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…..