International Cooperative Alliance-Africa

14/04/2026

📢Calling all youth cooperators!

Join us for the ICA-Africa Youth Town Hall, a dynamic virtual engagement bringing together young cooperators from across the continent.

🗓 22 April 2026
⏰ 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (EAT)

As we continue to amplify youth voices in cooperatives, your participation matters in building a more inclusive and sustainable cooperative movement in Africa.

🔗 Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/sRBIeP90T-aCkESzqAz_4g

02/04/2026

Today, Hon Wycliffe A. Oparanya, EGH Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development-Kenya and Chairperson of AMCCO, hosted an inaugural Strategic Partnership Breakfast Meeting under the framework of the Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference (AMCCO) in Nairobi.

Following his assumption of the AMCCO Chairmanship during the 14th AMCCO, this engagement reflects a renewed commitment to strengthening implementation and advancing cooperative development across the continent.

The meeting convened key stakeholders to:
🔹 Align on priority continental programmes
🔹 Strengthen strategic partnerships
🔹 Advance coordinated approaches to implementation

As a key partner supporting the cooperative movement in Africa, ICA-Africa remains committed to translating the AMCCO continental priorities into tangible impact for cooperatives and communities.

31/03/2026

31/03/2026

🌟 Introducing the ICA-Africa Cooperative Excellence Awards 2026! 🌟

For the first time, Africa’s cooperative movement will have a continental recognition platform honoring the outstanding leaders, organizations, and innovations shaping the future of cooperatives.

🏆Do you know a cooperative leader, organization, or innovation that deserves to be celebrated? Nominate them and shine a spotlight on their impact!

📅 Nominations open tomorrow, 1st April 2026

🔗 https://icoop.ai/awards/ica-africa-2026

📍 Winners will be announced at the , Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Maputo, Mozambique🇲🇿 in June 2026.

30/03/2026

⏳ Happening Today - Don’t Miss Out!

The conversation on strengthening Africa’s care sector through the social economy is happening today and you can still be part of it.

Join ICA-Africa, the DICES Project, and ONG PFAC (Partenariat France & Afrique pour le Codéveloppement) for a timely discussion on how social economy organisations are shaping more inclusive, democratic, and people-centered care systems.

💡 What to expect:
🔹 Real examples of how social economy organisations operate across African countries
🔹 Insights on regulatory frameworks and advancing economic democracy in the care sector
🔹 Key findings from DICES research and what they mean for policy and practice

🕒 Time: 15:00 – 16:30 (CET)

👉 Register now: https://lnkd.in/dtwYur3j

📢 Save the Date
How do social economy organisations shape the care sector across Africa?

On 30 March 2026, ICA-Africa joins the DICES Project and partners to discuss social economy, care & organisational democracy across the continent

🕒 15:00–16:30 CET
🎙 Moderated by Diesis Network

🔗 Register https://lnkd.in/dtwYur3j

27/03/2026

That’s a wrap 🎉

Day 2 of the Women & Cooperatives Summit 2026 brought powerful conversations on leadership, governance, and financial empowerment for women in .

As we conclude the summit, one thing is clear: Sustainable cooperative growth requires intentional investment in women’s leadership.

Thank you to all participants, partners, and speakers who made this summit a success.

🌍

26/03/2026

Day 1️⃣ of the Women & Cooperatives Summit 2026 marked a defining moment for the movement in Kenya. 🇰🇪

Together with Credence Africa, Cooperative Alliance of Kenya (CAK) & the Nairobi City County, ICA-Africa officially launched the National Cooperative Gender Platform (NCGP) for Kenya- the first national platform advancing gender-responsive governance in cooperatives.

This milestone builds on a journey that began in 2025 in Nairobi, where cooperative stakeholders came together to design a framework for gender inclusion. Today, that vision has been realised.

A framework born from collaboration, now positioned to:

🔹 Strengthen gender-responsive governance
🔹 Expand leadership pathways for women
🔹 Address systemic barriers across cooperatives through collaboration

🌍

23/03/2026

📢Women & Cooperatives Summit 2026

ICA-Africa, in partnership with Credence Africa, Cooperative Alliance of Kenya Ltd-CAK, and the Nairobi City County Government, invites you to be part of a transformative gathering shaping the future of cooperative leadership in Africa.

This summit will bring together cooperative leaders, practitioners, and partners to strengthen leadership, enhance governance, and expand opportunities for women in cooperatives across Africa.

📅 26th – 27th March 2026
🕘 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Boma Inn Nairobi

Participation Fee: KES 15,000

Seats are limited – secure your spot today!

📩 For inquiries: [email protected] | +254 719 468 240

19/03/2026

We are in Rome, Italy 🇮🇹 this week for the ICA–EU Partnership 🌍 Annual Review Meeting to assess progress made over the past two years, exchange knowledge across regions & strengthen cross-regional collaboration.

🌍 is a long-standing partnership between the International Cooperative Alliance and the European Commission, working to strengthen cooperatives as people-centred businesses for sustainable, democratic, and inclusive development.

Grazie LegacoopNazionale for hosting us 🤝

16/03/2026

Applications Open: Become an ACE Youth Ambassador!

Do you have an idea that could solve a problem in your community?

The African Cooperative Entrepreneurs (ACE) Programme is looking for passionate young people across Africa who want to start their own worker cooperatives and create opportunities for others.

As an ACE Ambassador you will:
✔ Learn how to start and run a cooperative
✔ Receive mentoring from cooperative experts
✔ Connect with young innovators across Africa
✔ Get the opportunity to attend the Worker Cooperatives & Decent Youth Employment Conference in Lusaka (Aug 24–26, 2026)
✔ Build a sustainable enterprise that benefits your community

👥 Who can apply?
• Young people aged 18–35
• Citizens of African countries & living in Africa
• Individuals ready to mobilise peers and launch a cooperative in Africa

By the end of the programme, you will have the knowledge and support to launch a cooperative that creates jobs and strengthens your community.

🌍 Ready to turn your idea into impact?

👉 Learn more & apply here: https://icaafrica.coop/en/newsroom/news/apply-become-african-cooperative-entrepreneur-ace-youth-ambassador-and-learn-how

13/03/2026

Empowering women leaders across Africa’s cooperative movement.

From 2–6 March 2026, women cooperative leaders from across Africa came together virtually for the ICA–Africa Women Leadership Programme, organized in collaboration with The Co-operative University of Kenya.

Held in celebration of , the programme provided participants with practical training to strengthen their leadership, strategic thinking, and cooperative governance skills.

👏 Congratulations to our trailblazing first cohort on successfully completing the programme! We look forward to seeing the continued impact of your leadership within your cooperatives and communities.

🌍

International Cooperative Alliance European Commission