The ICA-AP Women’s Committee held its Statutory Meeting on 25 November 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, bringing together members from across the region during the ICA-AP Regional Assembly. With eight Committee members present, the meeting opened with warm remarks from Chairperson Ms. Chitose Arai, who welcomed everyone and shared her appreciation for being able to meet in person during the Regional Assembly. She thanked the Secretariat and the host organisations for their support, and extended a special welcome to partners and researchers who had travelled to Colombo to present their work. Ms. Arai also reflected on the significance of 2025-marking the second UN International Year of Cooperatives and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action-reminding members of both the progress made and the challenges that continue to influence women’s leadership across the region.

Setting the direction for the discussions ahead, she reaffirmed the Committee’s strategy built around four pillars: economic empowerment, social empowerment, knowledge and training, and solidarity. Members then approved the agenda and the minutes of the previous statutory meeting. One of the key updates shared was the progress on granting voting rights to Youth and Women representatives in the ICA-AP Regional Board. Ms. Arai informed members that the Board had agreed to advance this proposal to the Regional Assembly positive step toward strengthening inclusive governance in the region.

The meeting then moved to reports from the Secretariat, followed by a detailed presentation from Ms. Lasalette Gumban of NATCCO on the ongoing Training of Trainers (ToT) Programme on Climate Change and Climate Action. Now in its fourth year, the programme has continued to expand climate awareness among women cooperators and build a pool of trainers across several countries. A symbolic exchange of the partnership agreement marked the extension of the ICA-AP–NATCCO collaboration for the 2026–2029 cycle.

Preparations for the Tagaytay Conference 4.0 in 2026 were another major point of discussion. The Chair outlined two key regional studies underway-one reviewing gender-based cooperative policies across ten countries, and the other assessing women’s leadership and gender-disaggregated data. Lead researcher Prof. Rajeshwari C. shared the study framework, followed by remarks from country researchers from Australia and Sri Lanka. During this segment, the Committee also acknowledged a thoughtful gesture from Prof. Sidsel Grimstad, who donated a historical piece from the UN Decade for Women (1975–1985), originally received in Zambia in 1985.

Members then reviewed and approved the activity plan for 2026, centred on the International Year of Women Agricultural Workers and preparations for the Tagaytay Conference. This was followed by an update on Secretariat changes, with Ms. Nitya Shukla being welcomed as the new member supporting the Committee, and Ms. Simren Singh sharing her thanks as she transitions to a new role within ICA-AP. Introductions of members and observers rounded off the session.

In her closing remarks, Ms. Arai thanked everyone for their participation and invited members to join the afternoon programme organised in collaboration with the ICA-AP Trade and Business Committee. The meeting concluded with a group photograph, capturing the collective spirit that continues to guide the Committee’s work across the Asia-Pacific region.