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What is the International Cooperative Alliance?

There are 3 million co-operatives worldwide – that’s 1.2 billion members on the planet.

The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) was founded in 1895 as the apex body representing these cooperatives, a global voice and forum for knowledge, expertise and coordinated action across sectors and regions.

The ICA is the guardian of the Statement on the Cooperative Identity, which was adopted in 1995 to provide a common definition of what cooperatives are and guidance on how they should act. This is what sets them apart from other businesses.

ICA World Cooperative Congresses are historical moments for the movement that bring co-ops and cooperators together to share, learn and grow. The 33rd Congress, to be held in South Korea in 2021, will explore the cooperative identity and celebrate both the ICA’s 125th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the Statement on the Cooperative Identity.

Find out more about the ICA here.
Find out more about the cooperative identity here.

An image of Seoul

HISTORY OF THE ICA

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1895 - First ICA Congress in London

The first Congress ran from 19-23 August, chaired by ICA president Albert Henry George. A resolution officially created the ICA and a provisional central committee was appointed.
19 August, 1895
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1896 - ICA confirms political neutrality

While its members from around the world held a range of different political views, the ICA maintained its firm commitment to peace and democracy by remaining politically neutral.
31 October, 1896
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1923 - First Cooperative Day

International Co-operative Day is an annual celebration of the co-operative movement and is observed each year on the first Saturday in July.
1 January, 1923
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1937 - Cooperative Principles amended

The Cooperative Principles are reviewed for the first time at the ICA’s 15th World Cooperative Congress in Paris.
1 January, 1937
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1946 - UN recognition

The ICA is one of the first three non-governmental organisations in the world to be granted consultative status with the United Nations.
1 January, 1946
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1966 - Principles amended

The Cooperative Principles were modified for a second time, introducing principle #6: Cooperation Among Cooperatives.
1 January, 1966
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1982 - Change of address

ICA moves its headquarters from London, UK - its base since 1895 - to Geneva, Switzerland – a city which is home to a number of key international bodies.
1 January, 1982
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1992 - ICA regional offices established

ICA establishes four regional offices in Africa, Americas, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe to help meet the challenges of a globalised, decentralised world.
1 January, 1992
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1995 - Statement on the Cooperative Identity

The Statement on the Cooperative Identity was adopted at the 31st World Cooperative Congress. The seventh principle, Concern for Community, was adopted.
1 January, 1995
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2001 - UN pledges support

The United Nations adopts a set of guidelines aimed at creating a supportive environment for the development of cooperatives around the world.
1 January, 2001
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2002 - International Labour Organization support

The Statement on Cooperative Identity was included in the ILO Promotion of Cooperatives Recommendation 193, which provides an internationally agreed template.
1 January, 2002
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2009 - ICA elects first woman President

ICA elects Dame Pauline Green as President, who had already served as a British MEP and chief executive of the UK’s Cooperative Union.
1 January, 2009
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2012 - Global year of celebration

The UN declared 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives, honouring the contribution of cooperatives to socio-economic development. The movement celebrated with a World Cooperative Congress in Manchester.
1 January, 2012
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2013 - Moving home again

ICA moves its headquarters from Geneva to Brussels, Belgium establishing itself as an international non-profit association.
1 January, 2013
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2016 - ICA and European Commission enter partnership

In March 2016, the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) entered into a partnership with the European Commission (also known as #coops4dev🌍 )
1 March, 2016
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2019 - ILO and ICA organize a historical conference

ILO and ICA organised a joint conference on ‘Cooperatives and the Future of Work’ in Geneva.
1 January, 2019
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2020 - Global Youth Forum in Kuching

ICA holds the first edition of its Global Youth Forum on Cooperative Entrepreneurship in Sarawak, Malaysia.
1 January, 2020