Online Training Series: EU Delegations and EU Compliance for the Cooperative World

The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), under the ICA-EU Partnership (2024-2028) #coops4dev🌍, is organising a four-session online training series on “EU Delegations and EU Compliance for the Cooperative World” throughout October 2026.

The series is designed to help ICA member organisations and cooperative organisations better understand the EU external action ecosystem, engage with EU Delegations and Member State institutions, explore opportunities linked to the Global Gateway initiative, and strengthen their organisational readiness to work with EU funding and investment mechanisms.

Each session will be delivered twice, with the same content offered in two time slots: a morning cohort in English (09:30–12:00 CEST) and an afternoon cohort with live English-to-Spanish interpretation (16:00–18:30 CEST).

What will participants gain?

• A clear understanding of the roles of key EU institutions, including DG INTPA, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and EU Delegations, and how to engage with them.
• An introduction to the Global Gateway initiative, including its combination of grants, loans and guarantees and how it is being implemented.
• Practical tools to develop a strong value proposition and present their organisation effectively to EU Delegations, Member State institutions and potential partners.
• An understanding of key EU financial, compliance and organisational readiness requirements, including budgeting and due diligence.
• Practical exercises and materials that participants can use within their own organisations.

The four sessions:

Session 1: Understanding the EU External Action Ecosystem and EU Delegations (7 October 2026)

The first session will provide a practical introduction to the EU's external action ecosystem and the key institutions involved in international cooperation. Participants will explore how EU priorities are translated into country-level programming and identify appropriate entry points for engaging EU Delegations and Member State institutions.

Session 2: Global Gateway Readiness for Cooperative Organisations (13 October 2026)

The second session will introduce the Global Gateway strategy, its financing architecture and its implementation to date. Participants will explore how Global Gateway differs from traditional EU grant funding and how cooperative organisations can realistically position themselves within its initiatives and projects.

Session 3: Building a Strong Value Proposition for EU Delegations (20 October 2026)

The third session will focus on practical communication and positioning skills. Participants will learn how to develop a clear value proposition, align their organisation's strengths and impact with EU and Global Gateway priorities, and prepare for effective engagement with EU Delegations, Member State institutions and potential partners.

Session 4: EU Compliance, Organisational Readiness and Practical Next Steps (29 October 2026)

The fourth and final session will focus on the practical financial, compliance and organisational requirements involved in accessing and managing EU funding. Participants will explore EU financial rules, project budgeting, due diligence and organisational readiness, and will develop an action plan for their next steps.

Pre-training survey:

Before attending the first session, participants are encouraged to complete the Pre-Training Survey. The survey will help tailor the training to participants' needs and expectations.

Register here:

Who can participate?

The training series is aimed at ICA member organisations, national cooperative apex bodies, federations and individual cooperatives, both within and outside the European Union.

Participants are encouraged to attend the full four-session series, as the sessions build progressively from understanding the EU institutional landscape and Global Gateway to developing practical engagement, compliance and organisational readiness skills.

In addition to the four live sessions, participants will have access to two follow-up consultation clinics for more targeted questions and to learning materials through a dedicated online learning platform. Sessions will be delivered live on Zoom, with recordings available for a limited period.

More information: https://ica.coop/en/events

This activity is organized under the ICA-EU Partnership (2024-2028), also known as #coops4dev🌍, a five-year international cooperative development programme that aims to strengthen the ICA network and position cooperatives as key development actors within the European Union Development Agenda.