Co-operatives around the world are organised in different structures.

The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) was founded in 1895. It is an independent, non-governmental organisation which unites, represents and serves co-operatives worldwide. It is the largest non-governmental organisation in the world. Currently, ICA has 242 member organisations from 91 countries, representing more than 800 million individuals worldwide.

The ICA has three components: a Central Office, based in Geneva, 4 Regional offices and 8 sectoral organisations.

a) ICA Regional offices:

• Europe (Cooperatives Europe)
• Americas
• Asia and Pacific
• Africa

b) ICA Sectoral Organisations:

• Consumer Co-operatives Worldwide (CCW)
• International Co-operative Agricultural Organisation (ICAO)
• International Co-operative Banking Association (ICBA)
• International Co-operative Fisheries Organisation (ICFO)
• International Health Co-operative Organisation (IHCO)
• International Co-operative Housing Organisation (ICA Housing)
• International Co-operative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF)
• International Organisation of Industrial, Artisanal and Service Producers' Co-operatives (CICOPA)

In addition, in Europe, co-operatives are organised in different sectors of activity:

• European Community of Consumer Co-operatives (Euro Coop)
• General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives in the European Union  (Cogeca)
• European Confederation of Workers' Co-operatives, Social Co-operatives and Social and Participative Enterprises  (Cecop)
• European Association of Co-operative Banks  (EACB)
• European Liaison Committee for Social Housing  (Cecodhas)