Inter-Council Network

Name

Inter-Council Network

Legal name

Inter-Council Network of Provincial and Regional Councils for International Cooperation

Website

https://icn-rcc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Halifax

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: ICN's primary revenue comes from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) funding. Major initiatives include the Spur Change program (7-year initiative), the LIFT program ($38.5 million), and the Inspiring Action for Global Citizenship program. Funding supports capacity building for small and medium organizations, youth engagement, and global citizenship education.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Inter-Council Network (ICN) is the national coordinating coalition of eight Provincial and Regional Councils for International Cooperation in Canada, representing more than 350 civil society organizations. It delivers funded programs (Spur Change, FIT, Inspiring Action for Global Citizenship, Canada LIFTs), free capacity-building training (e.g., Results-Based Management, Public Engagement, Building Equity), an online learning platform, resource libraries, and youth engagement initiatives that support Canadian SMOs, educators, and youth in international cooperation work.

Product overview

The Inter-Council Network (ICN) is a coalition of eight Provincial and Regional Councils for International Cooperation representing over 350 civil society organizations in Canada. ICN operates as a multi-program organization rather than a single product, offering several interconnected programs and platforms: ICN Engage serves as the national collaboration forum; the Canada LIFTs, Inspiring Action for Global Citizenship (IAGC), Fund for Innovation and Transformation (FIT), and Spur Change are major funded programs addressing capacity building, innovation, and youth engagement; the ICN Learning Management System provides online courses including Results Based Management 101 and Public Engagement Courses; the Global Hive and Spur Change Resource Library offer educational resources and research materials; and the Youth Champions Program provides youth-focused global citizenship education. These products work together to support Canadian civil society organizations in international cooperation, public engagement on global issues, and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ICN Engage A national collaboration forum where the eight Provincial and Regional Councils work together for improved effectiveness, identify common priorities for collective action, and host policy research, webinars, podcasts, and youth delegation activities; for Canadian CSOs and member councils.
• Spur Change Program A 7-year ICN initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada that increases SMO effectiveness on the Feminist International Assistance Policy and SDGs, supports educators engaging school communities on global issues, and fosters youth action on SDGs; for Canadian SMOs, educators, and youth.
• Fund for Innovation and Transformation (FIT) A national innovation initiative launched in May 2019 that supports Canadian small and medium-sized organizations testing innovative solutions to advance gender equality and empower women and girls in the Global South; for Canadian SMOs.
• Inspiring Action for Global Citizenship (IAGC) A Global Affairs Canada-funded initiative implemented by the eight Provincial and Regional Councils to foster engagement in international development across their provinces and regions through capacity building, youth leadership, curriculum development, and public engagement on gender equality, human rights, and global citizenship; for Canadian public, educators, and youth.
• Canada LIFTs Program A Global Affairs Canada-funded initiative implemented by ICN to promote awareness of global issues among Canadians and relevant stakeholders and foster engagement in international development within provinces and regions; for Canadian public and stakeholders.
• ICN Learning Management System An online learning platform offering self-paced courses including Results-Based Management 101, Results-Based Management 201, Public Engagement, and Building Equity for capacity building of Canadian civil society organizations.
• Youth Champions Program (YCP) A peer-to-peer learning exchange and collaboration space for Canadian and international youth in multi-generational collaboration with Canadian SMOs that increases capacities and contribution to public engagement on SDGs, particularly gender equality; for young people.
• Global Hive Resource Platform A resource platform providing access to research, polling, webinars, and educational materials on important issues facing the international cooperation sector; for CSOs, policymakers, educators, and the public.
• Spur Change Resource Library A resource library hosting over 400 resources designed for SMOs and educators covering topics such as project management, fundraising, gender equality, monitoring and evaluation, organizational development, and public engagement.
• Building Equity Training Series A capacity-building training program to develop diversified, ethical, and equity-centred fundraising and resource mobilization strategies, combining online self-paced units with in-person workshops across Canada; for Canadian SMOs.
• Share & Learn Webinar Series for Educators An online webinar series for primary and secondary educators to engage youth as effective global citizens and advocates of the SDGs and gender equality, hosted in collaboration with Provincial and Regional Councils; for teachers and school communities.

Named customers4 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember council that hosts ICN at its Halifax location. One of eight provincial and regional councils forming the ICN coalition.
• Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember council and lead implementer of the Spur Change Program. Collaborates with other provincial councils to deliver capacity building across Canada.
• Change the Game AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization (initiated by Wilde Ganzen Foundation) providing e-learning modules on local fundraising. ICN has incorporated CtGA modules into the Building Equity training program for Canadian SMOs.
• Oxfam CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Gender Learning Series, specifically contributing the Guidance Note on Feminist MEAL for capacity building sessions supporting SMOs in integrating gender approaches.
• Plan CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Spur Change on Gender Learning Series, sharing the Women and Girls Empowerment Index (WGEI) tool for measuring gender transformative programming.
• MEDAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Gender Learning Series, presenting the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) methodology for community-led empowerment approaches.
• JN Clarke ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerToronto-based consulting firm that developed Canadian content for the Building Equity training series, focusing on anti-racism, reconciliation, and decolonization for Canada's international cooperation sector.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Imagine Canada: Sector-wide umbrella for Canadian charities and nonprofits, providing research, standards (e.g., Standards Program), and advocacy. Comparable as a higher-level coordinator serving Canadian civil society, though broader than ICN's international cooperation focus.

Direct peers

• Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) / Cooperation Canada: National Canadian umbrella for international cooperation organizations with policy, advocacy, and member-services mandates that closely parallel ICN's coalition-coordinator role across Canadian CSOs engaged in international development.
• Restless Development: Youth-led international development agency running leadership, advocacy, and SDG engagement programs — directly comparable to ICN's Youth Champions Program and global citizenship education portfolio, although operating primarily outside Canada.
• Peace Direct: International organization supporting local peacebuilding actors with capacity-building, funding, and convening functions — comparable to ICN's role as a capacity-building intermediary between donors and small grassroots organizations.
• World University Service of Canada (WUSC): Canadian NGO focused on international development, refugee education, and youth inclusion, with strong GAC funding ties and capacity-building programs for SMOs and youth — directly comparable to ICN's SMO and youth engagement mandate.
• Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO): Global international development organization focused on volunteering, youth engagement, and SMO capacity strengthening — comparable to ICN's combined youth and SMO capacity-building mandate, although operating at much greater scale.
• Coady International Institute: Canadian-based institute delivering global citizenship education, leadership training, and capacity-building programs for civil society leaders in the Global South — closely aligned with ICN's educational and capacity-building offerings.
• Engineers Without Borders Canada: Canadian NGO working on international development with a strong youth leadership pipeline and SMO-adjacent programming; comparable model of mobilizing a national volunteer/professional constituency for global citizenship and development outcomes.
• Aga Khan Foundation Canada: Canadian-anchored international development organization funding programs in gender equality, education, and civil society — overlapping with ICN's GAC-funded portfolio and SMO support function.

Regional players

• Bond (UK international development network): UK membership network for NGOs working in international development, offering capacity-building, policy advocacy, and convening functions that mirror ICN's coalition role, but anchored in the UK donor ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ICN_RCC
• Facebookfacebook.com/ICNRCC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icn_rcc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Inter-Council Network