The International Co-operative Alliance
The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) is the umbrella body of all co-operatives. It was formed in England in 1895 when co-operative members around the world decided to join together to share information and help build an international co-operative movement. The ICA now has more than 230 member organisations from over 100 countries, and represents more than 750 million people worldwide.
The international co-operative movement keeps on growing. Now there are co-ops of all kinds on every continent. Many of the newer co-ops are in countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In some of the poor communities in these countries, co-ops are a useful way for people to improve their living conditions and economic situation, very much like the Rochdale Pioneers did. There are co-ops in a variety of sectors including: agriculture, banking, energy, industry, insurance, fisheries, housing, and tourism.
Over the years ICA has developed ideas on how co-ops should work. These ideas are called 'principles', and are adapted from the original principles devised by the Rochdale pioneers who founded the first successful co-op. It is through these principles or guidelines that the ICA can unite and lead all co-ops in the world. The ICA is now based in Geneva, Switzerland, and is committed to providing information, allowing co-operatives to communicate with one another, and promoting co-operative development and trade worldwide.