To ease access, the paper and the survey form are linked to an open source format below. 
 


Comments & Feedback on Digital Democracy

Options for the ICA to Advance Platform Cooperatives

 
Dear Cooperators,
 
ICA took serious note of exploring platform cooperatives potential through its Resolution on Platform Cooperatives at the ICA General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2017. 
 
The Resolution stated that “a new generation of businesses is emerging online, and we are concerned that the extraordinary potential for cooperative models rooted in participation and equality is not being realized because of a narrow focus in these markets on investor-led models of business. We applaud pioneers of democratic business in digital markets, including emerging models of platform cooperatives operating in line with core international values and principles. We encourage and welcome efforts by cooperatives actively to support the risk-taking of this new generation of cooperative entrepreneurs, through information sharing, promotion and appropriate finance and business partnerships”. 
(C) Fauzan
Following this Resolution and upon the request of the ICA, A small group of international experts led by Mr. Ed Mayo, Vice President of Cooperatives Europe and Secretary General of Cooperatives UK, undertook the task of writing a paper titled Digital Democracy? Options for the ICA to advance Platform Cooperatives” (Annexure 1).

This paper was conceptualized to locate platform cooperatives within and outside the cooperative sector, and to present a proposal to the ICA on the role it could play in defining and supporting the development of the platform cooperative model. The paper lays out the origins of platform cooperativism, its various definitions, understandings & practices, together with a series of events that mobilized thinking and practice of cooperatives in the platform economy space. 
 
The paper identifies the role key individuals have played in promoting the idea of securing “decent work” for workers in the gig-economy, while providing examples of popular platform cooperatives. In its conclusion, the paper identifies three levels of activity that the ICA can participate in to promote the platform cooperatives model, and recognizes the unique position of the ICA to engage the existing cooperative sector. The three levels are Information sharing that expects ICA to catalyze awareness building on platform cooperatives, Promotion that hinges on ICA’s coordinated efforts to enhance membership in platform cooperatives or organize national/regional business development programmes for platform cooperatives, and thirdly Network that aims to play a leadership role to financial and business partnerships to advance the platform cooperative model. 
(C) John Schnobrich
With this letter, we are soliciting your support in providing feedback and comments on the paper, particularly pages 20-25, to help the ICA ascertain means & methods of promoting platform cooperatives in the near future. Section D [Pages 20 – 25] of the paper raises key questions, highlights, challenges and provides options for the ICA to participate in the continuously growing space of platform cooperatives. The points of view of your organization on issues such as the working definition of platform cooperatives (page 19); examples and experts on platform cooperatives in your country (if any), and recommendations for the ICA to respond to the birth and proliferation of platform cooperatives, will be very useful. Please use the feedback section (Annexure 2) to submit your response. 
 
The ICA will call on relevant respondents and experts to form a Working Group under the auspices of the ICA Global Board to take note of the findings of this exercise and to implement the recommendations & next steps. 
 
 We would be grateful if you would send your comments and feedback to kumar@ica.coop mentioning “Digital Democracy” in the subject line.  
 


In cooperation,


Bruno Roelants
Director-General
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