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GeneralREVIEW Assembly Edition REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION VOLUME 98 N° 2/2005 VOLUME 96 Nº 2 2003 Visit the ICA Web site at: www.ica.coop for informaton on the International Co-operative Alliance and details of its rules, structure, activities and sectoral organisations. Data is also available on the history and current information about the international movement, co-operative publications and co-operative issues. Additionally, there are links to websites worldwide in all sectors of the economy, sites on international organisations and business information of interest to co-operatives. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the leadership and management of the ICA. Contents may be reprinted without permission, but citation of source is requested and three copies of the publication concerned should be sent to ICA Review, 15, route des Morillons, 1218 Grand-Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland. Review of International Co-operation Vol. 98 No 2/2005 Editor: Garry Cronan Contents Introduction: Iain Macdonald . 3 Invitation: Carlos Palacino . 5 Report on ICA Activities 2003-2005. 6 General Assembly Agenda . 11 Schedule of Meetings . 13 Highlights of General Assembly . 15 Draft Minutes of ICA General Assembly, Oslo, Norway, 4 September 2003 . 18 Information on Candidates for Election to ICA Board and Audit and Control Committee at the General Assembly . 27 Rochdale Pioneers Award . 35 Resolution for consideration by the General Assembly . 36 Foreword to Background Paper, Dr Ian MacPherson. 43 Background Paper: Co-operative Principles Ten Years On, Dr Johnston Birchall . 45 Overview of the Colombian Co-operative Movement . 64 1 Introduction It does not seem like two years since the last General Assembly in Oslo in September 2003. That Assembly was seen as something of a landmark endorsing as it did the findings of the Task Force which had been set up by the previous General Assembly in Seoul. Those findings have quietly but firmly imposed themselves on every aspect of ICA and much of what will be discussed at our forthcoming Gen- eral Assembly in Cartagena is influ- enced by that process. Iain Macdonald So this edition of the Review is in effect President of ICA global and President a glorified agenda for what promises of our Americas region. As Chair of the to be a very exciting week of co-opera- Assembly organising committee, I tive activity in Cartagena, Colombia. know we are in good hands! For our Colombian hosts this is a unique occasion. It is the first time that Dr Johnston Birchall has been asked to our Assembly has been held in South prepare the background paper - Co- operative Principles Ten Years On. America and puts firmly in the fore- I know this will help to galvanise debate front, the tremendous work being during the week and it seems timely to done by South American co-operators. look at what has happened in the 10 This fascinating continent has a very years since Dr Ian MacPherson pre- strong movement with a huge variety sented his reworked Values and Prin- of co-operative enterprises. And from ciples. Co-operation relies on constant a Colombian point of view the review evaluation, reinvention and promotion gives a very clear and in-depth account to stay at the forefront of social and of the socio-economic position of this economic debate and, looking at what country, as well as specific detail of the has happened over those last 10 years, Colombian co-operative sector. Of this has certainly been the case. course Saludcoop as one of the coun- try's main health providers is also the The theme of this year’s General country's second biggest employer. Its Assembly is Co-operative Values: A President, Carlos Palacino is also Vice Competitive Asset in a Globalised Econ- 3 omy. With the provision of some 100 As a co-operative organisation, demo- million jobs it is clear to me that the co- cratic elections are an essential feature operative movement more than holds of our governance and this year is no its own in the world economy. How- exception. Every four years we elect ever this is not necessarily recognised our President, Board and Audit and by international organisations and Control committee. I am pleased to governments, or indeed by the interna- say that we have a very healthy num- tional business community itself. ber of nominations for these positions. Building on Dr Birchall's paper there- Elsewhere in this Review you will find fore, our Assembly is geared to show- essential details on the candidates and ing that not only is co-operative enter- how to exercise your votes. Please prise a competitive form of business, it ensure that you do this. The actual is especially well suited to working in election itself will take place during the global environment. Our unique the Assembly on Friday, September 23 blend of social and economic factors is and although we have an exciting pro- to many the solution which answers gramme during our opening sessions many of today's problems. The busi- the day before, our statutory business, ness session on global solidarity for including the elections, will be a very instance will show how our Global important guide to our work over the Campaign against Poverty - Co-operat- next two years. ing Out Of Poverty is making a real dif- ference. In contrast, our session on A This year also sees a record number of Level Playing Field for Co-operatives in nominations for the Rochdale Pioneers Competition will discuss how we can award. Instituted in Seoul at our 2001 compete successfully in any business General Assembly, this award recog- environment. nises the achievements of co-operators During the week there will be a variety throughout the world. This year's of different events. Most of our sectoral selection committee and the Board face organisations and thematic committees a very difficult task to choose between have meetings and seminars. The the nominees listed here. A decision CICOPA World Conference will take will have to be made although it is an place as well as a session describing the achievement in itself to be nominated. new Co-operative Learning Centre. An Congratulations to all! examination of the benefits of micro- Whatever your interests there is bound finance, particularly for women, will be to be something which will appeal to discussed; especially remembering that you during our week in Cartagena. this year’s Co-operative Day message was Micro Finance Is Our Business! And Please enjoy! of course there is a two-day youth con- ference – now a major feature every two years and building on the success of the Iain Macdonald global youth network. Director General 4 Invitation from Colombia, the host for the International Co-operative Alliance’s 2005 General Assembly A country with faith in the co-operative movement Carlos Palacino Antía President of ICA Americas Colombian Confederation of Cooperatives Chairman – Confecoop From the 17th to the 24th of September 2005, the International Co-operative Alliance, ICA, will be celebrating its General Assembly in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. This occasion repre- ings and to promote the presence of an sents a huge responsibility but also a important group of leaders and deci- great opportunity for Colombia and its sion-makers in the ICA’s Global co-operative movement to demon- Assembly, we’ve prepared informa- strate to the world the natural wonders tion, see page 64, that contains not only of our land, the humane quality of our general information on Colombia, but people and to present a favourable also some revealing aspects of the co- image of a striving country in perma- operative sector and its importance to nent development and the economic social and economic development. and social advances gained by the Colombian co-operative movement, We hope that many of you will decide whose traditions, judicial develop- to join us in Cartagena to debate the ment and entrepreneurial progress various topics of interest to the co- operative movement, and also to expe- make it stand out within the Latin rience our reality first-hand and to American context. witness everything the Colombian co- In order to better acquaint the co-oper- operative movement does to improve ative world with our country, its cul- the standards of living of millions of ture and its socio-economic surround- Colombians. 5 Report on ICA Activities 2003 - 2005 Task Force looking at how to resolve this prob- lem without threatening our income The main thread running right base. through the work of the ICA over the last two years has been that of the task • An independent governance group force. Set up by the 2001 Seoul General has been set up to recommend Assembly, its impact has been quite considerable although many of its changes resulting from all these aspirations have still to be achieved. issues identified by the task force. Regionalisation, membership and gov- An interim report will be made to ernance could be said to be the main the 2005 General Assembly and its issues identified by the Task Force and work will continue after that as well. in each case there have been changes International standing made. Much of ICA's work is aimed at raising • everything the Task Force said was the profile of international co-opera- qualified by its most fundamental tion to our links with international point, that ICA was a global entity of organisations and governments. Dur- which its regions were an important ing this period considerable progress part. Regionalisation however, and has been made, particularly through: decentralisation which it implies, continue to be developed with spe- cific powers now part of each region's constitution • membership of the last two years has varied both in numbers and amount of subscription.