ICA

Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 April 2010 13:02 Written by David Griffiths Monday, 13 April 2009 01:22

Co-operatives are unique businesses that are based on explicit values and principles. These are articulated in the International Co-operative Alliance's Statement on the Co-operative Identity adopted in 1995.
Definition
A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.
Values
Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.
Principles
The cooperative principles are guidelines by which cooperatives put their values into practice.

alt
Ist Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

2nd Principle: Democratic Member Control
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner.

3rd Principle: Member Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

4th Principle: Autonomy and Independence
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

alt
5th Principle: Education, Training and Information
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform?the general public – particularly young people and opinion leaders – about the nature and benefits of cooperation.

alt
6th Principle: Cooperation among Cooperatives
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

7th Principle: Concern for Community
Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.?
Author: International Co-operative Alliance, 1995
The ICA is the international non-government organisation which unites, represents and services co-operatives worldwide. It was established in London, UK, in 1898. It has more than 239 member organisations from over?90 countries and represents more than 760 million individuals.

For more on the international history of co-operatives visit the web site of the International Co-operative Alliance at ?http://www.ica.coop/coop/history.html

For statistics on the extent and depth of the international co-operative movement visit the web site of the ?International Co-operative Alliance at: ?http://www.ica.coop/coop/statistics.html

Attention: open in a new window. PDFPrintE-mail