The second ICA-EU Partnership (2024-2028) #coops4dev🌎: 
People-centered businesses for sustainable, democratic & inclusive development. 

#coops4dev🌎 (Cooperatives for Development) is an ongoing Partnership between the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and the European Commission (Directorate General of International Partnerships, DG INTPA) started in 2016 with a Framework Partnership Agreement titled “Cooperatives in Development – People-centred businesses in action” (2016-2022).  

A new Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA) under the title ‘People-centered businesses for sustainable, democratic & inclusive development’ was signed by the ICA and its regional offices with the EU in April 2024. Running until the end of 2028, the new #coops4dev🌍 is structured across 5 distinct workstreams (capacity building, research and education, advocacy and political dialogue, communication and program management) and prioritises a decentralised and localised approach, to adapt the programming to the specific regional needs and contexts in each of the 4 ICA regions (Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe). 

#coops4dev🌍 aims to strengthen the global and regional cooperative movements, promoting cross-regional and cross-sectoral activities to position cooperatives as international development actors and partners, and demonstrate their pivotal role in the localization and implementation of the UN Agenda 2030 and its SDGs.  

What is #coops4dev🌎

#coops4dev🌎 (Cooperatives for Development) is an ongoing Partnership between the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and the European Commission (Directorate General of International Partnerships, DG INTPA) started in 2016 with a Framework Partnership Agreement titled “Cooperatives in Development – People-centred businesses in action” (2016-2022).  

A new Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA) under the title ‘People-centered businesses for sustainable, democratic & inclusive development’ was signed by the ICA and its regional offices with the EU in April 2024. Running until the end of 2028, the new #coops4dev🌍 is structured across 5 distinct workstreams (capacity building, research and education, advocacy and political dialogue, communication and program management) and prioritises a decentralised and localised approach, to adapt the programming to the specific regional needs and contexts in each of the 4 ICA regions (Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe). 

#coops4dev🌍 aims to strengthen the global and regional cooperative movements, promoting cross-regional and cross-sectoral activities to position cooperatives as international development actors and partners, and demonstrate their pivotal role in the localization and implementation of the UN Agenda 2030 and its SDGs.  

#coops4dev🌎 in Europe

Cooperatives Europe collaborates and interacts with its members through capacity building, communication, advocacy and research, centered around the following key objectives:

• • An expansion of the activities in the Neighbourhood – Western Balkans, Türkiye and Eastern Europe.   
  • A strengthened cooperation between cooperative development organisations and cooperatives without an international portfolio.
  • Strengthening and establishing meaningful partnerships with EU institutions, research institutes, academia and civil society actors active in international development and interested in cooperatives, for a joint promotion of the cooperative difference across local and global communities.

Cooperatives Europe Development Platform (CEDP)

The Cooperatives Europe Development Platform (CEDP) plays a pivotal role in the implementation of the ICA-EU Partnership’s activities in Europe, particularly under the advocacy pillar and in the joint capacity building activities with the other ICA regions. The CEDP actively engages with the EU institutions to promote the cooperative business model and the role of cooperatives as international development actors within the EU External Action Agenda.

#coops4dev🌍 Resources 

Cooperatives Europe – Events 

Communication & Visibility:

Expanding the visibility of #coops4dev🌎 activities among members, decision–makers, international development actors and partner organisations; and highlighting the role of cooperatives as key actors in international development and as contributors to the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN 2030 Agenda (see below some past examples).   

How to take advantage of #coops4dev🌎?

Members benefit from #coops4dev🌍 funding while actively co-shaping its activities. They share their expertise and collaborate closely with peers through the Cooperatives Europe Development Platform (CEDP), help build a strong cooperative narrative and co-design cross-regional initiatives to strengthen global cooperation.

Most importantly, #coops4dev🌍 acts as a magnifier of members’ impactful work worldwide.

See how to get involved 

Circular Economy for a Just Twin Transition

Under the umbrella theme “circular economy for a just twin transition”, European #coops4dev🌍 activities will primarily, but not exclusively, target emerging sectors like energy, housing, tourism and education, where cooperatives are increasingly showing to be socially and economically innovative.  

Such activities aim to position cooperatives as promoters of a circular stakeholder economy, socially and environmentally. 

Moreover, the international development activities under #coops4dev🌍  are aligned and integrated within Cooperatives Europe’s strategic priorities and thematic lighthouses: Gender equality and diversity & Youth