Summit to Scale: Institutionalising Women’s Leadership in Cooperatives

At the NGO CSW70 Forum, International Cooperative Alliance – Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP) and its Committee on Women hosted a virtual parallel event titled “From Summit to Scale: Institutionalising Women’s Leadership in Cooperatives” on 16 March 2026. The event brought together cooperative leaders, practitioners, and researchers from across Asia and the Pacific to reflect on a central question: how can women’s leadership in cooperatives be strengthened in a lasting and practical way? The discussion connected the spirit of CSW70 with the cooperative sector’s own commitment to inclusion, participation, and shared responsibility.

Ms. Chitose Arai, Chairperson of the ICA-AP Committee on Women, opened the forum by setting the global context. She introduced the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), a key platform advancing gender equality, where governments, international organisations, and civil society come together each year. Referring to the CSW70 priority theme, she underscored the importance of ensuring access to justice for all women and girls, while placing their lived realities at the centre of all actions and commitments.

Ms. Preiti Patel, Vice-Chairperson of the ICA-AP Committee on Women, reflected on the qualities that define effective leadership. She spoke about the importance of values-based leadership, collaboration, and a continuous willingness to learn. She also emphasised the need to build systems-driven organisations that empower many, rather than relying on a few individuals.

Ms. Donna Dizon, Vice-President, Admin and Corporate Planning and CEO and Principal, Co-operative College of the Philippines (CCP) stressed the importance of the Education, Mentorship, and Inclusion framework, rooted in Cooperative Principle 5. Her presentation underscored how structured mentorship, sponsorship, and governance exposure can help emerging women leaders move from participation to decision making roles. From Sri Lanka, Ms. Samadanie Kiriwandeniya, Managing Director, SANASA International, described women’s leadership as a journey across life stages, highlighting the role of gender intelligent workplaces, supportive HR policies, and strong mentorship networks. Sharing practice from India, Ms. Ruchi Agarwal, CEO, National Insurance VimoSEWA Cooperative Ltd., demonstrated how women-led cooperative institutions can combine grassroots governance with innovation, including digital insurance systems and community based outreach models.

Prof. Rajeshwari C, Assistant Professor, Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources, Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, who presented insights from the ICA-AP Gender Policy Study, drew attention to a persistent challenge across the region. While women’s membership in cooperatives is increasing, leadership representation and accountability mechanisms still need stronger institutional support. Her presentation reinforced the need for clear policies that move women from participation to leadership.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Balu Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-AP, reflected on the unique strengths women bring to cooperative leadership, including empathy, inclusion, and community-centred decision-making. He reaffirmed that lasting change will depend on deliberate investment in education, structured mentorship, and institutional support.

The event reaffirmed ICA-AP Committee on Women’s continued commitment to strengthening pathways for women’s leadership in cooperatives. Moving from summit discussions to engaging in real, scalable action helps cooperatives remain inclusive, resilient, and truly transformative institutions across the region. At a time when global narratives are often shaped by power and competition, the discussions offered a refreshing perspective. Leadership, as reflected throughout the session, is not about authority, but about care, collaboration, and also creating opportunities for the young ones to grow.