New Report: Study on Gender Policies in Cooperatives in Asia and Pacific

ICA-AP Committee on Women is pleased to announce the upcoming release of the study report, ‘Review of Gender-Based Policies in Cooperatives in Asia-Pacific’, which will be launched on 9 March 2026 to mark International Women’s Day.

Led by Prof. Rajeshwari C. (IIM Kozhikode) with a team of ten country researchers*, the study examines how cooperatives across Australia, Fiji, India, Jordan, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam are addressing gender equality.

Why this study?

The study aims to map how gender equality is conceptualised, institutionalised, and practiced across cooperative ecosystems in the region. Based on these findings, it also seeks to support the development of a regional gender policy framework for cooperatives.

What the study explores

The report reviews three key areas:

·       Binding national legislation and policies on gender equality applicable to all organisations.

·       Binding national legislation and policies specific to the cooperative sector.

·       Non-binding gender provisions within cooperative laws, policies, and broader policy frameworks.

What you’ll find in the report

·       A comparative analysis of gender policy across 10 countries

·       Best practices and inspiring cooperative case studies

·       A summary of barriers preventing gender equality

·       Guiding principles for future initiatives

The full report will be available on the ICA-AP website on 9 March 2026. Readers are encouraged to explore the findings and join the conversation on advancing gender equality in cooperatives across the Asia-Pacific region.

*Country researchers: Prof. Sidsel Grimstad, Ms. Mahima Parthi, Dr. Shrija Sinha, Dr. Nadia Alkhassawneh, Ms. Juliana Binti Md Yusop, Dr. Jyoti Regmi Adhikari, Dr. Dynah Avigail Basuil, Dr. Jiyun Jeon, Ms. K.W. Kashini Gimhani, and Ms. Tran Thi Thuy Tien