24
R. F. Barreiros et al.
2. Democratic member control
“Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively
participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as
elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives,
members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote), and cooperatives at other
levels are also organized in a democratic manner.”
3. Member economic participation
“Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a
condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following
purposes: developing their cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at
least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with
the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.”
4. Autonomy and independence
“Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If
they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise
capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by
their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.”
5. Education, training, and information
“Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives,
managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their
cooperatives. They inform the general public—particularly young people and opinion
leaders—about the nature and benefits of cooperation.”
6. Cooperation among cooperatives
“Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative
movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international
structures.”
7. Concern for community
“Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through
policies approved by their members.”
This 7th principle was first stated as a separate and distinct cooperative principle in
the reformulation of the cooperative principles agreed by the members of the Alliance
at its General Assembly in Manchester in 1995 (ICA 2015). Since then, the concern
for sustainable development is explicitly declared as integrating the principles of the
cooperative movement.
In July 2019, a General Assembly of United Nations published a report reviewing
the role of cooperatives in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, analyzing
emerging issues and strategies for strengthening cooperatives in the light of the
critical challenges that they face in their pursuit of sustainable development for
all and concluding with policy recommendations for the further advancement of
cooperatives. The General Assembly also declared that: (United Nations 2019).
Cooperatives contribute to all aspects of inclusive social development and to the realization of
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In recent years, the cooperative movement
has grown, in particular, as a result of the impetus provided by the International Year of
Cooperatives in 2012. The cooperative model exists in almost every field of human activity,
especially in agriculture and food industries, insurance, health care, wholesale and retail
R. F. Barreiros et al.
2. Democratic member control
“Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively
participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as
elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives,
members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote), and cooperatives at other
levels are also organized in a democratic manner.”
3. Member economic participation
“Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a
condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following
purposes: developing their cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at
least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with
the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.”
4. Autonomy and independence
“Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If
they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise
capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by
their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.”
5. Education, training, and information
“Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives,
managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their
cooperatives. They inform the general public—particularly young people and opinion
leaders—about the nature and benefits of cooperation.”
6. Cooperation among cooperatives
“Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative
movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international
structures.”
7. Concern for community
“Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through
policies approved by their members.”
This 7th principle was first stated as a separate and distinct cooperative principle in
the reformulation of the cooperative principles agreed by the members of the Alliance
at its General Assembly in Manchester in 1995 (ICA 2015). Since then, the concern
for sustainable development is explicitly declared as integrating the principles of the
cooperative movement.
In July 2019, a General Assembly of United Nations published a report reviewing
the role of cooperatives in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, analyzing
emerging issues and strategies for strengthening cooperatives in the light of the
critical challenges that they face in their pursuit of sustainable development for
all and concluding with policy recommendations for the further advancement of
cooperatives. The General Assembly also declared that: (United Nations 2019).
Cooperatives contribute to all aspects of inclusive social development and to the realization of
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In recent years, the cooperative movement
has grown, in particular, as a result of the impetus provided by the International Year of
Cooperatives in 2012. The cooperative model exists in almost every field of human activity,
especially in agriculture and food industries, insurance, health care, wholesale and retail