International Cooperative Alliance-Africa

01/10/2026

28/09/2026

Congratulations to Uganda on the launch of its national Cooperative Education Programme! 🇺🇬🎓

With Makerere University Business School (MUBS) set to begin offering cooperative courses in 2027, the programme is expected to help bridge the gap between traditional education and the practical skills needed to lead today’s cooperatives.

It creates new opportunities for students to build specialised knowledge in cooperative management and pursue careers within the movement, while helping cooperatives develop a stronger pipeline of skilled professionals for the future.

As the cooperative movement continues to grow and evolve, investing in the knowledge and skills of the people who lead and manage them is essential to building strong, sustainable cooperative enterprises.

A great step for Uganda and an exciting development for cooperative education across Africa.

🔗 Read all about it: https://kampalamediaug.com/news/uganda-launches-cooperative-education-programme-mubs-to-begin-training-in-2027-862.html

25/09/2026

Our stories matter. And how we tell them matters too.

Over the last two days, we brought together ICA-Africa members for an interactive training on cooperative identity, visibility and digital storytelling.

We explored the global cooperative identity, the role of the .coop domain and Cooperative Marque, and practical ways to use social media, short-form video, podcasts and other digital tools to tell our stories and showcase the impact cooperatives create.

Participants also reflected on their own digital presence, identified areas for improvement and practised turning everyday cooperative experiences into stories that can connect with wider audiences.

A key takeaway? Visibility is about more than being seen. It’s about telling our stories in ways that connect, inform and bring the cooperative difference to life.

A big thank you to all the ICA-Africa members who joined us, contributed to the conversations and shared their experiences! 🙌

🌍

International Cooperative Alliance

18/09/2026

What does the future of decent work look like in Africa and what role can cooperatives play in shaping it?

Join us at as we unpack how worker cooperatives and the care economy are advancing economic inclusion, protecting workers, and driving sustainable growth under SDG 8.

📅 26–28 October 2026
📍 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

🔗 Register now to secure your spot: https://icaafrica.coop/events/ica-africa-regional-cooperative-conference-jmr1

18/09/2026

Mekelle, are you ready to ride for peace? 🚴🏾

On 24 October 2026, ዕቋርን ልቓሕን ፋና መናእሰይ Fana Youth SACCO and ICA-Africa will host the Peace Cycling Challenge in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.

As part of the activities leading into the ICA Regional Cooperative Conference, this Challenge will bring together cooperators, local communities, and partners for a shared ride centered on peace, unity, and resilience.

Every pedal turn represents a step forward in strengthening community ties, supporting sustainable development and showcasing how cooperatives create peaceful, resilient societies.

Whether you are riding to support peace, connecting with fellow cooperators, or cheering from the sidelines, your participation matters!

👉 Register today: https://icaafrica.coop/events/peace-cycling-challenge-7npe



AWACH Saccos Ltd Amigos Saving and Credit Cooperative Society English Henosis Sacco Ltd Cooperative Bank of Oromia Temerach Saccos Ltd Ethiopian Cooperative Commission

17/09/2026

From Nairobi 🇰🇪 to Panama 🇵🇦.

Last year, we came together in Nairobi to launch the Model Law on Cooperatives for Africa during the 14th Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference.

Today, we are seeing the Model Law take on the global stage.

At the ICA Global Cooperative Conference in Panama, Hon.Therese Faye, Chairperson of the Pan African Parliament Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs, championed the Model Law and highlighted its significance for Africa’s cooperative movement.

The Model Law was developed as a shared continental framework to help strengthen cooperative legislation across Africa.

ICA-Africa is proud to have been part of the collaborative process that led to the development of the Model Law, from initiating continental consultations to facilitating its eventual launch by the Pan-African Parliament, and even prouder to see its momentum continue on the global cooperative stage.

🌍

International Cooperative Alliance

09/09/2026

ICA-Africa is pleased to welcome Mr. Mesfin Gebreselassie Gerger as its newly elected Vice President.

Mr. Mesfin previously served on the ICA-Africa Regional Board and brings more than 36 years of experience in banking and cooperative finance to his new role.

We are excited to welcome him into this new chapter of leadership and look forward to his continued contribution to ICA-Africa and the cooperative movement across Africa.

Read the full announcement: https://icaafrica.coop/news/ica-africa-welcomes-mr-mesfin-gebreselassie-gerger-as-vice-president

International Cooperative Alliance

28/08/2026

One run. One message: peace. ✌🏾

This October, we’re taking to the streets of Addis Ababa 🇪🇹!

Inspired by this year’s International Day of Cooperatives theme, we’re bringing cooperators together for the ICA-Africa Peace Run, a celebration of the cooperative movement’s role in building connections, strengthening solidarity and fostering unity across communities.

📅 25 October 2026
📍 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ready to run for ?

Register today: https://icaafrica.coop/events/ica-africa-peace-run-2026

Drop a 🏃🏾‍♀️ in the comments if you’re joining us!

27/08/2026

🚨 Registration is officially OPEN for the ICA-Africa Regional Cooperative Conference 2026!

Join ICA-Africa member organisations, cooperative leaders, policymakers, researchers, youth and other stakeholders from across Africa for three days of high-level dialogue, networking and practical solutions under the theme:

“Decent Work for All: Worker Cooperatives and the Care Economy Advancing Inclusion in Africa.”

📅 26–28 Oct 2026
📍 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

🔗 Register now: https://icaafrica.coop/events/ica-africa-regional-cooperative-conference-jmr1

25/08/2026

This morning, the ICA-Africa delegation in Zambia, led by Regional Director Dr. Rose Karimi Kiwanuka, paid a courtesy call on Hon. Lemmy Kafwamfwa, Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development.

Discussions explored opportunities to strengthen collaboration between ICA-Africa and the Ministry to advance cooperative development in Zambia.

A key priority identified was the review of the Cooperative Societies Act of 1999, alongside follow-up action on inclusivity, cooperative governance, and capacity building for cooperatives, in line with the 2025 ICA-Africa Cooperative Ministers’ Declaration and the Model Law for Cooperative Development in Africa.