By Garry Cronan, Communications Manager, International Co-operative Alliance

Over 900 co-operators from around the world attended the ICA’s bi-ennial General Assembly in Oslo, Norway, last September. The General Assembly is the ICA’s global policy making forum and is hosted every two years by a member organisation. Last year’s event was hosted by the Norwegian co-operative movement. The ICA’s role in development was a the central theme of the conference. Copies of the keynote presentations can be found on the ICA’s website.

ICA President promotes cooperative development in Africa
Development was also the focus of a four-country tour of Africa undertaken by the ICA President Ivano Barberini in late November. Mr. Barberini visited Burkina Faso, Senegal, Kenya and Tanzania. Meetings were held with co-operative representatives as well as Presidents, Prime Ministers and other Government Ministers in these countries. The visit confirmed the ICA’s commitment to co-operative development and helped raise the profile of the local movement with government.

Proposed changes to international accounting standards
The threat to co-operatives posed by possible changes to international accounting standards, is an issue of concern to the ICA. The ICA met recently with the President of the European Union and information on the proposed changes has been widely circulated. Members and relevant organisations have also been involved in the campaign to stop these changes. Press release (PDF)

ILO and World Bank in joint cooperative activities
The President and other senior ICA officers met with the President of the World Bank to discuss possible joint co-operative development projects – more is expected this year. In a similar vein, the ICA met recently with the International Labor Organisation (ILO) to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This initiative follows the invitation for closer formal ties by the ILO President to the Oslo General Assembly. The MOU provides a framework for an extensive series of joint co-operative development activities being undertaken by both organisations.

ICA and AIDs crisis
The devastation caused by HIV/AIDS received wide media coverage on UN AIDS Day on 1 December. The ICA lent its weight to calls for greater action to stop the spread of this pandemic. The case for action on AIDS is overwhelming. The ICA has many member organisations, particularly in Africa, effected by the AIDS crisis and is holding discussions with UN AIDS about possible joint initiatives.