It was in March 1920, when the International Labour Organization established a dedicated section on cooperatives, which continues to this day as the ILO Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy Unit.
Over more than a century, the ICA and the International Labour Organization have been strategic partners in support of social justice, decent work and people-centred development.
This collaboration is rooted in a shared understanding of the role of cooperatives as democratic, participatory and member-driven enterprises in advancing employment creation, social inclusion, resilience, the transition from the informal to the formal economy and sustainable livelihoods.
From policy development and implementation to policy monitoring and coherence, the ICA has worked with the ILO and its constituents across sectors, regions, and over time, including during periods of converging crises.
In recent years, this collaboration has extended to engagement through the multistakeholder multilateral platforms such as Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) and the Global Coalition for Social Justice, including in relation to the International Year of Cooperatives 2025. Also ILO COOP/SSE has been selected as one of the inaugural sites of the ICA Cooperative Culture and Heritage (CCH) initiative.
Building on this longstanding cooperation, the ICA looks forward to further strengthening the ICA–ILO partnership, deepening practical cooperation, and advancing the cooperative agenda across the UN system and broader global policy processes.
At a time of widening inequalities and growing uncertainty, this shared commitment to human rights, decent work, equity and social justice is more important than ever. ICA will continue to work closely with the ILO to help build a more just and inclusive world.
