
The first training internship in Argentina
https://aciamericas.coop/en/noticias/culmino-con-exito-la-primera-pasantia-formativa-en-argentina/
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More ICA News
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You can also find the latest cooperative movement news on www.ica.coop and our social media channels on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook, where our team keeps you in the loop. Stay in contact with us, and spread the word using the hashtag #WeAreCoops #IYC2025 #CoopsYear!
Upcoming Events
View a calendar of key events planned for IYC 2025 here.
There are a number of regional, sectoral, thematic and global virtual and live events in the coming months. Click the link below to see them and find out how you can take part. |
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