ICA Structure

ICA is a decentralised organisation, democratically governed by its members.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the highest policy-making body of the ICA, bringing together representatives from all member organisations every two years. The General Assembly:

approves the ICA work programme and budget
elects the President, members of the Board and of the Audit and Control Committee
ratifies the election of the Vice-Presidents
ratify the appointment or removal of the Director-General on the recommendation of the Board

More information General Assemblies > >

ICA is invited by one of more of its members to hold its General Assembly. In this way, ICA member representatives are able to meet a wide range of co-operators from the host movement, sharing experience and knowledge. Holding an ICA General Assembly also provides an opportunity for the host movement to engage in dialogue with government representatives and engage national and local media coverage as a means to further promote co-operatives in their country.

Board

The ICA Board - President, four Vice-Presidents, and fifteen members - develops and monitors a global strategy for ICA and oversees the functioning of the ICA. It decides on all membership application and related issues, establishes sectoral and thematic committees of the ICA, and appoints the Director-General.

Meet the ICA Board (2005-2009) > > >

Regional Assemblies

The Regional Assemblies for Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe take place every second year, alternating with the General Assembly. The functions of the these assemblies include:

implementing General Assembly decisions at the regional level
establishing regional work programmes, and
electing their President who serves as ICA Vice-President

In many regions, the statutory Regional Assembly meeting is held in conjunction with a Regional Conference or Forum focusing on a particular area of interest to co-operators in that region. For example, the Africa region will hold their 2008 regional conference. "Revitalising member commitment and involvement for improved sustainability of African co-operatives" in Abuja, Nigeria.

Regional Elected Bodies

Each region has its own regional ‘board’ composed of a President, Vice President and other members elected by the Regional Assembly for a four-year term. Known in Africa as "Executive Committee ", in the Americas as the "Comité Ejecutivo", in Asia and the Pacific as the "Standing Committee" and in Europe as "European Council", these boards work within the policy guidelines and decisions laid down from time to time by the ICA Board and more particularly, provide recommendations on membership applications from its region to the ICA Board, implement and monitor activities and programmes in the region, oversee regional finances and budgets, approve an annual budget and work plan prepared by the Regional Director before it is submitted to the Director-General and ICA Board for final approval.

Sectoral Organisations

ICA has nine sectoral organisations which regroup ICA member organisations with specific sectoral interests. Each organisation is democratically governed and financed by its member organisations.

Thematic Committees

ICA has four Thematic Committees which enable ICA members to focus on the issues of co-operative research, communications, human resource development and gender equality. Each Committee is democratically governed by its members and supported by the ICA.

Audit and Control Committee

The Audit and Control Committee monitors the financial situation of the organisation, and submits reports to the Board and General Assembly on issues that it deems important for efficient management and operations.

Meet the ICA Audit and Control Committee > > >

Last Updated: 04 September 2008