Français  /  Español

Welcome to our May newsletter, bringing cooperative updates from the ICA Global Office! 

The visual identity for the 2026 ICA Global Conference has been revealed. The logo, which places the bridge of the Americas at the centre, is a visual representation of the cooperative movement as a living bridge between cultures, territories, and people, with each element contributing both aesthetic value and meanings deeply aligned with Panama's cultural identity.

From 13-18 September 2026, the ICA and Cooperatives of the Americas are jointly organising the ICA Global Conference and their Assemblies at the Convention Centre in Panama City. Participants are responsible for booking their own accommodation – but to help you, the organisers have identified several recommended options.

For organisational and security purposes, all attendees should book their accommodation through the official hotel links provided in this article and, soon, on the event website and through ICA communication channels.

The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) has recently announced the theme for the 2026 International Day of Cooperatives (CoopsDay) as Cooperatives for a Peaceful World. The theme serves not only as a reflection of the cooperative model’s unique capacity to bring people together, strengthen social cohesion, and advance peaceful, inclusive societies, but also as a collective call from the global cooperative movement to actively contribute to peace.

ICA members from around the world joined an online Members’ Chat in April for the second in a series of events exploring the Practice, Promote, and Protect strategy, adopted by the ICA General Assembly last July. This event focused on Advocacy, one of the strategy’s five pillars.

The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) welcomes the recent resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 26 March 2026 entitled ‘Global Gateway – past impacts and future orientation’. As the first European Parliament report dedicated to Global Gateway, this resolution sets an important political direction on key issues such as transparency, governance, and funding. It will play a crucial role in shaping upcoming negotiations, particularly for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034) and the Global Europe instrument, as well as any future legislative proposals.

On 15 April 2026, the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), through its Youth Committee (ICAYC), successfully hosted the side event “Innovate, Unite and Cooperate: Youth Cooperatives Driving Innovation, Sustainable Communities and Global Partnerships for the 2030 Agenda” in the framework of the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2026.
The online session brought together more than 90 participants and featured speakers from over seven countries, reflecting the global reach and diversity of the cooperative movement.

Co-op News, the magazine and news website about and for co-operatives around the world, has launched an English language podcast this year to bring co-operative stories to a digital audience. Published every month, the podcast - called Co-ops Building a Better World - is hosted by Co-op News editor Rebecca Harvey and business expert Colin Talbot, who discuss the month's biggest stories affecting co-ops. Find the podcast on on Apple, spotify, YouTube or wherever you usually get your podcasts.

The International Cooperative Agricultural Organisation (ICAO) is a sectoral body of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), founded in 1951 to represent global agricultural cooperatives. Its Chair is Hodong Kang, who also chairs the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF) in Korea. Here we speak with Mr Kang about ICAO’s plans and how it will be supporting its members through the challenges of the future.

Cooperative Housing International (CHI) invites you to a webinar exploring how legal and institutional frameworks shape the development of cooperative housing across regions. Drawing on the International Legal Research and Analysis Initiative (ILRAI), developed in cooperation with the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the session will present key insights from a comparative, multi-continental analysis and connect them to practical experience.

9 June 2026 | 15:00–17:00 CET | Online

Meet Contex, an Argentinian worker cooperative in the textile sector that produces garments and offers full-service clothing manufacturing. Created by former workers who joined forces after their company closed to build a better future, Contex has continued to adapt to the market with innovation and a deep commitment to people and community. Read the full article to discover how cooperatives like Contex are driving social and economic change.
Available in Spanish, English and French.

The ICMIF Foundation - the charitable arm of ICMIF - has released its 2025 Impact Report, marking a decade of work to expand mutual microinsurance to underserved communities across the global south. This year’s results highlight significant growth, strengthened partnerships, and deepening climate resilience efforts, all driven by the Foundation’s mission to build more resilient communities.

The International Cooperative Alliance Africa is hosting the 12th Technical Committee of the Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference (TCAMCCO), from 9-11 June at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence in Maputo, Mozambique. This annual forum will bring together cooperative leaders, policymakers, and technical experts from across the continent to advance dialogue and action on cooperative development in Africa - and include the inaugural ICA Africa Cooperative Excellence Awards 2026.

The Venice Foundation for Peace Research and the European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises (EURICSE) have launched a Doctoral Thesis Award in memory of Professor Carlo Borzaga, rewarding research that explores the role of cooperatives in supporting pathways to peace, with a prize of €2,500.

This newsletter is brought to you in partnership with Co-op News, the oldest independent news co-operative. Click here to find out more or become a member

ICMIF AI Summit (London, 19 May)
International Symposium: Co‑operative Identity and Energizing the Co‑operative Brand (Online, 19-21 May)
ICBA Symposium (New York, 28-29 May)
12th Technical Committee of the Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference (TCAMCCO)  (Mozambique, 9-11 June)
The Law on Cooperative Housing – CHI Webinar (Online, 9 June)
International Day of Cooperatives (4 July)
International Workshop on Cooperative Law (Croatia, 22 August)
Cooperative Law Summer School (Croatia, 23-28 August)
Asia-Pacific Cooperative Youth Summit (China, 1-4 September)
ICA Global Conference and Assemblies (Panama, 13-18 September)
Transforming Cooperatives for the Future: 20th ICA Asia-Pacific research conference (Australia, 6-7 October)
Cooperatives Europe’s 20th Anniversary Celebration (15–16 October)
ICMIF Biennial Conference 2026 (Canada, 3-6 November)
CCR Europe Conference (Spain, 4-6 November)

The articles in this newsletter related to international development are co-funded by the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the International Cooperative Alliance and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

Copyright © 2026, All rights reserved.
To unsubscribe, email dataprotection@ica.coop.