Revised Statement on the Cooperative Identity available for comments until end of November
Where did it all start?
BRUSSELS, November 19, 2025 — Adopted in Manchester in 1995, the Statement on the Cooperative Identity set out for the first time the cooperative and ethical values that lie behind the principles drawn up by the Rochdale Pioneers and later adopted by the international movement; provided a clear definition of the cooperative business model; and updated the Cooperative Principles to reflect the contemporary features of the movement.
The 33rd ICA World Cooperative Congress, held at the end of 2021 in Seoul, Korea, kicked off a global consultation aimed at broadening cooperators’ awareness of the Statement and finding out how well it has stood the test of time.
Under the guidance of a group of experts and practitioners appointed by the ICA Board—the Cooperative Identity Advisory Group—cooperators from all around the world have since answered a survey sharing their views, attended educational webinars exploring facets of our shared Cooperative Identity, and taken part in national and regional consultation sessions.
The first consultation round concluded in New Delhi in November 2024 when the ICA General Assembly:
Approved 15 steps the ICA and its members can take to better articulate, live, communicate, and protect the Cooperative Identity;
Agreed to convene a World Cooperative Congress, at a time and place to be determined by the ICA Board, for the purpose of considering possible changes to the Statement.
The Members attending the Assembly had before them a first discussion draft setting out possible revisions to the Statement. The draft gave an idea of the kinds of changes that could be made; the members were not asked to approve it.
Based on feedback offered then, the Advisory Group has released a second discussion draft. As the consultation continues, it will release further discussion drafts as necessary. The aim is to:
Ensure that all proposed changes to the Statement are rigorously considered;
Arrive, if possible, at a consensus on what, if any, changes to make to the Statement.
Full Members and Associates of the ICA, the ICA’s Regions, Sectoral Organisations and Thematic Committees, and all other interested parties are invited to comment on the discussion drafts as they are released.
ICA Statement on the Cooperative Identity: Discussion draft 2
Definition
A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.
Values
Cooperatives are founded on the values of mutual self-help, personal responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, they embrace the ethical values of honesty, transparency and accountability. Stewards for future generations, they practise social and environmental responsibility.
Cooperative Principles
Seven principles guide cooperatives in putting these values into practice.
1st Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open without discrimination of any kind to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership.
2nd Principle: Democratic Member Control
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who have a vote and a voice in the affairs of the cooperative. Persons serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote). Cooperatives at other levels are organized on the democratic basis determined by their membership.
3rd Principle: Member Economic Participation
Members participate in their cooperative as producers, consumers, workers, community members or independent business owners. They contribute equitably to its capital, a portion of which remains common property under the democratic control of the cooperative. Members receive a limited return, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership.
Cooperatives allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative; setting aside indivisible or other reserves; benefiting members in proportion to their business with the cooperative; and advancing other purposes supported by the membership.
4th Principle: Autonomy and Independence
Cooperatives are independent organizations controlled by their members. When they enter into agreements with governments or other organizations, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that do not weaken the members’ democratic control or undermine the cooperative’s autonomy.
5th Principle: Education, Training and Public Promotion
Cooperatives provide education and training to their members, elected representatives, managers and employees to strengthen their engagement with the cooperative and enable them to contribute fully to its success and its democratic life. They inform the public—particularly young people and opinion leaders—about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
6th Principle: Cooperation among Cooperatives
Cooperatives serve their members and strengthen the cooperative movement when they use the services of other cooperatives and work together through local, national, regional and international structures to meet their common goals and advance their aspirations for the movement.
7th Principle: Community Engagement
Through responsible business practices and policies supported by their members, cooperatives work for the wellbeing of the communities in which they operate and a peaceful, just and environmentally sustainable future for all.
5th Principle: Education, Training and Public Promotion
Cooperatives provide education and training to their members, elected representatives, managers and employees to strengthen their engagement with the cooperative and enable them to contribute fully to its success and its democratic life. They inform the public—particularly young people and opinion leaders—about the nature and benefits of cooperation.
6th Principle: Cooperation among Cooperatives
Cooperatives serve their members and strengthen the cooperative movement when they use the services of other cooperatives and work together through local, national, regional and international structures to meet their common goals and advance their aspirations for the movement.
7th Principle: Community Engagement
Through responsible business practices and policies supported by their members, cooperatives work for the wellbeing of the communities in which they operate and a peaceful, just and environmentally sustainable future for all.
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