The Global Co-operative Movement Iain Macdonald Director General ICA 7th Asia-Pacific Co-operative Ministers' Conference: 2-5 February 2004
Dec 27, 2015
The Global Co-operative Movement
Iain MacdonaldDirector General ICA
7th Asia-Pacific Co-operative Ministers' Conference: 2-5
February 2004
Outline of Presentation
What is the ICA? ICA Priorities for 2004 Myths and Reality
What is the ICA
“the ICA is an independent non-governmental organisation which unites, represents and serves co-operatives worldwide”
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and Reality
A little about us…… One of the largest and oldest NGO’s in
the world, established 1895
Our members includes 230 national and international organisations in all sectors of activity from 100 countries, representing 760 million individuals worldwide
Hold consultative status with the United Nations and its agencies
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and Reality
Our Structure Combined global and regional (decentralized)
structure, with offices covering: Head Office: Geneva, Switzerland Asia-Pacific: New Delhi, India Americas: San José, Costa Rica East, Central & South Africa: Nairobi, Kenya West Africa: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Europe: Geneva, Switzerland Plus Project Offices, Middle East, Asia, South
America Sectoral organisations and thematic committees Governed by an elected Board
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and Reality
The Board Elected by the General Assembly:
President, 4 Vice Presidents from four ICA regions
Wide geographic and sectoral representation
Principal role to implement policy on major issues affecting the future of ICA and the world wide co-operative movementOutline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and
Reality
2004 President and Vice Presidents
VICE-PRESIDENT (AFRICA)
Stanley Charles Muchiri
ICA PresidentIvano Barberini
AFRICA
Stanley Muchiri
AMERICAS
Carlos Palacino ASIA - PACIFIC
Mu Li
EUROPE
Pauline Green
General Assembly Held every 2 years; Oslo, Norway 2003
Includes delegates from members, sectoral organisations, thematic committees and observers, normally over 1000 participants
Elects Board approves rules and sets overall policy direction
Next Assembly: Colombia, 2005
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and Reality
Regional Assemblies Held alternate years to General
Assembly in: Africa Asia-Pacific Americas Europe
Sets regional policy and priorities, within overall context of ICA global policy, elects global VP’s and regional officials
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and Reality
ICA: Global Sectoral Organisations
Agriculture (ICAO) Fisheries (ICFO) Banking (ICBA) Consumer (CCI) Health (IHCO) Housing (ICA Housing) Insurance (ICMIF) Tourism (TICA) Workers (CICOPA)
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and
Reality
ICA Thematic Committees
Research Gender Human Resource Development Communications
Both the sectoral organisations and the thematic committees may also have regional groupings
Plus……………
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and Reality
Youth Network: Youth Conference Oslo 2003
ICA Strategic Focus
Global Networking and Trade Contacts Co-operative Legislation and Policy Development Assistance – Fighting
Poverty Promoting the Co-operative Identity Raising awareness on co-operatives in
international institutions
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and Reality
Priorities for 2004
Good communication Development Membership and organizational issues Anti poverty Fair trade Trading links International standing Legislation and policy Promoting the co-operative identity
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and Reality
Priorities for 2004:Communications
Survey of members to be undertaken New communications strategy to be
developed Revamp/review of website, logos and
publications, etc Higher profile with members and wider
community Greater co-ordination of communication
activities, better management of information and knowledge within ICA network
Promotion of .coopOutline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and
Reality
Priorities for 2004: Development
Recognise the centrality of development to the ICA
Co-operatives are a proven self help method out of poverty
The co-operative movement supports UN Millennium Development Goals
New Anti-Poverty Campaign to be launched later this year. Possible theme………… Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and
Reality
C C o-operatives
o o rganising to
o o vercome
p p overty
Co-operatives Organising to Overcome Poverty
Through strengthening Through strengthening co-operative enterpriseco-operative enterprise
Priorities for 2004: Fair Trade
Co-operatives have been among the leaders of this trend
Provides ideal vehicle for co-operatives from the more developed economies to “twin” with co-operatives from the developing economies
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and Reality
Priorities for 2004: Membership
Membership analysis and subscription review
Sectoral liaison Regional strategies Good governance
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and Reality
Priorities for 2004: Trading Links, Co-operation among Co-
operatives
Great opportunities exist Recent initiative involving Chinese,
Canadian, Singaporean, Japanese and UK co-operative movements seems promising
Shows the compatibility of commercial success and co-operative principles
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and Reality
Priorities for 2004: International Standing
UN Agencies International Labour Organisation (ILO) Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) UNAIDS, WHO etc
World Bank Committee for the Advancement of Co-
operatives (COPAC) Co-operative Development Agencies,
e.g. SCC National Governments
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and Reality
Priority for 2004 Co-operative Legislation and Policy
ILO Recommendation 193 plus UN Guidelines
Joint activities with Committee for the Promotion of Co-operatives (COPAC)
Seminars and special conferences, e.g Co-operative Ministers Conferences in Asia and Africa
Research and commissioned studies, publications and web resources
Global Advisory Committee on legislation and special sub-committee of the Board
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and Reality
Priorities for 2004: Promoting the Co-operative Identity
ICA has revised the principles 3 times, most recently in 1995
Most widely accepted international definition of a co-operative
Included in ILO recommendation 193 and many countries’ co-operative legislation
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Focus Areas for 2004 / Myths and Reality
Myths and Reality
Myths
Co-operatives don’t work; aren’t competitive – they all fail!
“Tools of governments – not independent” Yesterday’s organisations, no role in global
world of today “Too much democracy” is bad for business Values are incompatible with commercial
success Are poorly managed, under funded
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Focus Areas for 2004 / Myths and Reality
Reality: some facts…..
Co-operative enterprise provides 100 million jobs worldwide - far more than multinational corporations!
Over 120 million people - 2 of every 5 people-are members of 48,000 U.S. co-operatives
In Finland were responsible for 74% of the meat products, 96% of dairy products, 50% of egg production, 34% of forestry products 34% of total deposits in Finnish banks
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Focus Areas for 2004 / Myths and Reality
Reality: more facts….. In Norway:
dairy co-ops 99% of milk production consumer co-operatives 25% market share
Saludcoop health co-operative 2nd largest employer in Colombia caring for 25% of population
4 of 10 Canadians are members of at last 1 co-operative, co-operatives handle 40% of farm cash receipts in Canada
520 million of 760 million co-operative members worldwide are from co-operatives in Asia
The list goes on……
Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Focus Areas for 2004 / Myths and Reality
International Co-operative
Alliance
www.ica.coop
I would like to finish with one last personal thought………
Peace has been at the heart of the international co-operative movement since its beginning - what other global movement combines enterprise culture with peace and justice…..