ICA
ICA is an independent, non-governmental association which unites, represents and serves co-operatives worldwide. Founded in 1895, ICA has 267 member organisations from 96 countries active in all sectors of the economy. Together these co-operatives represent nearly one billion individuals worldwide.
General Assembly
Previous Assemblies
Co-op Statistics
For statistics about the co-operative movement - large segments of the population are members of co-operatives, co-operatives are significant actors in national economies and co-operatives create and maintain employment. Read more.
|
UN proclaims 2012 International Year of Co-operatives: "Co-operative enterprises build a better world"
Recent News
The March edition of the ICA monthly eDigest is now available, read the Annual Statement for International Women's Day and Dame Pauline's presentation to the Asian Government Ministers and Co-operators in Bangkok. It is also an opportunity to participate in the ICA World Co-operative Monitor - the new Global 300 project. Read March eDigest. Read previous issues.
The February edition of the ICA's eDigest is out now, read about pending changes in US and UK co-operative legislation alongside the latest updates on the Desjardins Summit and ICA Expo taking place in October and November. Also see our official IYC merchandise. If you'd like to receive copies of the eDigest email kelly@ica.coop To view click here. To view previous editions click here.
January eDigest - our time has come
The ICA Board welcome in the International Year of Co-operatives, read about their views, beliefs and wishes for the Year. Also in this issue find out about the Official IYC poster and see a great new film about the Rochdale Pioneers. To view click here. To view previous editions click here.
December eDigest - Only one month to go until the International Year!
The December edition of the ICA's monthly eDigest is now available. The main feature this month covers Singapore's launch of the 2012 International Year of Co-operatives. There is also coverage of IFFCO's new mobile phone initiative which is helping them to make inroads into Indian agricultural productivity, as well as a summary of a decision by this year's General Assembly to allow mutuals to become members of the ICA. Regular features include the Director-General Charles Gould's blog and the co-operative calendar. To view click here. To view previous editions click here.
Cancun Special of ICA eDigest
Over 2000 co-operators heard addresses from Mexican President Felipe Calderon, UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, ILO's Juan Somavia, environmentalist Philippe Cousteau, Obama Blogger Sam Grraham-Felson along with our own President Dame Pauline Green, at the ICA General Assembly in Cancun last week. The event marked the ICA Launch of the international Year of Co-operatives and the ICA's new website www.2012.coop. The General Assembly was the largest in the ICA's 116 year history. A special edition of the ICA eDigest is now available online http://civimail.ica.coop/edigest/2011-11/cancun-special-edition-edigest-november To read previous editions click here.
The latest programme for the ICA Launch of the International Year of Co-operatives, General Assembly and related meetings has just been released. Click here.
November eDigest - UN International Year of Co-operatives launch edition
The November edition of the ICA's monthly eDigest, covering the United Nations launch of next year's International Year of Co-operatives in New York, is now available. The main feature this month covers ICA President, Dame Pauline Green's message to the UN General Assembly about the seriousness of the co-operative business model. There is also coverage of the launch of the Global Development Co-operative, which is seeking to raise $US50 million which it will then lend to co-operative enterprises across the world, as well as the launch of the latest Global300 report which paints a picture of scale and reach of the 300 largest co-operatives around the world. Regular features include the Director-general Charles Gould's blog and the co-operative calendar. To view click here. To view previous editions click here.
Featured Articles
New Member - Confederacion Nacional de Cooperativas de Bolivia (CONCOBAL)
- Published 24/02/2012

CONCOBOL from Bolivia became a Member of the ICA on 8 February 2012. CONCOBOL was founded on 5 August 1993 and is the apex organization of the Bolivian cooperative movement. It proposes guidelines for integration inside and outside their membership in relation to the different national and international organizations related to the co-operative system. They promote integration and development of the Bolivian co-operative movement nationally and internationally. They represent all affiliated Federations of co-operatives. They defend the interestrs of their member organizations and co-operaqtives in general. They maintain co-operative relations with international organizations. They manage financial resources, domestic and international loans and donations for the benefit of its affiliates. CONCOBOL has 7 Federations as members and two employees. They have 29,550 individual members. For more information: www.concobol.org
New Associate Member - National Federation of Rural Co-operatives (Induk KUD)
- Published 27/12/2011

Induk KUD from Indonesia became an Associate Member of the ICA on 26 October 2011. Induk KUD was founded on 12 November 1979 and is national federation of rural co-operatives. They have three overseas representative offices. Their mission is to help the co-operative movement expand joint business relationships, ensure creation and implementation of a business climate that supports co-operative survival and development, education and training, develop co-operative business, and improve the welfare of its members and as a result the community. They have a savings and loan business unit for members of staff, their members (direct and indirect), and potential members. They also procure and distribute goods such as raw materials and production facilities to increase production for members and staff. They also assist in helping members market and open up markets in domestic and foreign countries in the various sectors that their members are in - agriculture, fisheries, livestock, plantation, mining, forest and crafts. Induk KUD currently has members in 27 provinces. In 2010 they represented 30 member societies with 9,437 co-operative members representing 13.4 individual members. They had 45 employees, 9 of which were women. For more information: www,induk-kud.com
New Associate Member - Cooperativa de Credito de Livre Admissao de Associados Pioneira da Serra Gaucha - SICREDI Pioneira RS from Brazil
- Published 17/11/2011

The Cooperativa de Credito de Livre Admissao de Associados Pioneira da Serra Gaucha - SICREDI Pioneira RS became an Associate Member on 10 November 2011. Founded 28 December 1902, SICREDI Poineira RS is a credit union in Southern Brazil. SICREDI's main objective is to stimulate the formation of savings and relevant resources, and through mutuality to provide loans to members, in addition to providing services related to their status as a financial institution. They are the 13th largest credit union in Latin America. In 2006 SICREDI had 40,413 individual members. By 2009, their members increased to 53,494. In 2011, they represented 66,000 individual members. They have 89 employees. Their turnover in 2011 was BRL 17 million (CHF 8.6 million). For more information: www.sicredipoineira.com.br
New Member - Federacion de Asociaciones Cooperativas de Ahorro y Credito (FECOOPSE R.L.) from Costa Rica
- Published 17/11/2011

FECOOPSE became a member on the 7 November 2011. Founded 30 June 2000, FECOOPSE R.L. is federation of credit unions with a membership base of 30 co-operatives, mostly institutions and membership organizations. It has a technical support department with 5 technicians. FECOOPSE provides free technical assistance to all its members and free annual training in risk, finance and corporate government and co-operative philosophy. They also have contracts with vartious labour unions. In 2006 FECOOPSE had 40,000 individual members. By the year 2009, their individual members increased to 90,000. This organization has 8 employees, 2 are women. For more information: www.fecoopse.com
New Associate Member - Instituto Nacional del Cooperativismo (INACOOP) from Uruguay
- Published 17/11/2011

INACOOP became an Associate Member on 14 November 2011. Founded 9 December 2009, INACOOP is the public institute for the promotion, development and training of co-operatives and other entities of the social economy. The Institute was created to promote, consult and implement the national co-operative policy. It aims to promote social, economic and cultural development of the co-operative sector and its integration in the development of the country. INACOOP has 6 employees, 4 of which are women. For more information: www,inacoop.org.uy
|
Stay in touch
Thematic Committees
Sectoral organisations
Related Sites
Follow ICA's latest news on Twitter at www.twitter.com/icacoop
Global 300 : an ICA initiative - Includes the full list of the world's top co-operatives and mutual businesses

Register a .coop internet domain name
Featured Pages
The new Director-General's Page - On 1 September 2010, Charles Gould began his term as ICA's new Director - General. See DG page for biography and contact information.
ICA Feedback
Your queries and comments are welcome. Your feedback will help us to improve our services.

|