25/08/2026
For 131 years, the world around cooperatives has kept changing. The cooperative identity has travelled with us through it all.
Since the ICA was founded on 19 August 1895, generations have changed, societies have transformed, new technologies have reshaped how we live and work, and cooperatives have grown across countries, cultures and sectors.
Along the way, cooperators have continued to return to a shared identity: people choosing to organise around common needs, democratic participation, mutual responsibility and cooperation.
That shared identity has connected cooperators across generations, countries and very different moments in history.
Today, the movement includes around 3 million cooperatives and more than 1 billion members worldwide. Behind that scale are countless examples of people finding ways to work together, make decisions together and build common ground within their communities.
That experience is also part of what cooperatives can bring to peace: dialogue across differences, democratic participation, inclusion, and the everyday practice of working toward shared interests.
At a time when finding common ground matters deeply, that experience has something to contribute to the conversation about peace.
As the ICA marks its 131st anniversary, we carry that history to Panama 🇵🇦, where will explore Building Bridges: Cooperative Contributions for a Peaceful World.
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