ICA receives new members from India and Germany
Germany’s CoopGo Genossenschaftsverband promotes cooperatives and compliance with international standards of the ICA
LONDON, May 2, 2025 — The International Cooperative Alliance [ ICA ] welcomed two new members in April: Malankara Multi-State Cooperative Credit Society Limited [MMSCCS] from India as a Full Member, and CoopGo Genossenschaftsverband e.V. from Germany as an Associate Member.
MMSCCS is an award-winning deposit-taking cooperative with two subsidiary companies in agriculture and skilled metal labour. It has 65,000 members and 599 employees, and in 2023, it received an award for being the best lead general initiative from Banking Frontiers under the category of PACS / Credit Societies.
It joined the ICA to raise its international profile, share knowledge and collaborate, improve its performance through capacity building, and become part of the collective voice advocating for cooperative interests at the international level.
Germany’s CoopGo Genossenschaftsverband promotes cooperatives and compliance with international standards of the ICA. It offers consulting and training services for members who are cooperatives and cooperative-oriented enterprises and advocates for a simplified, Europe-wide cooperative law based on the positive experiences in France, Italy, and Spain. It has 12 member organisations representing 200 individual members.
By joining the ICA, it aims to promote the cooperative identity according to ICA principles.
The ICA now has 310 member organisations from 104 countries, of which 272 are Full Members and 38 are Associate Members.
Uganda Health Partners Cooperative [UHPC] is expanding access to affordable healthcare for students through cooperative health insurance, according to ICA.
UHPC delivers sustainable healthcare access through the health cooperative model, capacity building and supporting the adoption and implementation of cooperative health insurance by donors, cooperative development partners, and other stakeholders. Its aim is to reach over 500,000 cooperative members and their families by 2028, advocating for universal health coverage [a core SDG 3 target] that includes cooperative health insurance for the informal sector.
One of UHPC’s recent projects is enabling access to quality and affordable healthcare – which is fundamental to students’ wellbeing and academic success. Yet, for many students in Uganda, healthcare remains a significant challenge. To address this, UHPC has developed a cooperative health insurance model which allows students to receive affordable and timely medical care at designated health facilities, during school terms as well as holidays. The initiative also includes preventive health education programme s aimed at reducing disease outbreaks.
At St. Cleric Primary School, 104 students benefit from UHPC’s partnership with Bitioma Health Center III; in March 2025 alone, 12 outpatient students received medical care without any direct payments. Meanwhile, at the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing, 1,193 students are enrolled under Apac Health Cooperative to access services at Florence Nightingale Hospital. According to the March 2025 performance report, 66 outpatients and 15 inpatients received medical treatment at no cost to them.
“Despite offering healthcare services to students, both Bitioma Health Center III and Florence Nightingale Hospital remained financially sustainable,” ICA quotes UHPC officials as saying. “Cooperative health insurance is proving to be a game-changer in bridging healthcare gaps for students in Uganda. By ensuring accessibility, affordability, and sustainability, UHPC and its partners are setting the foundation for a healthier, more productive future for students. This initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in healthcare. Together, we can create sustainable solutions that benefit communities and ensure that no student is left behind when it comes to healthcare.”
https://thecooperator.news/ugandan-coop-among-new-members-recruited-by-ica/
y your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
Views: 7
