The Global Co-operative Movement Iain Macdonald Director 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 movement Outline of Presentation: What is the ICA /Priorities for 2004 / Myths and Reality

2004 President and Vice Presidents VICE-PRESIDENT (AFRICA) Stanley Charles Muchiri ICA President Ivano 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.coop Outline 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 co-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 2 nd 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

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…..