What is the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA)?

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