ICA, UN and FAO underline that co-operatives are more resilient to crisis than other forms of enterprise. They are not only surviving the crisis, but also contributing to driving global recovery due to the fact that co-operatives are value based enterprises guided by the Co-operative Values and Principles. However, the ICA warns that only with appropriate policies will co-operatives continue to be able to drive global recovery and thus calls on policy-makers to take into consideration the co-operative enterprise when elaborating regulations and legislation. ICA further calls on co-operators throughout the world to strengthen their commitments to their co-operative values and principles, celebrate their success in these difficult times, and work in partnership to ensure that they continue driving global recovery around the world. Recent News
ICA announces the passing away of Geneva staff member, Marie-Claude Baan
- Published Yesterday
It is with great sadness that ICA announces the passing of a dear friend and valued colleague, Marie-Claude Baan-Sonzini. Marie-Claude died peacefully on 30 June following a courageous struggle against cancer. She was ICA's longest standing staff member and was the pillar of the ICA Central Office in Geneva. Over her more than 25 years with the ICA, she worked with the Co-operative Education Materials Service (CEMAS), was involved in the development and membership departments, assisted in preparing ICA meetings and had also been in charge of ICA's database. Most recently Marie-Claude held the position of Office Administrator assisting also on personnel issues. She has made an invaluable contribution to the work of the ICA and will be sorely missed.
ICA wishes to express its sincerest condolences to the Baan and Sonzini families and in particular to her husband and two children.
ICA Digest 66 June/July 2009
- Published 06/30/2009
The English language edition of ICA Digest 66 June/July 2009 is now available. This issue of the Digest is focused on the increasing evidence base that co-operatives are truly a better model of business. The report on co-operative resilience in the face of crisis is an opportunity that will likely not present itself again in the near future. Thus the need to work fast to make sustained gains in co-operative visibility and profile. We report on one of these opportunities - the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives. This issue also includes a tribute to Ivano Barberini. He has left us with a rich legacy of achievements and gains for the movement. We also report on the various initiatives in the regions. They too are focusing on crisis and collecting evidence on how co-operatives are faring in the recession. We announce too, the release of the ICA message for the International Day of Co-operatives.
Resilience of the co-operative business model in times of crisis: New ILO report
- Published 06/19/2009
A new ILO report that was commissioned to the ICA shows that co-operative enterprises around the world are proving resilient to the global economic crisis. The financial and ensuing economic crisis has had negative impacts on the majority of enterprises; however, co-operative enterprises around the world are showing resilience to the crisis. Financial co-operatives remain financially sound; consumer co-operatives are reporting increased turnover; worker co-operatives are seeing growth as people choose the co-operative form of enterprise to respond to new economic realities.Why is this form of enterprise proving so resilient? The report provides historical evidence and current empirical evidence that proves that the co-operative model of enterprise survives crisis, but more importantly that it is a sustainable form of enterprise able to withstand crisis, maintaining the livelihoods of the communities in which they operate. It further suggests ways in which the ILO can strengthen its activity in the promotion of co-operatives as a means to address the current crisis and avert future crisis. See: www.ica.coop/activities/un/2009-coop-resilience.pdf
ICA statement to the G-20
- Published 03/20/2009
The Board of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) has addressed a letter to each of the G-20 governments noting its concern that the G20 at its meeting in April 2009 in London, examines every option in seeking to overcome the current financial crisis and asking that they give serious consideration to the advantages of the co-operative model of business. The ICA Director-General in his cover letter underlined that, "With over 150 years of commercial success in all economic fields, it is our conviction that co-operative enterprise, with its unique set of values and principles, can provide possible solutions particularly in promoting stability in the global economy." See the full statement (pdf) and coverletter (pdf).
ICA Statement on International Women's Day, 8 March 2009 "Co-operators united to end violence against women and girls"
- Published 03/5/2009
The ICA President and Chair of the ICA Gender Equality Committee have issued a joint statement calling on ICA member organisations and co-operators to mobilise and play a stronger role to end violence against women and girls. They note that co-operatives can start making a difference by promoting gender equality in their own co-operative structures, as well as taking a leadership in their communities to change attitudes and make political representations. Specifically, co-operatives are called to remove all obstacles that prevent or limit the direct membership and active participation of women in all types of co-operatives. This means seriously reviewing co-operative bye-laws, policies, standing orders and even internal practice to ensure that real opportunities are available to women to improve their socio-economic status and by doing so in turn contribute the success of their co-operatives while empowering themselves. Promoting gender equality will contribute to make violence against women and girls a thing of the past!
See full statement at: http://www.ica.coop/gender/activities/2009-int-womens-day.pdf
See ICA Americas statement for International Women's Day at: http://www.ica.coop/gender/activities/2009-int-womens-day-americas.pdf
See full statement at: http://www.ica.coop/gender/activities/2009-int-womens-day.pdf
See ICA Americas statement for International Women's Day at: http://www.ica.coop/gender/activities/2009-int-womens-day-americas.pdf
Spanish - Español Digest No. 64, Diciembre / Enero
- Published 02/18/2009
Del escritorio del Editora, Últimas noticias Asamblea General de ACI 2009, Ginebra , Informe del Director General, Artículo: Las cooperativas y la crisis financiera ,ICA Expo, Noticias de la región Asia y el Pacífico, Noticias de la región África, Noticias de la región Américas, Noticias de 'Cooperatives Europe', Noticias ACI, Noticias de los Miembros, Actualidad de la Gente y los Miembros, Calendario. http://www.ica.coop/es/digest/index.html
Statement on the Israeli-Palestine Conflict: Letter addressed to the United Nations, European Union, and Governments of the G-20
- Published 02/18/2009
Co-operation is rooted in peace and social justice. As one of the aims of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) is to "contribute to international peace and security" through the benefits of co-operation, it is fitting therefore that co-operators from Israel, Palestine and Iran, amongst others, have written to the ICA calling on the international co-operative movement to demand an immediate end to the violence in their region. We therefore call upon the governments of the G20, the European Union and the United Nations to promote and support comprehensive negotiations between Israel and Palestine in order to achieve a lasting peace based on social justice, security and economic development linked to the improvement of living standards. Read the Statement on the Israeli-palestine Conflict.
Featured Articles
Featured Member: National Society of Accountants for Co-operatives
- Published 02/4/2009
- Member Profiles
On 1 January 2009, the National Society of Accountants for Co-operatives (NSAC) of the United States became an Associate Member of the ICA. NSAC is an association of accountants which represents the needs of co-operative accounting, auditing and tax professionals. Co-operatives use their service to find accountants which specialise in co-operatives. NSAC provides accounting, tax and business education to co-operatives; provide networking and professional development activities for their member accountants; and support co-operative business interests in standard setting processes (legal and regulatory). NSAC's membership is made up of 1,400 individuals. They are a member of ICA's existing member, the National Co-operative Business Association of the United States. See: www.nsacoop.org
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