The ICBA action plan for 2007-2008, which was adopted by the ICA Executive Committee in November 2006 in Manchester, consisted in 3 main points:

1. To realise a census of co-operative banks
2. To increase relationships between ICBA, other ICA sectoral organizations (ICMIF) and other international associations of co-operative banks (EACB, CIBP, IRU, WOCCU …)
3. To examine the subject of development, especially relating to micro-credit, and to identify whether ICBA could play a supporting role in it

These first steps having been implemented, the ICBA General Assembly adopted in Singapore in October 17th, 2007 a more developed action plan for 2008-2009 with 3 objectives and 5 key actions. This action plan is coherent with the ICA global strategic plan.

Objective 1 :

To be identified as an organization of reference in cooperative banking at the inter-national level, notably by multilateral organizations (IMF, Worldbank, Basel Committee...)

Objective 2 :

To improve the value of services provided to members, including updated informa-tion on cooperative banking issues, in order to consolidate and increase membership. This could notably include updated information on the international accounting standards, the situation of co-operative banks in different countries, the work undertaken by the IMF, the Worldbank or other multilateral organizations on co-operative banking…

Objective 3 :

To work on development issues and increase collaboration between ICBA members to help creating and develop co-operative financial networks in developing countries

To reach these 3 objectives, 5 key actions have notably been identified:

Key action 1 :

To establish an internationally recognized definition of co-operative banks, based on the ICA declaration of co-operative principles but focused on the main specificities of co-operative banks.

Key action 2 :

To use the unique position of ICBA, which is the most inclusive organisation of co-operative banks at the international level as it is open to all co-operative banks regardless of their region, activities or model, to enlarge the scale of the work or studies undertaken by other organi-zations of co-operative banks on a more restricted basis. For example, the studies led at the European level by the European Association of Co-operative Banks could be generalized at an international level by ICBA.

Key action 3 :

To decline the ICA Global 300 project to co-operative banks, by setting up a Global 100 ranking of co-operative banks

Key action 4 :

To constitute a database with all the economic and academic studies on co-operative banks, which would be available for ICBA members.

Key action 5 :

To develop promotional and educational material about co-operative banking