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coop | International Co-operative Alliance
March 2018
Special Feature:
Co-operatives promoting equality
 
 
 
 Events 
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CO-OPERATIVE INSIDER
The eDigest of the International Co-operative Alliance
 
 
 
Message from the President Ariel Guarco:

Gender inequality is no longer simply a statistic. Today, it's become a visible problem that's present in every aspect of our social lives all over the globe. And we need to turn back the tide. As a co-operative movement, we cannot stand on the sidelines when it comes to the fight that women are leading for their civil, labour, and economic rights... Read more

 
 
 
Special Feature: Co-operatives promoting equality
 
 

UN Commission on the Status of Women sees role for co-ops in rural gender equality

 
The 62nd United Nations Commission on the Status of Women has included co-operatives in its conclusions on achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls. Read more
 
 
 
 
 
 
How are co-operatives fostering gender equality?
 

From early days, co-operatives have been championing women’s rights, campaigning on a number of issues related to women’s empowerment. To mark the International Women’s Day, we looked at some of the key initiatives led by co-operatives that have inspired women across the world. Read more

 
 
 
 
 
Co-operatives and the empowerment of rural women
 

Co-op case studies from the Dominican Republic were examined in a side event at the 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York. Projects discussed focused on increased financing for co-operatives by the government; democratisation of credit; and the facilitation of free financial education. Read more

 
 
 
 
 
International Women’s Day – Co-operatives pressing for progress
 
Work to create new partnerships between
Co-operatives across the world marked International Women’s Day on 8 March by pledging to promote gender equality. This year, the day was themed Press for progress. In line with the topic, the International Co-operative Alliance has published a declaration calling for activists to promote gender equality. Read more
 
 
 
 
 
‘Trans’itioning Co-operative Binaries
 
Co-operatives will help transgender people in India to safeguard their income. The country’s transgender population remains vulnerable to prejudice, discrimination and violence. With the government of Kerala announcing it would set up co-operatives for transgender people, the sector will play an increasingly important role in promoting gender equality in the state. Read more
 
 
 
 
 
Interviews with women co-operative leaders in Africa
 
As the world celebrates the International Women's Day, here is what some of the women co-operators who are also in co-operative leadership in Africa region have to say about their role in the co-operative movement, some of their achievements as co-operators, what they would like to see happening to accelerate the participation of women in co-operatives and the anticipated challenges.  Read more
 
 
Co-operative buzz
 
Co-ops need to be at the centre of creating an economy rooted in local communities Read more
 
 
We had a tête-à-tête with Charles Gould as he retired from his position of Director General of the Alliance this month. Read more
 
 
Caisses d’Epargne marks milestone anniversary Read more
 
 
International Cooperative Alliance publishes global guide for promotion of co-ops Read more
 
 
Job opening: Communications Officer at the International Co-operative Alliance, working within the ICA-EU Development Partnership programme. Read more
 
 
Meet the new members – Cooperatives Union of Kyrgyzstan and Civil Servants Co-op from Cyprus. Read more
 
 
This year’s ICA regional research conference will examine co-operatives in a rapidly changing world. Read more 
 
 
Co-op story of the month
 
 
UK students choose co-op solutions to tackle issues within the housing market
 

Student housing co-operatives from across the UK have joined together to launch a national body. Student Co-op Homes will focus on addressing problems in the student-housing sector.


Read more
 
 
 
#coops4dev
 
Commissioner Mimica highlights the importance of Partnerships
More than 80 representatives of civil society organisations, local authorities, the private sector, EU member states and EU institutions took part in the Sixth Global Meeting of the Policy Forum on Development in Brussels. Read more
 
#coops4dev
 
Annual review meeting in New Delhi
From 12 to 15 March, all ICA offices participated in the second annual review meeting of the ICA-EU partnership with the European Commission on international development, held in New Delhi. Read more
 
News from the sectors
The Future of Work – where do industrial and service co-operatives stand?

A strategic paper released by CICOPA examines how industrial and service co-ops are responding to the transformation of work. It also gives policy recommendations structured around the ILO’s concept of Decent Work.


Read more
News from the regions
Cooperatives Europe meets European Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen

The meeting follows Cooperatives Europe’s reflection paper “A Cooperative Future for Europe”, which presents EU policy makers with a set of proposals to unlock the potential for a wider co-operative economy across Europe.
 

Read more
 
IHCO report examines state of health co-operatives across the world

A new report by the International Health Co-operative Organisation(IHCO) has found that co-operatives have a distinct approach to healthcare provision, which can help develop prevention services and improve wellbeing.


Read more
Financial co-op Caja Morelia Valladolid hosts General Assembly featuring special guests
Mexican financial co-operative Caja Morelia Valladolid hosted its 53rd General Assembly in March. The event featured leaders from co-operatives in the region, including the International Co-operative Alliance President, Ariel Guarco.

Read more
 
 
 
    Events Calendar 2018  
 
  19-20 June   ICA board meeting   Birmingham, Alabama, USA  
 
  16-18 May   Cooperatives Europe General Assembly    Helsingor, Denmark  
 
  28-31 May   Co-operative Leaders/ Managers Conference and Ministerial Conference Technical Committee (MCTC)   Mozambique  
 
  4-6 July   ICA Research Conference   Wageningen, The Netherlands  
 
  7 July   International Day of Co-operatives   Global  
 
  1-3 October   Global Social Economy Forum 2018   Bilbao, Spain  
 
 
  Register for the global coop Marque and a .coop domain name at www.identity.coop
 
 
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