ICA Sectoral Organisations

International Co-operative Agricultural Organisation (ICAO)

The International Co-operative Agricultural Organisation (ICAO) is a sectoral organisation of the International Co-operative Alliance.  It exists to safeguard the interests of its member organizations, to pursue research into the latest developments in the agricultural co-operative movement, to promote mutual understanding and economic collaboration between the agricultural co-operatives on the one hand and the farmer and other types of co-operatives (eg consumers', fisheries, insurance, housing, etc) on the other, both worldwide and at local level.

As a global organisation for agricultural co-operatives the ICAO has a number of goals:

• To exchange experience on specific activity fields by hosting international meetings such as seminars and workshops;
• To promote the establishment of agricultural co-operatives in developing countries in order to increase food security;
• To improve the distribution of agricultural products;
• To take concrete action for preserving the environment.
• To promote and encourage agricultural cooperatives, especially in the developing countries and transitional economies, and help find assistance for their establishment, when requested.
• To survey the problems which concern agricultural cooperatives in different countries and to make recommendations regarding potential solutions

For more information on the ICAO visit www.agricoop.org

International Co-operative Banking Association (ICBA)

The International Co-operative Banking Association (ICBA) is a sectoral organisation of the International Co-operative Alliance. As a global organisation for co-operative banks it has four key aims:

• To facilitate the promotion at the international and regional levels of the distinctive co-operative values of co-operative banks and of the advantages of using them over other banks;
• To facilitate and encourage the exchange of information amongst members on key co-operative banking issues and foster inter-cooperation in the finding of solutions
• To support regional committees and their members, individually or collectively with specific challenges;
• To encourage inter-cooperation with other types of co-operatives and various bodies of the ICA.

For more information on the ICBA visit www.icba.coop

Consumer Co-operatives Worldwide (CCW)

Consumer Co-operatives Worldwide (CCW) is a sectoral organisation of the International Co-operative Alliance. As a global organisation for consumer owned co-operatives it has four key aims

• Provide members with information on relevant issues;
• Serve as a forum for the exchange of information and best practices between the members;
• Facilitate discussions between members in view of potential co-operation;

To set the global strategy and co-ordinate and support the regional consumer co-operative sectoral structures in their work on all issues of relevance

For more information on CCW visit www.ccw.coop

International Co-operative Fisheries Organisation (ICFO)

The International Co-operative Fisheries Organisation (IFCO) is a sectoral organisation of the International Co-operative Alliance. As a global organisation for co-operatives in the fishing sector it has four key aims:

• Creation of new co-operative fisheries organisations;
• Promotion of co-operative training and education, including the production of educational material;
• Exchange of technical information movements on a global basis.

For more information on ICFO visit www.icfo.coop

International Health Co-operative Organisation (IHCO)

The International Health Co-operative Organisation (IHCO) is a sectoral organisation of the International Co-operative Alliance. As a global organisation for co-operatives in the healthcare sector it has four key aims:

• Provide a forum for the discussion and exchange of issues of relevant to its members;
• Provide information to United Nations organisations, national governments, the media and the public about the nature and role of health co-operatives;
• Promote the development of health co-operatives;
• Collaborate with other sectoral organisations and thematic committees of the ICA.

For more information on IHCO visit www.ihco.coop

International Co-operative Housing Organisation (ICA Housing)

ICA Housing is a sectoral organisation of the International Co-operative Alliance. As a global organisation for housing co-operatives it has three key aims:

•  To unite co operative and mutual self-help housing organisations around the globe through membership of ICA Housing;
• To represent the co operative and mutual self-help housing movement by supporting  members at a local, regional and global level;
•  To serve our members by providing a forum for knowledge exchange.

For more information on ICA Housing visit www.icahousing.coop

International Co-operative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF)

Originally established in 1922 as the insurance committee of the International Co-operative Alliance, The International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) is a long established and unique global trade association representing cooperative and mutual insurers around the world. Its three key aims:

• Promote the cooperative and mutual insurance sector globally;
• Be a leader in providing information and services to members;
• Represent the interests of the global cooperative and mutual insurance sector.

For more information on ICMIF visit www.icmif.org

International Organisation of Industrial, Artisanal and Service Producers' Co-operatives (CICOPA)

The International Organisation of Industrial, Artisanal and Service Producers’ Cooperatives (CICOPA), is a sectoral organisation of the International Co-operative Alliance. As the global organisation for worker and producer cooperatives trading in sectors from construction and transport to arts and crafts, it has three key aims:

• The promotion of work and production in a cooperative way;
• The promotion of worker ownership as a specific type of enterprise and labour organisation;
• The promotion of the cooperative movement in industrial, craft and service sectors.

For more information on CICOPA visit www.cicopa.coop