ROME, March 28, 2026 — Partners of the ICA–EU Partnership flagship programme, #coops4dev🌍, gathered in Rome last week for their Annual Review Meeting [ARM], bringing together key implementing offices from across the globe.
The five offices leading the programme’s implementation — ICA Africa, Cooperativas de las Américas, ICA Asia and Pacific, Cooperatives Europe, and the ICA Global Office — participated in the meeting, which was held in a hybrid format.
Delegates joined both in person in Rome and virtually, enabling colleagues from the Asia-Pacific region to take part despite travel constraints linked to the current situation in West Asia.
The meeting provided an important platform to review progress achieved over the past two years, facilitate knowledge exchange across regions, and strengthen cross-regional collaboration. It also allowed participants to align priorities and set objectives for the year ahead.
#coops4dev🌍 refers to the ICA–EU Partnership (2024–2028), a five-year international cooperative development programme co-funded by the European Union.
The initiative aims to strengthen cooperatives as people-centred enterprises that contribute to sustainable, democratic and inclusive development. It also seeks to reinforce the ICA network and position cooperatives as key actors within the EU’s broader development agenda.
The meeting was hosted at the premises of Legacoop, Italy’s oldest cooperative organisation, providing a conducive environment for dialogue and exchange.
Participants also engaged in a session with Danilo Salerno, Director at Cooperativas de las Américas, who shared insights on the programme and the wider cooperative movement across different regions.
In addition to formal discussions, the programme included field visits showcasing the cooperative model in practice. Delegates visited the Case Romane del Celio, with a guided tour led by CoopCulture, a cooperative specialising in the promotion of cultural heritage and regional networks.
The group also toured Cooperativa Sociale Meta, a long-established non-profit cooperative involved in socio-educational services, social inclusion and community wellbeing. This included a visit to one of its flagship initiatives, the Centro Interculturale Scholé, an intercultural youth centre that supports participation and integration.
The Rome meeting not only strengthened collaboration among partners but also offered valuable exposure to local cooperative initiatives. Participants departed with reinforced partnerships, renewed momentum and a shared commitment to implementing the agreed actions for the year ahead.
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