The Asia-Pacific Cooperative Development Platform (APCDP), an initiative launched under the ICA-EU Partnership Program, convened a roundtable titled “Changing Context in the Donor Community: What It Means for International Cooperation Development” on 24 November 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, alongside the 17th ICA-AP Regional Assembly. Bringing together multilateral institutions, cooperative development organizations, and practitioners from across the region, the discussion explored how shifting global priorities are reshaping the development landscape—and what this means for cooperative actors seeking to remain visible, relevant, and impactful.

The event opened with a brief overview of APCDP presented by Ms. Monalisa Kashyap, Program Coordinator for the ICA-EU Partnership Project, followed by Ms. Ingrid Colanero, Head of International Cooperation ICA, who outlined the strategic direction of ICADP. The roundtable discussion was facilitated by DGRV representatives Ms. Klaudia Marcus and Mr. Korbinian März, with ICA-AP Regional Director Mr. Balasubramanian Iyer setting the context by emphasizing the rapid transformation underway in the international development landscape. He underscored how traditional aid models are being redefined amid tightening public budgets, rising geopolitical tensions, and increasing demands for measurable results. At the same time, new actors—including emerging Asian donors and private philanthropic institutions—are influencing the flow and priorities of development financing. In this changing environment, cooperatives must increasingly demonstrate not only their economic value, but also their contributions to environmental sustainability, cultural vitality, and community well-being.

A central theme echoed throughout the discussion was the evolving set of donor priorities, which today focus strongly on climate resilience, gender equality, care services, youth inclusion, digital transformation, and results-based programming. Donors increasingly expect integrated models backed by credible data, impact measurement, transparency, and demonstrable social return.

Representatives from multilateral institutions offered valuable insight into this shifting terrain. Mr. R.H.W.A. Kumarasiri, Project Director Integrated Rurban Development and Climate Resilience Project (IRDCRP), World Bank, emphasized the importance of territorial development and integrated rural–urban strategies, drawing on the experience of Sri Lanka’s Integrated Rurban Development and Climate Resilience Project. He stressed that cooperatives already generate significant social and economic impact, but must invest in stronger accountability, evidence systems, and strategic partnerships to unlock new opportunities.

Ms. Marian Fernando, National Project Coordinator Care Economy Project, International Labour Organization (ILO), placed special focus on the rapidly expanding care economy, where cooperatives offer community-rooted, gender-responsive solutions that create decent work. The ILO underscored the strategic value of the upcoming International Year of Cooperatives 2025, which will highlight cooperatives’ role in transitioning workers from the informal to the formal economy. With tools such as Think/Start/Manage COOP and examples like Italy’s social cooperative model, the ILO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting cooperative-led social innovation.

APCDP members from Malaysia (ANGKASA), China (ACFSMC), the Philippines (CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative Official), India (National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), Italy (Haliéus), and Germany (DGRV) shared dynamic experiences from across the region—ranging from challenges in financing, digitalization, and youth programming to opportunities in climate resilience, cooperative insurance, and cross-border economic partnerships. Representatives included Dato’ Seri Dr. Abdul Fattah Abdullah, Dato’ Kamarudin Ismail, Dato’ Abdullah Jusoh, and Ms. Wan Azwati Wan Mohamed from ANGKASA; Ms. Helen from ACFSMC; Ms. Savitri Singh from NCUI; Mr. Noel Raboy, Ms. Donna Dizon, Mr. Edwin Bustillos from CLIMBS; along with Mr. Gilbert S. Llanto of ACDI and Ms. M. V. Iresha Sanieewanie from Fairtrade NAPP.

Ms. Francesca Ottolenghi, Chair of ICADP, facilitated the Cooperation Commitment Canvas session, during which a clear pathway emerged across the various interventions: cooperatives need to shift from operating through isolated local initiatives to developing structured, evidence-based programmes co-created with partners such as the World Bank, ILO, and the EU. Achieving this will require enhanced monitoring systems, strengthened transparency and governance, and a robust, data-driven narrative that clearly demonstrates the cooperative advantage.

Special remarks from the EU were later shared by Mr. José Capitan, who underscored the importance of aligning cooperative initiatives with broader regional and global development priorities and highlighted the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.

The event concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Chandrapal Singh Yadav, President of ICA-AP, after which members signed the APCDP Charta, reaffirming their commitment to collaboration, enhanced visibility, and collective impact. The discussions in Colombo highlighted that the cooperative movement is uniquely equipped to address today’s most pressing development challenges—and that with strong alliances and strategic alignment, its contribution can be scaled more effectively than ever before.