Further Together

International Cooperative Alliance
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Further Together is your rendez-vous inside the cooperative enterprise model, its identity and its difference

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  1. What does cooperative law have to do with food? A conversation with Simon Blondeau, legal officer at the FAO

    -17 ч

    What does cooperative law have to do with food? A conversation with Simon Blondeau, legal officer at the FAO

    In the latest episode of the ICA Legal Office’s “Interviews with Members and Experts” series —where we explore the various dimensions and aspects of cooperative law with lawyers, public policy professionals, and practitioners— our Director of Legislation, Santosh Kumar, speaks with Simon Blondeau, Legal Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, where he works on legal issues related to agrifood transformations, cooperatives, and family farming, as well as the ongoing UN International Year of Women Farmers. We had a deep conversation on the role of law in building fairer and more resilient agrifood systems. In this interview, Simon and Santosh discussed cooperatives as a type of enterprise shaped by international law, socio-economic rights and responsibilities, and practical country-level legal frames that sometimes work, or not, across different regions and legal traditions. Based in Rome, Simon works closely with governments and development partners to support legal and institutional frameworks that help rural communities, farmers, and cooperatives thrive. The conversation further explored why cooperative law is needed for agricultural development, food security, and rural livelihoods, and, quite interestingly, what made a cooperative enterprise different from other forms? The discussions also touched upon how legislation could protect cooperative identity while still leaving room for local realities, innovation, and growth? Finally, Simon reflected on the importance of aligning national cooperative laws with cooperative principles, while also recognizing the diversity of agricultural systems, legal traditions, and other contexts. With thanks to Simon Blondeau and with appreciation for the support of the ICA-EU Partnership #Coops4Dev🌍.

    1 ч. 12 мин.
  2. Speaking with Ian Adderley, legal expert and author of Cooperatives: Linking Theory and Practice

    7 мая

    Speaking with Ian Adderley, legal expert and author of Cooperatives: Linking Theory and Practice

    In this episode of the ICA Legal Office “Interviews with Members and Experts” series, ICA Director of Legislation Santosh Kumar speaks with Ian Adderley — barrister, author of Cooperatives: Linking Theory and Practice, and former senior official overseeing mutuals and cooperative societies at the UK Financial Conduct Authority. Their conversation explores what truly defines a cooperative, why cooperative law matters, and how legislation can remain flexible enough to support innovation while preserving cooperative identity. Ian reflects on the importance of member participation, the evolution of the UK’s legal framework for cooperatives, and the challenges of defining cooperatives in a changing economic landscape. The episode also looks at the role of cooperatives in sectors ranging from retail and ethical banking to sport and community ownership — including the surprising fact that many historic cricket clubs in England and Wales are structured as cooperative societies. Drawing on decades of experience across regulation, legal practice, and the cooperative movement, Ian shares thoughtful insights on how cooperatives emerge where communities seek fairness, trust, and long-term stability beyond conventional market models. With thanks to Ian Adderley for a conversation full of clarity, humour, and insight, and with appreciation for the support of the ICA-EU Partnership #Coops4Dev🌍.

    1 ч. 10 мин.
  3. Simon Pek of University of Victoria Speaks About Revolutionizing Member Participation in Cooperatives Through Simple Ideas

    21.08.2024

    Simon Pek of University of Victoria Speaks About Revolutionizing Member Participation in Cooperatives Through Simple Ideas

    The podcast discusses enhancing member participation in cooperative enterprises. The guest speaker, Simon Pek, is an expert on organizational democracy. Pek became interested in cooperatives through his experiences with Mountain Equipment Co-op in Canada. Pek argues that democratic member control is the most important cooperative principle, as it enables members to ensure the organization is governed in their interests. Pek's paper proposes using "deliberative mini-publics" - randomly selected groups of members who deliberate on key issues - to improve member participation in large cooperatives. Pek also gives examples of cooperatives experimenting with these concepts, such as holding lotteries to pick board members or forming member advisory councils. The debate focuses on the significance of education and precautions against exploitation while employing deliberative mini-publics. He reflects on how these ideas could be integrated into cooperative law and the ICA's statement on cooperative identity. He suggests broadening the understanding of democratic member control to include democratic lotteries and greater emphasis on deliberation.

    33 мин.
  4. Cooperative Law for Associated Work in Japan - Ft Osamu Nakano and Antonio Fici

    24.10.2023

    Cooperative Law for Associated Work in Japan - Ft Osamu Nakano and Antonio Fici

    In February 2022 Professor Antonio Fici from the University of Molise in Italy interviewed Osamu Nakano, a Board Member of Japan Worker Cooperatives Union and Vice President of the Board of the International Organisation of Industrial and Service Cooperatives (CICOPA).The interview explored the main changes introduced under the 2020 Worker Cooperatives Act, and the impact these had had on Japanese cooperatives. The new law, which allows businesses to register as worker cooperatives, is expected to pave the way for a new wave of co-ops.The interview was facilitated by the International Cooperative Alliance’s Cooperative Law Committee (ICA-CLC) of which Prof. Fici is a member.

    43 мин.
  5. Further Together - Advancing Knowledge of Cooperative Law

    20.10.2023

    Further Together - Advancing Knowledge of Cooperative Law

    In Marburg, Germany, this July, a group of co-op law experts spoke to Professor Hans Munkner about the role of the ICA in advancing knowledge and practice. Besides Professor Munkner, the group included the Chair of the ICA Cooperative Law Committee, Hagan Henrÿ, law committee member Ifigeneia Douvitsa, ICA Cooperative Law Network member Dr. Leonardo Rafael D’souza, and Director of Legislation at the ICA, Santosh Kumar.The discussion began with questions directed to Professor Munkner, the first on improving the cooperative movement. Munkner stated that cooperatives create a “democratic nucleus” that can spread depending on the cooperative’s success. A cooperative that works well is the best argument for democratic economic performance - a case of actions speaking louder than words. The relevance of the International Statement on Cooperative Identity was the subsequent discussion on the agenda and whether sectors should develop their own identity statement.In Munkner’s opinion, if the statement of cooperative identity is good, then a second is redundant. Instead, individual sector statements of cooperative activity can be based on the original rather than creating separate ones that may weaken the movement. Next, Munkner was asked what the ICA, as the representative of the cooperative movement, could do to develop cooperative law. Munkner believed that the ICA shouldn’t intervene with the state’s law-making. Instead, if the ICA wants to influence cooperative law at a national level, the best thing to do is to have a clear international statement as a guideline. The ICA identity statement proposes legal suggestions based on experience and aren’t intended as an imposition on the state.Professor Hagan Henrÿ specifies that as far as cooperative law is concerned, the predecessor Recommendation 127 is much more precise. To this point, Munkner adds that the more specialized the laws are, the less they can apply as a whole. When identifying which ideas are sector-specific, those should be left out as they don’t have the proper place in a general law. Further, Henrÿ argues that the law is not to go into the details but to set general rules and for nations to maintain a principle of autonomy. Detailed laws are problematic in that they present more like a policy, which can be subject to quick changes. The conversation shifted toward education and what should occur for cooperative law to be part of the university law curriculum. An average legal education does not include cooperatives, and many must be aware of its existence. It is hard to convince lawyers to teach subjects students might not take.Cooperative lawyers must introduce cooperatives as an exciting subject matter for studies. Introducing cooperatives has proven successful with the association of cooperative researchers and institutes in Germany, where cooperative subject matter has become mainstream in general company and association law and economic policy. Henrÿ, as a final message, advocates for lawyers to have an open mind and to recognize cooperative law as an equal to build a solid groundwork for cooperatives.

    38 мин.

  6. 30.09.2019

    Coop Research in Legislation & Development

    Cooperative Research in Legislation & Development in collaboration with the ICA Committee on Cooperative Law. With Sonja Novkovic, Professor at the St. Mary’s University & chairperson of ICA Committee on Cooperative Research, Hagen Henrÿ, Professor at the University of Helsinki and Chairperson of ICA Committee on Cooperative Law, as well as Arielle Romenteau, Research Coordinator at the ICA-EU Partnership, Jeffrey Moxom, Research Officer at the ICA and Santosh Kumar, Legislation Coordinator at the ICA.

    41 мин.

  7. 18.07.2019

    Coops for decent work

    The International Cooperative Alliance meets the International Labour Organisation after signing a new Memorandum of Understanding that reaffirms their - century-long - friendship. On the table, how can cooperatives foster decent work.

    43 мин.
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Further Together is your rendez-vous inside the cooperative enterprise model, its identity and its difference

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    International Cooperative Alliance
  • Годы выхода
    2019 - 2026
  • Выпуски
    7
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