Which organization, founded in London in 1895, is the global apex body for cooperatives?

The International Cooperative Alliance, founded in London in 1895, is the global apex body for cooperatives.

The alliance was created to represent cooperative organizations across national borders and sectors. Cooperatives are businesses owned and governed by members, including consumers, workers, farmers, and producers, rather than by conventional outside shareholders alone.

The organization helps promote cooperative principles, represents the movement internationally, and supports cooperation among national and sectoral bodies. Its work connects local enterprises with a worldwide movement that includes retail, agriculture, banking, housing, and worker-owned businesses.

The International Cooperative Alliance is not itself a local cooperative or a bank. It is a membership organization representing cooperatives. It is also distinct from the International Labour Organization, a United Nations agency focused broadly on work and employment standards.