The ICA has successfully completed its latest strategic planning cycle, resulting in the adoption of the Strategic Plan 2025–2029 at the General Assembly in Barcelona in October 2025. This plan is the outcome of an extensive, year-long process grounded in the needs, goals, and aspirations expressed by our members across the global archival community.
Throughout this process, the ICA’s Elected Officers coordinated the overall framework, but the substance of the plan was shaped by contributions from members, partners, and stakeholders through consultations, surveys, and working groups. A draft of the plan was shared with members for feedback in early 2025, allowing ample time to refine and strengthen the document before its final approval in Barcelona.
Below are the phases of the planning process, illustrating how the Strategic Plan 2025–2029 was developed step by step:
he Strategic Plan was presented to the General Assembly on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, and was formally approved by the ICA membership.
The second draft of the Strategic Plan is now available for ICA members to review. Feedback is welcomed until 1 September 2025.
The first draft of the Strategic Plan was circulated to PCOM and the Executive Board. Feedback was used to revise and prepare the second draft.
A strategic planning team was established—composed of current and former PCOM members and several facilitators—conducted an in-depth analysis of the feedback received. This process identified four key strategic themes and four strategic enablers.
ICA launched a broad consultation phase through focus groups and stakeholder interviews. Sessions were held in English, Spanish, and French, and included general members-at-large groups, as well as dedicated discussions with PCOM members and young professionals. Interviews were also conducted with strategic partners.
The ICA Secretariat developed a Strategic Planning Guide to support a consistent consultation approach. This marked the beginning of a broad qualitative consultation process with ICA members and stakeholders.
The survey, which received 501 responses, highlights key areas of focus for the ICA, including the need to prioritize artificial intelligence, digital preservation, and the expansion of resources for professional development. Members expressed a desire for ICA to become more inclusive and networked, with a focus on advocacy, digital transformation, and strengthening its global presence. The feedback will inform the next steps in the planning process, including further consultations with members and the creation of a draft strategic plan to be reviewed in 2025.
The first step was a short 7-question survey sent out via LimeSurvey to all ICA members, both those in good standing and those in the grace period or in arrears. The survey was conducted from July to September 2024, to guide the development of the next strategic plan.