International Cooperative Alliance - Asia and Pacific

What International Cooperative Alliance - Asia and Pacific does

International Cooperative Alliance - Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP) is one of four regional offices of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), established in 1960 in New Delhi, India, and governed as a non-profit membership organization under a Regional Assembly and Regional Board. The organization represents and serves 123 cooperative members across 29 countries in the Asia and Pacific region, spanning sectors including agriculture, finance, consumer, fisheries, and education. It maintains a headquarters in New Delhi and a Business Office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and operates with a lean team of 9 employees.

ICA-AP's core offerings are programmatic rather than technology-based: the Asia-Pacific Cooperative Youth Summit (APCYS), Coop Pitch Competition, Regional Immersion Programmes, the Asia-Pacific Cooperative Market Access Forum, the Asia Pacific Cooperative Development Platform (APCDP), and the ICA-EU Partnership Programme (#Coops4Dev). These are delivered through thematic committees covering women, youth, trade, agriculture, education, and credit, supported by research initiatives, the annual COOP Dialogue publication, monthly e-newsletter, podcasts, webinars, and social media campaigns. The organization does not develop proprietary software or technology platforms.

ICA-AP's revenue model relies on recurring membership dues from its 123 member organizations, supplemented by project funding channeled through the ICA-EU Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA II) and co-development partnerships with apex bodies such as ACFSMC (China), ANGKASA (Malaysia), VCA (Vietnam), DGRV (Germany), Legacoop (Italy), and CARE France. Distribution occurs through direct member engagement, regional events and conferences, and structured policy dialogue with ASEAN, the EU, and national governments across the region.

Name

International Cooperative Alliance - Asia and Pacific

Legal name

International Cooperative Alliance - Asia and Pacific

Website

https://icaap.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ICA-AP is a non-profit regional membership organization, established in 1960, that unites 123 cooperative organizations across 29 countries in Asia and the Pacific through advocacy, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and programmatic initiatives, supported by member dues and EU partnership funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ICA-AP represents and serves a network of member organizations that pay dues to be part of the regional alliance, enabling the organization to fund its operations, advocacy activities, and member services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ICA-AP is a non-profit regional membership organization that unites, promotes, and develops cooperatives across the Asia and Pacific region through advocacy, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and regional programs and events. It serves 123 member organizations from 29 countries, representing varied sectors including agriculture, finance, consumer, fisheries, and education, providing them with a unified regional voice in policy dialogue, training, research, and cross-border collaboration.

Product overview

ICA-AP operates as a regional membership organization (not a technology product company) offering a portfolio of programs, events, and initiatives to promote and develop cooperatives across Asia and the Pacific. The core offerings include the Asia-Pacific Cooperative Youth Summit (APCYS) series, Coop Pitch Competition for youth entrepreneurship, Regional Immersion Programmes on specialized topics (tourism, trade), the Asia-Pacific Cooperative Market Access Forum, and the Asia Pacific Cooperative Development Platform (APCDP) under the ICA-EU Partnership. These programs are delivered through various thematic committees including Women, Youth Cooperation, Trade & Business, Agriculture & Environment, Cooperatives in Educational Institutions (ICEI), and Credit & Banking, supported by research initiatives and country snapshots documenting cooperative sector developments across 29 countries in the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Asia-Pacific Cooperative Youth Summit (APCYS) Flagship regional platform bringing together young cooperative leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, and development practitioners to strengthen youth participation in the cooperative movement and foster dialogue on emerging challenges and opportunities.
• Coop Pitch Competition Youth entrepreneurship competition that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship through the cooperative model by providing emerging changemakers with mentorship, capacity-building opportunities, and regional exposure.
• ICA-AP Regional Immersion Programme on Cooperative Tourism Educational programme providing practical exposure to sustainable and commercially viable cooperative tourism models, promoting knowledge exchange and cross-border collaboration among cooperatives.
• Asia-Pacific Cooperative Market Access Forum Forum bringing together cooperative trade and business practitioners to strengthen cooperative trade through practical engagement, partnership building, and market readiness activities.
• ICA-AP Committee for Cooperative Research (ICA-AP CCR) Research coordination body representing the region in global cooperative research initiatives, including organization of the Asia-Pacific Research Conference series.
• Asia Pacific Cooperative Development Platform (APCDP) Initiative under ICA-EU Financial Framework Partnership Agreement 2 to encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing among cooperative development organizations involved in international cooperation and development.
• ICA-EU Partnership Programme (#Coops4Dev) Development partnership programme supporting cooperative development across Asia-Pacific through capacity building, knowledge exchange, and regional collaboration initiatives.
• ASEAN Cooperative Organisation (ACO) Representation Support Support for ACO which received ASEAN accreditation as Associate Civil Society Organisation, enabling formal platform for cooperatives to engage with ASEAN Secretariat and contribute to regional socio-economic agenda.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 million cooperatives globally representing at least 12% of humanity, providing jobs to 10% of the world's employed population
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ASEAN Cooperative Organisation (ACO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2026ACO received ASEAN Associate (Civil Society Organisation) accreditation effective 2 April 2026, representing over 347,000 cooperatives across Southeast Asia with members from all 11 ASEAN member states. ICA-AP works closely with ACO on regional cooperative initiatives including the ASEAN Cooperative Dialogue and ASEAN Cooperative Networking.
• CARE FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARE France, along with CARE Laos and Haliéus, is a key implementation partner in the SUPER-WE (Supporting Women's Economic Resilience and Empowerment) Project in Lao PDR, funded by the EU. ICA-AP supports through Training of Trainers programmes and regional learning exchanges.
• Haliéus (Legacoop International Development Arm)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHaliéus is the international development arm of Legacoop (Italy) and a key partner in implementing cooperative development projects in the Global South, including the Dakcheung Highland Coffee Cooperative project in Lao PDR, which combines cooperative development with gender equality and climate-resilient agriculture.
• CARE LaoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARE Laos co-implements the SUPER-WE Project in Sekong Province, Lao PDR, focusing on women's economic resilience and empowerment through cooperative enterprise development in coffee value chains.
• ANGKASA (Malaysian National Cooperative Movement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerANGKASA serves as the national apex body for cooperatives in Malaysia and a key ICA-AP member. It has extended regional support including RM100,000 (USD 23,600) to cooperatives in the Philippines, launched a halal store in Vietnam (January 2025), and supports mosque-based cooperatives in Cambodia. ICA-AP collaborates with ANGKASA on the Regional Immersion Programme on Cooperative Tourism and other regional events.
• Legacoop (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith roots dating back to 1886, Legacoop is Italy's oldest cooperative association, uniting over 10,000 cooperatives and more than 7 million members. Through Haliéus, its international development arm, Legacoop implements projects including SuperWeCoffee in Lao PDR, FISH MED NET in the Mediterranean, and YouCool in Vietnam, aligned with ICA-AP's regional objectives.
• DGRV (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDGRV (Deutsche Genossenschafts- und Raiffeisenverband) supports cooperative development in Lao PDR, working alongside government agencies, ICA-AP, and other partners to strengthen the cooperative ecosystem, including the establishment of the Lao Agricultural Cooperatives Federation (LACF).
• Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVCA collaborated with ICA-AP and ACFSMC to host the regional conference 'Empowered to Grow: Women Leading Change in Agriculture through Cooperation' in Hanoi, Vietnam from 7-9 May 2026, as part of the International Year of Women Farmers 2026.
• All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives (ACFSMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACFSMC is a key ICA member from China with an annual sales volume of 1.5 trillion Yuan. It runs an annual training programme bringing around 30 cooperative practitioners from the Asia-Pacific region to China, facilitates international exchange through a Cooperative Pavilion at national-level expos including the China International Import Expo, and co-hosted the Asia-Pacific Cooperative Market Access Forum 2026 in Xi'an.
• International Cooperative Alliance (ICA Global)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICA is the global parent organization of ICA-AP. ICA-AP is one of four regional offices of ICA, which was established in 1895 and serves as the custodian of cooperative values and principles worldwide. ICA-AP participates in ICA's Global Board, General Assembly, and global initiatives including the World Cooperative Monitor.
• Sleepwell Foundation IndiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ICA-AP Committee on Women collaborated with Sleepwell Foundation India to deliver an online workshop titled 'From Awareness to Action: Recognizing Violence Against Women and Building Coping Capacities,' facilitated by a psychologist and UN consultant.
• Monash Business SchoolmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonash Business School is hosting the 20th ICA Asia-Pacific Research Conference on 6-7 October 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Paul Thambar of Monash Business School developed the Mutual Value Measurement (MVM) Framework for cooperatives.
• ANGKASA (Cooperative Tourism Host)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerANGKASA hosts the ICA-AP Regional Immersion Programme on Cooperative Tourism (22-26 July 2026) in Malaysia, showcasing school cooperative tourism initiatives and community-based homestay cooperatives as models for regional learning and replication.
• Butterflies (India)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerButterflies, in partnership with Misereor and with support from Comic Relief and Butterflies USA, organized the National Conference on Children's Cooperatives 2026 in New Delhi. ICA-AP Regional Director Mr. Balasubramanian Iyer participated as Chief Guest, highlighting children's cooperatives from across the Asia-Pacific region.
• Cooperativas de las AméricasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperativas de las Américas participated alongside ICA-AP, ICA Africa, and Cooperatives Europe in the 2025 Global Meeting of the Policy Forum on Development in Brussels, representing the Americas region in civil society discussions.
• Cooperatives EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperatives Europe participated alongside ICA-AP and other ICA regional offices in the 2025 Global Meeting of the Policy Forum on Development in Brussels, contributing to discussions on locally led resilience and growth.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ILO Cooperative Branch (COOP): The ILO's Cooperative Branch is the UN system's dedicated unit for promoting cooperatives globally, including Recommendation 193 referenced by ICA-AP. It is comparable because both organizations shape cooperative policy, provide technical assistance, and engage with governments on cooperative legislation in the same geographies.
• DGRV (Deutsche Genossenschafts- und Raiffeisenverband): DGRV is Germany's national cooperative confederation and a major international development actor, explicitly named as an ICA-AP partner in Lao PDR. It is comparable because it executes the same cooperative development and capacity-building mandate internationally, often in overlapping geographies, with a comparable donor-funded project model.
• Legacoop (Italy): Legacoop is Italy's oldest cooperative association uniting over 10,000 cooperatives and 7 million members, with international development arm Haliéus. It is comparable as a national cooperative federation that delivers member services, advocacy, and international development projects in similar value chains to ICA-AP's work in Asia-Pacific.

Direct peers

• Cooperatives Europe: Cooperatives Europe is a sister regional office of ICA serving the European region. It is directly comparable because it executes an identical mandate — representing cooperative interests to EU institutions, providing capacity building, and convening members — making it the most operationally analogous peer to ICA-AP.
• Cooperativas de las Américas: Cooperativas de las Américas is ICA's regional office for the Americas and a sister organization of ICA-AP. It is directly comparable because it delivers the same regional cooperative representation, advocacy, and member services mandate as ICA-AP but in a different geography.
• ASEAN Cooperative Organisation (ACO): ACO is the regional cooperative body for ASEAN member states, representing over 347,000 cooperatives. It is directly comparable because it serves an overlapping Southeast Asian cooperative constituency with similar advocacy and network-building functions, and operates as a close strategic partner of ICA-AP following its 2026 ASEAN accreditation.
• International Cooperative Alliance (ICA Global): ICA Global is the parent organization of ICA-AP and the apex global federation for cooperatives worldwide. It is directly comparable because ICA-AP operates as one of its four regional offices, executing the same mission of cooperative promotion, advocacy, and identity at the Asia-Pacific regional level.
• ICA Africa: ICA Africa is the fourth ICA regional office serving the African continent. It is directly comparable as a sibling organization executing the same cooperative development, advocacy, and capacity-building mandate as ICA-AP, with analogous donor-funded programs and policy engagement responsibilities.

Emerging players

• World Cooperative Monitor (WCM): The World Cooperative Monitor is the global data and research initiative on the economic impact of cooperatives, co-published by ICA and EURICSE. It is comparable because it overlaps with ICA-AP's knowledge-sharing and research mandate (e.g., Research Conference, country snapshots) and serves as the primary data source ICA-AP itself cites.

Regional players

• National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA): NCBA CLUSA is the US national cooperative business association, with deep international development programs. It is comparable as a regional cooperative apex body executing advocacy and capacity-building functions analogous to ICA-AP's role, but primarily serving a different geography (USA vs. Asia-Pacific).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-cooperative-alliance-asia-pacific

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Cooperative Alliance - Asia and Pacific