International Co-operative Alliance

The International Co-operative Alliance is an independent, non-governmental organisation established in 1895 to unite, represent and serve co-operatives worldwide. It provides a global voice and forum for knowledge, expertise and co-ordinated action for and about co-operatives. The cooperative movement operates a central office in Brussels and four regional offices for Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe. The Alliance structure also has sectoral organisations for co-operatives active in agriculture, industry and services, consumer-retail, banking, fisheries, health, housing and insurance.

The ICA serves as a forum to boost cooperation between cooperatives:

- developing business relationships and partnerships among its members,
- organising a rich diversity of regional and international events where - organisations meet regularly to share ideas,
- providing support instruments and disseminating knowhow, and
- facilitating training programmes, events, and publications developed in partnership with cooperative development agencies.