International Cooperative Alliance

What International Cooperative Alliance does

The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), founded in 1895 in London and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, is the world's oldest international NGO federation dedicated exclusively to cooperatives. It operates as a member-owned umbrella body for 310 cooperative and federating organizations across 104 countries, representing the broader cooperative movement of approximately 3 million cooperatives, 1 billion individual members, and 280 million workers globally. ICA's stated mission is to unite, represent, and serve cooperatives worldwide, and it serves as the global custodian of the Cooperative Identity Statement — the definition, values, and seven cooperative principles adopted in 1995. It is governed by a Board elected by members at the General Assembly, with current Director General Jeroen Douglas and President Ariel Guarco, and operates through four regional offices (Brussels, Nairobi, San José, New Delhi) and eight sectoral organizations covering agriculture, banking, consumer, fisheries, health, housing, insurance, and industry/services.

ICA's commercial activity is structured around a portfolio of organizational services rather than discrete software products. Core offerings include the World Cooperative Monitor (an annual ranking of the top 300 cooperatives produced with Euricse), the CM50 leadership initiative launched in November 2025 targeting US$5 trillion in cooperative turnover, the IYC–SDG Briefs covering all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Cooperative Insider newsletter, and recurring global events including the ICA Global Conference and General Assemblies (Panama, September 2026). It also operates the .coop digital domain and Cooperative Marque identity tools through DotCooperation, a joint venture with NCBA-CLUSA established in 2001.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual membership dues: full members pay dues scaled to the number of individual members they represent, while associate members pay flat annual fees. ICA has no external investors or venture funding; it is a private, member-funded international non-governmental organization with 11-50 staff. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging global advocacy platforms (UN, G20, COPAC), awareness campaigns (International Year of Cooperatives, #CoopsDay), and a multilateral federation structure rather than a traditional sales motion.

Name

International Cooperative Alliance

Legal name

International Cooperative Alliance

Website

https://ica.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) is a Brussels-based international NGO federation, founded in 1895, that unites and represents 310 cooperative member organizations from 104 countries, serving as the global custodian of cooperative identity, values, and principles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cooperative Federation and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

International Economic & Trade Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Cooperative federation
• Cooperative advocacy
• Membership association
• Cooperative research
• Cooperative identity

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: ICA generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues. Full members pay dues calculated based on the number of individual members (physical persons) represented by the organization through its member societies. Associate members pay a flat fee. The membership fee grants access to all ICA structures relevant to the member organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The International Cooperative Alliance is a global, member-based federation that represents, advocates for, and serves cooperatives worldwide. It delivers its core value through membership services (annual dues), global advocacy at the UN and G20, knowledge publications (World Cooperative Monitor, IYC-SDG Briefs), networking events (Global Conference, CM50 Summit), and the management of the .coop digital identity domain through the DotCooperation joint venture.

Product overview

The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) is a global membership organization — not a product company in the conventional SaaS sense — that provides advocacy, research, and coordination services for the worldwide cooperative movement. Its core offerings include the World Cooperative Monitor (an annual ranking and analysis of the top 300 global cooperatives, produced with Euricse), the CM50 leadership initiative (a network of top cooperative leaders targeting $5 trillion in combined turnover), the ICA Youth Committee (global youth representation and programs), a series of IYC–SDG policy briefs covering all 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the Cooperative Insider newsletter, and the .coop digital identity platform (operated through DotCooperation, a joint venture with NCBA-CLUSA). ICA also publishes governance materials, event programs, and research through its online library. These offerings function as a portfolio of organizational services and publications rather than a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CM50 (Cooperatives and Mutuals Leadership Circle): Global network of cooperative and mutual leaders initiative launched at the World Summit for Social Development, publishing manifesto for new global economy.
• World Cooperative Monitor
• ICETT (International Cooperative Enterprise Think Tank)
• .coop Domain and Cooperative Marque
• ICAYC (ICA Youth Committee)
• IYC-SDG Briefs

Products and services

• World Cooperative Monitor Annual research publication ranking and analyzing the top 300 cooperatives and mutuals worldwide by turnover and GDP per capita, produced with Euricse. Aimed at cooperative enterprises, researchers, policymakers, and the wider cooperative movement.
• CM50 (Cooperatives and Mutuals Leadership Circle) Global leadership network initiative bringing together CEOs and leaders of the world's largest cooperatives and mutuals, aimed at doubling combined turnover from US$2.7 trillion to US$5 trillion annually, organized around five commitments: digital cooperative marketplace, cloud coop infrastructure, planet health, future-ready leadership, and crisis rebuilding.
• .coop Domain and Cooperative Marque Digital identity service providing .coop domain names, the cooperative marque branding tool, and a global .coop directory to cooperatives worldwide. Operated through DotCooperation, jointly owned by ICA and NCBA-CLUSA.
• IYC-SDG Briefs (Building a Better World Together) Series of policy briefs produced with COPAC exploring how cooperatives contribute to each of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, covering poverty, climate action, gender equality, education, health, responsible consumption, peace, and partnerships. Available in English, French, and Spanish.
• Cooperative Insider Newsletter Monthly newsletter published by ICA covering the latest news about the alliance, its regional and sectoral organizations, and the global cooperative movement. Available in English, French, and Spanish.
• Cooperative Identity Statement Authoritative definition of a cooperative, its values (self-help, democracy, equality, equity, solidarity), and the seven cooperative principles, accompanied by guidance notes on applying the principles in contemporary practice. ICA is the global custodian of this identity statement.
• ICA Youth Committee Global youth body uniting, supporting, and representing young cooperators (under 35) worldwide. Organizes an Annual Plenary Meeting, leadership elections, and programs such as the ECOSOC Youth Forum side event 'Innovate, Unite and Cooperate.' Nominates youth representatives to the ICA Board.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 300 cooperatives generate US$2.79 trillion in turnover, equivalent to the eighth-largest economy globally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• DotCooperationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001DotCooperation is a joint venture between ICA and NCBA-CLUSA (National Cooperative Business Association-CLUSA International), established in 2001 to manage the .coop domain and provide cooperative digital identity tools. It allows cooperatives to participate in the digital economy with a shared online identity.
• COPAC (Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICA is a founding member of COPAC, a joint initiative with other cooperative organizations that produces the IYC–SDG Briefs series and coordinates cooperative advocacy at the UN level. COPAC is a key partner for the UN International Year of Cooperatives.
• ANGKASA (Malaysia)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerANGKASA (National Cooperative Association of Malaysia) expressed support for the Shanghai Declaration adopted at the ICA Trade and Development Forum, contributing to strengthening global cooperative efforts and promoting the new global cooperative trade label.
• CM50 (Cooperatives and Mutuals Leadership Circle)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCM50 is an ICA initiative launched at the World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar (November 2025), gathering CEOs and leaders of the world's largest cooperatives. It published the 'Contract for a New Global Economy' manifesto and aims to double cooperative turnover from US$2.7 trillion to US$5 trillion. ICA organized the CM50 Leaders' Summit in Brussels in June 2026.
• Aflatoun InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Cooperative Banking Association (ICBA, an ICA sectoral organization) announced a new partnership with Aflatoun International, an NGO focused on financial education, to promote financial inclusion through cooperative financial institutions.
• Euricse (European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICA collaborates with Euricse for the scientific and technical support of the annual World Cooperative Monitor report, which analyzes the top 300 cooperatives globally and their socioeconomic impact.
• NCBA-CLUSA (National Cooperative Business Association-CLUSA International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCBA-CLUSA is co-owner of DotCooperation with ICA and is a member of ICA. The partnership manages the .coop domain registry and cooperative marque identity tools.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU): Global trade association and advocacy body for credit unions and cooperative financial institutions. Comparable in being a member-funded international federation providing advocacy, research, and development programs for a cooperative sub-sector.
• International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC): Global federation of national trade unions representing workers worldwide. Directly comparable in operating model: international NGO federation, member-funded dues, advocacy at UN/ILO, regional structure, and thematic committees (youth, gender).
• IFOAM Organics International: Global umbrella organization for the organic agriculture movement, uniting member organizations across countries. Closely comparable to ICA in structure: international federation, advocacy at multilateral forums, standards-setting (organic principles), and member-funded dues model.
• Fairtrade International: International federation coordinating the Fairtrade label and certification across producer cooperatives and supply-chain actors. Comparable as a membership-based international NGO setting global standards and providing certification/identity tools for cooperative supply chains.
• World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO): Global membership network of fair trade enterprises, many of which are cooperatives. Comparable as an international federation providing membership services, a Guaranteed Fair Trade label, and advocacy for an alternative economic model.
• NCBA-CLUSA (National Cooperative Business Association-CLUSA International): U.S. national cooperative federation and ICA member. Co-owns DotCooperation with ICA to manage the .coop domain — directly comparable as a national-level cooperative federation with parallel governance and advocacy roles.

Others

• Euricse (European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises): Research institute producing the World Cooperative Monitor jointly with ICA. Not a direct competitor, but a closely aligned ecosystem participant producing cooperative-focused research, policy analysis, and academic publications that inform ICA's advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• World Economic Forum (WEF): International organization for public-private cooperation, hosting the annual Davos meeting and publishing global agenda reports. Comparable in convening global leadership across sectors, though operating at much larger scale and with broader scope than ICA.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): World's largest humanitarian network and one of the oldest international federations (founded 1919). Comparable in being a large, member-funded international federation with consultative UN status and a globally recognized brand identity.

Emerging players

• B Lab Global (B Corporation): Global nonprofit network certifying B Corps and promoting stakeholder governance. Comparable as a values-based international movement building a brand identity for responsible enterprises, though focused on for-profits rather than cooperatives specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/icacoop
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcPSQvN3ZR0POuFe0MvspyA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ICAcoops
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-cooperative-alliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/icacoops

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Cooperative Alliance