Keeping ICA members better informed.

#21 | May 2025

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Exclusively for ICA members, the Members’ Brief keeps you in the loop about the ICA’s activities and member benefits.

This edition focuses on the ICA’s actions over the past few months, giving you important insights you won’t find elsewhere. Read about key activities in the cooperative movement including IYC2025, policy, capacity building, intercooperation, research and more, along with important upcoming events and others you may have missed.

IYC2025 is a pivotal global opportunity to raise awareness of the cooperative model and its vital contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A series of strategic initiatives, advocacy campaigns and high-level events will mark the year, showcasing cooperatives’ transformative impact across sectors and regions.

Key initiatives:

• National Committees
  We’re encouraging countries to set up or reactivate National Committees to coordinate local and national IYC activities, advocacy campaigns and stakeholder engagement, ensuring broad participation across sectors. Several countries have already established National Committees, reflecting a strong commitment to cooperative development. Apex organisations are urged to follow their lead in their own countries. For guidance, please contact Joseph Njuguna, ICA Director of Policy, at njuguna@ica.coop. Additional details can be found in the National Mechanisms Guidelines.  Existing National Committees are encouraged to share their focal point details with ICA to facilitate timely updates on global activities and boost visibility of national initiatives on the IYC2025 website.
  
  

• Advocacy Materials: IYC–SDG Briefs
  In collaboration with the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), the ICA (along with regional and sectoral organisations) is producing a monthly series of IYC–SDG Briefs to highlight cooperatives’ contributions to the SDGs. Designed as practical tools for policy engagement and awareness-raising, the briefs are aligned with the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in July 2025. Priority will be given to SDGs under in-depth review, namely: SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 5: Gender Equality; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 14: Life Below Water; SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
  Other SDGs will be covered each month to coincide with key international days, featuring data, case studies and policy recommendations to help inform decision-makers and amplify the voice of cooperatives globally.
  

  - The first brief was produced in March focusing on SDG 5, coinciding with Women's Day and the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

  - The second one was published in April focusing on SDG 3 on cooperatives' contribution to health and wellbeing of the community, coinciding with World Health Day.

• Communication opportunities: submit your IYC event, place cooperatives high in the agenda, monthly newsletters
  The ICA is encouraging its members to seize the opportunity IYC offers to give cooperatives the visibility they deserve!
  The IYC logo is being used by more than 850 organisations now and is translated into around 20 languages: have you got yours? Branding guidelines and materials are available at https://2025.coop/uselogo/. The IYC 2025 Media and Communications Toolkit is a comprehensive resource for journalists, media professionals, cooperative organisations, policymakers and advocates looking to amplify the impact of cooperatives worldwide, supporting effective storytelling and advocacy.
  The dedicated website is always up-to-date with the latest news. Please submit your events and make sure your members know they can be part of the IYC Global calendar!

Useful links

• Global calendar of IYC2025 events: https://iyc.2025.coop/.
• Add your IYC events: https://iyc.2025.coop/submit-your-event/.
• Media toolkit: https://2025.coop/mediakit/.
• More information on IYC activities and how you can get involved on the IYC website: https://2025.coop/.

The ICA communications team produces a monthly newsletter in collaboration with Cooperative News. Read the February issue, March issue, and April issue.

Dedicated to the policy brief theme, it includes interviews with key partners, the latest IYC events and highlights of #CoopsYear celebrations around the world... Tag @icacoops / #IYC2025 to be featured next month!

A Strategic Focus on WSSD2

The culmination of IYC2025 will be the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) in Doha, Qatar, from 4–6 November 2025. This high-level forum will spotlight cooperatives’ role in advancing inclusive social development, addressing global challenges, and shaping policies for equity, resilience and sustainability. The ICA will present a Global Cooperative Charter and Commitment Plan aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda, developed with the CM50 leadership network.

The theme for International Day of Cooperatives 2025 will be announced on 5 May – stay tuned!

Add your Cooperative Cultural Heritage Sites to the ICA World Map

Cooperative sites (towns/cities/regions) worldwide have birthed, bred and built national cooperative movements and are famous for being the cradles of cooperatives in their own right. For the UN International Year of Cooperatives, the ICA is creating a world map of these Cooperative Cultural Heritage Sites, as we call them, highlighting locations along with descriptions of their inspiring journeys, cooperative leaders and pioneers, and more!

The project is being led by the ICA Global Working Group on Cooperative Cultural Heritage, established under the chairmanship of the ICA Director General and mentorship of OCB, Brazil, with representatives from Japan, India, Nigeria, Morocco, Germany, the UK and Brazil all participating.

We look forward to learning more about your countries’ cooperative sites and promoting them throughout the cooperative movement and beyond. We want to raise awareness of the high cooperative standards they set, learning exchanges and strategic collaborations between sites. Contact Santosh Kumar, CCH WG Coordinator at the ICA Global Office at kumar@ica.coop by 31 May 2025 if you would like your country’s cradles of cooperation to be reviewed and listed on the world map, launching this year!

Global Government Summit on Social Innovation (Luxembourg, April 2025)

Hosted by Luxembourg’s Ministry of Labour, this high-level summit convened leaders from 50+ countries to strengthen social innovation and social economy policy. It saw the launch of the Global Government Council for Social Innovation (GCSI) to drive global coordination, peer learning, and integration of social impact into financial systems and public procurement.

Representing the ICA, Director of Policy Joseph Njuguna emphasised the long-standing role of cooperatives in social innovation. Cooperatives were hailed as foundational to social innovation ecosystems, offering democratic and resilient solutions to complex societal challenges.

The summit reinforced social innovation as a cross-cutting strategy rooted in equity, inclusion, and sustainability, and the ICA expressed its readiness to support governments in building thriving, cooperative-led social innovation ecosystems worldwide.

Read more.

Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69, March 2025)

At the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) at the UN in New York, cooperatives were spotlighted as innovative models for transforming global care systems. The side event co-hosted by COPAC, the Swedish government, We Effect, Cooperatives Europe, and the ICA explored how cooperatives can harness a multi-sectoral approach to tackle inequalities in unpaid and underpaid care work.

The ICA Gender Equality Committee President, Xiomara Nuñez de Céspedes, presented examples of women-led cooperatives improving care services, creating decent jobs and empowering caregivers. Participants called for increased investment in cooperative care models, and the implementation of fair pay and working conditions and policies recognising care work as a collective responsibility. They emphasised that care systems are essential to achieving gender equality and poverty reduction.

The session reaffirmed the role of cooperatives as transformative vehicles for social and gender justice, community empowerment and sustainable development. The ICA advocated for stronger collaboration between cooperatives and governments to build inclusive, resilient care systems, firmly positioning cooperatives on the global care and development agenda.

Learn more.

Commission for Social Development (CSocD63, February 2025)

The 63rd Commission for Social Development focused on the role of cooperatives and the social and solidarity economy (SSE) in advancing social justice and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The session showcased national strategies and best practices from countries including Mongolia, Paraguay, France and Uruguay.

ICA Director of Policy Joseph Njuguna introduced plans for a global cooperative charter and commitment plan for the upcoming World Social Summit. ICA Youth President Ana Aguirre emphasised the intergenerational value of cooperatives and the need to invest in youth-led initiatives. The session concluded with a call to enact laws, financing mechanisms and data systems to support cooperatives and SSE actors. Meanwhile, the ICA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting national and international efforts through the International Year of Cooperatives, reinforcing the cooperative model as a vital force for grassroots resilience, equity and inclusive development.

See it in the news.

Social Justice Policy Brief (ICA-COPAC, February 2025)

On World Day of Social Justice (20 February), the ICA and COPAC released a joint policy brief highlighting cooperatives as key drivers of social justice. With nearly 700 million people in extreme poverty and worsening global inequality, the brief presented cooperatives as practical, people-centred solutions to economic and social exclusion.

With more than ten case studies, the brief demonstrates how cooperatives empower marginalised communities, reduce inequality and promote inclusive economic growth. ICA President Ariel Guarco reiterated how cooperatives prove economic success and collective wellbeing can go hand-in-hand – especially in crises and recovery efforts.

In 2023, the ILO launched the Global Coalition for Social Justice. The ICA joined in 2024, underscoring its commitment to multilateral action to achieve the SDGs. The brief aligns with global calls to treat social justice as a foundational principle for sustainable development.

It also calls for governments and international institutions to recognise and scale cooperative models through supportive legal and policy frameworks. Cooperatives are not just service providers – they are changemakers, building fairer, more resilient societies. The ICA urges the global community to harness their full potential to advance social justice at a global scale.

Read the policy brief.

ICA advances its work on UNIDROIT Legal Guide

The ICA’s work with the prestigious International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) continues. The publication of a global Legal Guide on Collaborative Legal Structures for Agricultural Enterprises (CLSAE) is imminent. For the first time, UNIDROIT – a multilateral lawmaking body founded in 1926 – has included a chapter on agricultural cooperatives in a Legal Guide, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The CLSAE project builds on UNIDROIT's previous legal instruments – the Legal Guide on Contract Farming and the Legal Guide on Agricultural Land Investment Contracts.

Members of the working group include Prof. Hagen Henry, Chair of the ICA Cooperative Law Committee, and Prof. Cynthia Giagnocavo, Chair of the ICA Cooperative Research Committee, supported by Mr. Santosh Kumar, ICA Legislation Director. Together, they are shaping the Legal Guide's analysis of the legal characteristics and broader ecosystem of agricultural cooperatives.

The CLSAE project is based on the understanding that collaboration is crucial in helping smallholders and agri-MSMEs meet the challenges of global value chains. The project examines different cooperative legal structures, analysing their purposes, formation and entry requirements, governance systems, liability rules, enforcement mechanisms and exit and dissolution provisions. It distinguishes between horizontal and vertical forms of collaboration to illustrate the different legal frameworks that can be used across the agricultural value chain.

Cooperatives and Mutuals Leadership Circle - CM50

The ICA launched the Cooperatives and Mutuals Leadership Circle (CM50) website in March, including the main activities for 2025 and members’ bios. CM50 brings together cooperative and mutual leaders from across the globe, many from the World Cooperative Monitor list. This is 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.

Visit the CM50 website.

Close to our members.

The ICA continued its Members’ Chats. The most recent addition focused on what the ICA will be doing the next few years with the new ICA-EC Partnership #coops4dev🌍 and the value this work provides to members. If you missed it, you can watch the chat in English, French or Spanish using the passcode: 0f.z@VT=

The ICA Director General recently visited members in Sweden, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

ICA staff welcomed a delegation from Italy’s Alleanza Cooperativa Italiane to Cooperatives House to learn about the different ICA activities that provide value to members.

Since January, ICA President Ariel Guarco has visited:

• CEPES (Murcia and Valencia, Spain), 3–6 February;
• Members from the Americas at the Regional Launch of IYC hosted by Inacoop (Punta del Este, Uruguay), February 20;
• Members from Europe at the Leadership Forum, Brussels, 17 March;
• Members from the Dominican Republic at the ICA and Coop Americas Board meeting in Punta Cana, 2–5 April; and
• Conpacoop (Paraguay) at the national launch of IYC, Asuncion, 22 April.

We’re pleased to welcome the following new members:

• Malankara Credit Society Limited (MMSCCS) from India
• CoopGo Genossenschaftsverband e.V. from Germany

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. Get involved and learn more.

Call for Youth Representative nominations for the ICA Board

The President of the Youth Committee, Ana Aguirre, will be stepping down from her position. The President of the Youth Committee also serves on the ICA Board. The Youth Committee will hold an Annual Plenary Meeting on 3 July in Manchester to fill the vacancy until her term ends in 2026. Learn how ICA members can nominate a candidate.

Gender Equality Committee activities

ICA’s Gender Equality Committee (ICAGEC) held board meetings to update its rules of operation, taking into account the observations of the ICA’s Governance Committee.

The ICA GEC also released a message for Women’s Day, attended the United Nations General Assembly, and developed a joint panel with WE EFFECT, discussing how the Care Economy can be transformed collectively. UNDESA, COPAC and the ILO participated in this panel (see the Policy Processes section for more information). Learn more about other actions the GEC President has taken behalf of women cooperative members.

In commemoration of Women's History Month, the committee launched a call for videos telling inspiring stories of women in the movement. There’s still time to share valuable narratives that will continue to resonate beyond March – contact us at gec@ica.coop with yours.

This year, the ICA GEC is developing campaigns on female empowerment and the prevention of violence against women.

ICA’s four regional and eight sectoral organisations provide valuable resources to members to represent the alliance. Get involved and learn more.

Legal Framework Project update – Call for contributions

The Legal Framework Project is making great progress and is set to launch on 6 October at the ILO headquarters in Geneva. This initiative, led by the International Legal Research & Analysis Initiative (ILRAI) – a joint effort between ICA and CHI – aims to provide a global overview of laws and policies governing housing cooperatives.

So far, we’ve analysed questionnaire responses from 15 countries, but we’re still looking for more input to ensure a well-rounded and comprehensive study. If you have expertise in cooperative housing law and would like to contribute, we’d love to hear from you!

This research will cover key legal aspects such as:

• Governance & Membership Rights
• Financing & Taxation
• Dispute Resolution & Regulatory Frameworks

The findings will help strengthen advocacy efforts, support legislative reforms and provide a comparative analysis of cooperative housing laws worldwide. Results will also be presented at major events including the official launch on World Habitat Day (6 October) – a key moment in the lead-up to the International Year of Cooperatives 2025.

The questionnaire is available in English, French and Spanish to ensure accessibility to a wide range of participants.

Want to get involved? Reach out to info@chi.coop for more information or to participate in this important research.

Promoting gender equality in cooperatives through the establishment of National Cooperative Gender Platforms

In celebration of International Women’s Day, the International Cooperative Alliance-Africa (ICA-Africa) hosted a Validation Workshop on the Establishment of National Cooperative Gender Platforms (NCGP) on 28 March 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The workshop brought together cooperative leaders, gender advocates and stakeholders to create a framework advancing gender inclusivity and equality in the cooperative movement.

The NCGP serves as a dedicated space for women to share experiences, address gender issues and promote inclusivity. Through its Gender Equality Committee, ICA-Africa will initiate and spearhead operations including capacity-building, collaboration and advocacy efforts to foster gender equality in the cooperative sector. Read more

Cooperatives take centre stage in Brussels: two days of networking and visibility - Cooperatives Europe

Cooperatives gained significant visibility in Brussels on 17–18 March, laying the groundwork for the IYC. Cooperatives Europe convened leaders at its forum for vital strategic alignment on future challenges like competitiveness and the green transition, strengthening our movement's collective capacity – an essential value for all members. The following day, a high-profile European Commission conference co-hosted by Cooperatives Europe positioned cooperatives as central to EU competitiveness and resilience. We also showcased youth entrepreneurship solutions via the coop model. These events amplify our voice, shape policy discussions and build momentum for a successful IYC, reinforcing the cooperative model's relevance to today's challenges. Learn more.

Women’s contribution to the social economy

International Women's Day is a key date to reflect on the progress made and challenges faced in building more equitable societies. In this context, the Regional Committee on Gender Equality of Cooperatives of the Americas (CREG) organised a special webinar to commemorate the day and explore women’s fundamental role in the social and solidarity economy.

The meeting took place on 10 March and opened with a welcome from the Regional Director of Cooperatives of the Americas, Danilo Salerno, who conveyed greetings from the President, José Alves. He also highlighted how important the date is in terms of underscoring both the achievements made to date, and the challenges that remain, in the fight for gender equality.

Learn more.

Cooperatives of the Americas launches its IYC agenda

Together with leaders and representatives of organisations in the Regional Committee of Allied Parties, the calendar of events for 2025 was presented in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

"There are no borders to the impact of cooperativism. The union of people, organisations and countries guided by values and principles has the power to transform the world", said José Alves, President of Cooperatives of the Americas, at the conference opening.

In this spirit, a series of panels assessed the challenges and power of the cooperative movement in the region and wider world in the new United Nations International Year of Cooperatives.

ICA President Ariel Guarco added, “200 years ago we accepted that the world could not endure if we did not take care of our Common Home and if we did not put people at the centre of

The welcome speech was given by Martín Fernández Aizcorbe, outgoing President of the National Institute of Cooperatives of Uruguay and Head of the Network of Public Organizations for Cooperative Promotion, who stated, "In a changing world, we are in a position to provide certainty based on cooperative principles and values."

Read more.

Regional and global boards meet in Punta Cana and consolidate joint work

The global cooperative movement met in the Dominican Republic over the first four days of April. Punta Cana hosted two important meetings: the ICA Board of Directors, and, from the 2nd, the Board of Directors of Cooperatives of the Americas. The coincidence of both meetings strengthened the ties between global and regional organisations, consolidating a space for joint work and reflection on the movement's present and future opportunities.

The first session began with a welcome speech from José Alves de Sousa Neto, President of Cooperatives of the Americas, highlighting the importance of integration as a fundamental tool within the cooperative movement and emphasising the value of such meetings to consolidate collaborations.

Read more.

View the calendar of key events planned for IYC 2025

The ICA will organise a number of events during the first week of July in Manchester and Rochdale, United Kingdom on the occasion of the Festival of Co-operatives. Some of the statutory meetings organised by ICA bodies include:

• 30 June: Cooperative Cultural Heritage: https://ica.coop/en/events/wg-cooperative-cultural-heritage
• 2 July: ICA General Assembly: https://ica.coop/en/events/ica-general-assembly-2025
• 3 July: Co-operative Housing International: https://ica.coop/en/events/co-operative-housing-international-ga
• 3 July: ICA Development Platform: https://ica.coop/en/events/ica-development-platform
• 3 July: ICA Youth Committee: https://globalyouth.coop/en/events/ICA-YC-APM-event-2025

There are a number of other 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.

The Members’ Brief was created in response to demand from members to be better informed about the ICA’s activities.
Do you find the Members’ Briefs helpful? Do you have any questions? Send us your proposals, and we’ll consider them for the next issue!
Contact Gretchen Hacquard, Director of Membership, at hacquard@ica.coop.

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