Organisations involved

ICA promotes and strengthens autonomous and viable co-operatives throughout the world in co-operation with a wide range of development partners ranging from international organizations to national co-operative organizations. There are many things that bind the ICA and its partners together: A belief in the co-operative idea, shared values and common ideals are just a few of the binding qualities. A shared understanding of the problems and needs of co-operators in the developing world, and not the least of the vast potential of the co-operative model, provide the very best argument for the need to collaborate in the promotion of co-operative development. With their diverse expertise and resources, the ICA and its partners and members have the potential to make a huge impact on development if their development activities were more integrated. Apart from the obvious advantages of economies and competencies of scale, we could also, if speaking with one voice, more effectively lobby to ensure an increased understanding of and emphasis on the ways co-operatives can contribute to, for instance, the achievement of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals.