What is the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA)?

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About International Cooperative Alliance (ICA):

The ICA is a non-profit international association which unites, represents and serves cooperatives worldwide.
Founded in 1895, it is one of the oldest non-governmental organisations and one of the largest ones measured by the number of people represented with one billion cooperative members on the planet.
It is the apex body representing cooperatives, which are estimated to be around 3 million worldwide, providing a global voice and forum for knowledge, expertise, and coordinated action for and about cooperatives.
The ICA is the guardian of the Statement on the Cooperative Identity, which includes a definition, 10 values, and 7 operational principles; it is the minimum common denominator for all cooperatives in all sectors and all regions.
The ICA’s members are international and national cooperative organisations from all sectors of the economy.
More than 306 organisations from 105 countries are members of the ICA.
ICA operates a central office in Brussels, Belgium, and four regional offices for Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe.
The ICA structure also hassectoral organisations for cooperatives active in agriculture, industry and services, consumer retail, banking, fisheries, health, housing, and insurance.

Why in News?

Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) has taken the initiative to host the ICA General Assembly and Global Cooperative Conference.
The Global Cooperative Conference in India will also mark the official launch of the ‘UN International Year of Cooperatives-2025’.
The theme of the conference is “Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All”.

Q1: What is a Cooperative?

A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.

News: India to host global conference of cooperatives for the first time