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The 2002 theme of United Nations´ International Day of Cooperatives is "Society & Cooperatives: Concern for Community". It focuses on the 7th and newest of the Cooperative Principles - Concern for Community.
In observance of the International Day for Cooperatives, a panel discussion on the topic "Society and Cooperatives: Concern for Community" was organized by the Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations. The purpose of the panel discussion was to highlight the important role cooperatives are playing towards achieving the Millennium development goals of full and productive employment, eradication of poverty, social integration and the advancement of women.
The Panel Discussion was chaired by Mr. Gansukh Purevjav, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the United Nations. Mr Johan Schölvinck, Director, Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs made an opening statement.
The following experts on cooperatives participated in the Panel:
Prof. Peter Davis: Embedding families in their community through processes of co-operation: Reinforcing domestic economics and cultural diversity in the context of globalization
Summary: The encouragement of people onto the labour market together with self-employment and small business initiatives may be in danger of becoming over emphasized. Policy makers need to reconsider the domestic economy as an additional strand to anti poverty policies. The hollowing out of the domestic economy may be putting strains on the money/market economy which it cannot absorb and which may in turn be impacting negatively on its effectiveness. A stronger domestic economy may lead to a stronger market economy by reducing the burden of the high costs resulting from the failure of families to maintain and support those members not in employment. In the effort to encourage women to enter and compete on the job market their enormous productivity within the families domestic economy has not been recognized, measured and evaluated. Cooperative principles and frameworks may have an important role in enabling "families" to generate real added value for improving both material and cultural standards. This may well be possible in a wide variety of contexts and forms of family. The presentation does not insist this strategy will work but does insist that it is worthy of serious research.
Ms. Jo-Anne Ferguso: Co-operatives and community economic development
Summary: Every day co-operatives touch the lives of some 800 million members the world over. And while the co-operative sector may be the largest global network of voluntary organizations other than organized religion, it is also rooted in community. In large cities and small villages, co-operatives are strengthening communities by serving their members diverse economic and social needs through jointly owned, democratically controlled enterprises. They bring economic and social benefits to communities and provide a means for community development and for providing services to communities. Just as importantly, co-operatives help sustain communities by returning profits to members and keeping ownership and control in the community; by building local leadership shills and including all social groups in the decision-making process; by promoting social cohesion; by creating innovative enterprises and economic enterprises; and by investing in community well-being. Co-operatives are vehicles of community economic development.
Ms. Lucy Izumu Ito: Pro-poor and pro-community practices: Profiles of best practice credit unions
Summary: Providing the poor with access to safe and affordable financial services is vital for alleviating poverty, building stable local communities, and strengthening national economies. Starting with the "market positioning pyramid" to illustrate the community development niche and focus of credit unions, this presentation will provide current day examples of credit union best practices that have proven to be pro-poor and pro-community. Based on the themes that emerge from these case studies, principles and strategies will be recommended for how credit unions and other cooperatives can most effectively fulfill their role in community development and poverty alleviation.
Mr. Lorenz Pohlmeier: Marketing cooperatives in the rural communities of Central Asia
Summary: This presentation deals with:
- Why consider forming a cooperative?
- Big Handicap: Cooperatives in most developing and transition countries have a bad reputation.
- How to form a cooperative?
- Facilitating factors for cooperative formation and development
- Possible Starting Points for Marketing Cooperatives
- Stages of Cooperative Development
- Additional functions of marketing cooperatives
- Financing marketing cooperatives
- How important is external financing for marketing cooperatives?
- Support Services for Cooperatives
- Alternatives to Cooperatives
Materials provided by COPAC to past celebrations of the UN International Day of Cooperatives:
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Comments or questions? Contact the COPAC Coordinator.
Updated: 10 October 2005
