Founded in 1938, the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE), supported by Norwegian Ministry of Education & Research, is the global membership organisation of educational institutions, national and regional associations, corporations, educational authorities and agencies in the field of open learning, distance education, and flexible, lifelong learning. ICDE is officially recognised by the United Nations as the global non-governmental organisation responsible for the field of open and distance learning, and is affiliated with the United Nations through UNESCO. 
ICDE is also an affiliate member of South East Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) and a World Bank partner organisation.