Draft guidance notes for the co-operative principles were released after several rounds of consultation at the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) research conference in Paris on May 28. The notes are an attempt to provide reflection, interpretation, and to fill in the gaps on some of the issues such as “concern for community.” There has been a request to expand the principle to include the environment.
The guidance notes are being distributed as PDFs and they are translated into English, French, and Spanish. Feedback will be collected with the goal of finalizing them on time for the International Co-operative Alliance Global Conference and General Assembly in Turkey this November.
This discussion about updating the co-operative principles is tied directly to the ICA Blueprint for a Co-operative Decade, and is the precursor for a number of conversations and topics happening seemingly everywhere as the Blueprint gains momentum.
The work of the late Ian MacPherson was noted fondly by the committee behind this initiative. Two committee members noted that had he have been alive, they’d have needed one guy and not a whole committee to do this work.
Click here for more information and to read the draft guidelines.