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Building Knowledge

Iain MacdonaldNovember 3, 2013

Capetown

Cooperative movement:

an economic giant but

a political mouse?….

How can we change that?

Top 10 Co-operative and mutual organizations in the World Co-operative Monitor

1. Zenkyoren Japan2. Zen-Noh Japan3. Edeka Zentrale Germany4. State Farm Group USA5. Nippon Life Japan6. ReWe Group Germany7. ACDLEC - E.Leclerc France8. Groupe Crédit Agricole France9. Kaiser Permanente USA10. Meiji Yasuda Life Japan

What is a Co-operative?

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.

Bienvenue à la Fédération Nationale du Crédit Agricole!

Co-operative Facts

In Colombia, health co-operatives are the country’s second largest employer

In Denmark, consumer co-operatives in 2007 held 36.4% of consumer retail market.

In Japan, the agricultural co-operatives report outputs of USD 90 billion with 91% of all Japanese farmers in membership.

The United Nations estimated in 1994 that the livelihood of nearly 3 billion people, or half of the world’s population, was made secure by co-operative enterprise.

Co-operative Facts

236 million Indians are members of co-operatives.

In New Zealand, 22% of the gross domestic product (GDP) is generated by co-operative enterprise

In Norway out of a population of 4.8 million people, 2 million are members of co-operatives.

Co-operatives in Kenya contribute more than 50% to the country’s GDP

..and all of them adhere to these Values and Principles!

Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.

Principles

1. Voluntary and Open Membership2. Democratic Member Control,3. Member Economic Participation4. Autonomy and Independence5. Education, Training and Information6. Co-operation among Co-operatives7. Concern for Community

From a governmental perspective

Cross Party Group on Co-operatives

The Scottish Parliament

Which do you prefer?

Should our values such as democracy prevail in business or should dictatorship continue?

Johnston Birchall and Lou Hammond-Ketillson

CO-OPERATIVE ENTERPRISES BUILD A BETTER WORLD

Co-operation in practice

There is but one mode by which man can possess in perpetuity all the happiness which his nature is capable of enjoying – that is by the union and co-operation of all for the benefit of each

Robert Owen

Dr. Iain MacDonaldInternational Cooperative Consultant

Former Director General, International Cooperative Alliance

iain@macdonald.coop