Institute of Cultural Affairs International
The Institute of Cultural Affairs International (ICA International) is an International Non Governmental Organization (INGO) which works to influence development policy through a worldwide network of national ICA organizations that implement human development programming within their countries. It aims to enable the peoples of the world to shape their futures, by placing culture at the center of development.
The mission of ICA International is to advocate for and actualize the fundamental right of all peoples to define and shape their own futures, toward the goal of realizing sustainable, just solutions to human challenges.
Objectives
The strategic objectives of ICA International are to:
Facilitate the sharing of our experiences, values, and lessons at the global level, in order to influence international development policy; Develop and facilitate global partnerships to address human development challenges; Coordinate programs and initiatives involving multiple member ICA organizations for global impact; and Support member ICAs through training and capacity building initiatives and facilitate regular networking and interchange among member ICAs.
Relationships
ICA International maintains relationships with key international bodies and other international organisations, including:
Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC); Liaison status with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO); Working relation status with the World Health Organisation (WHO); Consultative Status with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); Service on the Non Governmental Organisation Consultative Group for the International Fund of Agriculture Development (IFAD); and Membership in CIVICUS, the World Alliance for Citizen Participation.
ICA International is a global network of national member organizations located in the following countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Peru, South Africa,Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda,United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. ICA Nepal hosted the 8th global conference on human development in Kahtmnandu, Nepal in late 2012. In this occasion a book entitled 'Changing lives changing society' was released.[1]
In the 1970s and 1980s the Institute of Cultural Affairs established several thousand model villages, around the world, to demonstrate what is possible when people work together.[2][3]
The secretariat office is in Montreal, Canada.
References
- ↑ ICA Nepal, 2012
- ↑ Methods For Community Development: The Work of the Institute Of Cultural Affairs, Stuart A. Umpleby, The George Washington University, August 7, 1989.
- ↑ A Global Strategy for Human Development: The Work of the Institute of Cultural Affairs, Stuart A. Umpleby and Alisa Oyler, in Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Vol. 24, No. 6, November–December 2007, pp. 645-653, May 8, 2007.