CICOPA

CICOPA, formally the International Organisation of Cooperatives in Industry and Services, is a sectoral organization within the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA). Founded in 1947, it represents and supports cooperative organizations whose activities extend beyond traditional agricultural and consumer cooperation, including worker cooperatives, social cooperatives, and producers' cooperatives in industry and services. Rather than operating as a conventional commercial brand, CICOPA functions as an international representative, policy, knowledge-sharing, and standard-setting network. Its membership consists of 46 national and regional cooperative federations or support organizations. Through these members, it promotes cooperative forms of enterprise in fields such as manufacturing, construction, transport, professional services, care, cultural activity, and other service industries, although the available reference material does not provide a complete sector-by-sector membership list. CICOPA's work focuses on strengthening the recognition and practical development of cooperatives in which workers, producers, or socially oriented members participate in ownership and governance. It provides an international forum for members to exchange experience, develop shared positions, and articulate principles concerning cooperative ownership and social-cooperative models. Its policy role is especially visible in the development of international declarations and standards intended to clarify how worker ownership and social cooperation should be understood across different legal and economic systems. The organization has two regional structures: CECOP, which serves as CICOPA Europe, and CICOPA Americas. CICOPA Americas is further organized into CICOPA North America and CICOPA Mercosur. This regional structure allows the network to address local cooperative legislation, institutional environments, and development priorities while remaining connected to the wider ICA system. Among CICOPA's notable initiatives was the development of the World Declaration on Cooperative Worker Ownership. The declaration was considered in principle at the 2003 General Assembly in Oslo, received final approval from the CICOPA Executive Committee in February 2004, and was subsequently approved by the ICA General Assembly in Cartagena, Colombia, in 2005. CICOPA also led a two-year consultation among its members on the meaning and typology of social cooperatives. The resulting World Standards of Social Cooperatives were approved in substance at the 2009 General Assembly in Geneva and in final form at the 2011 General Assembly in Cancun, Mexico. CICOPA's present identity is therefore grounded in international cooperative representation rather than consumer-facing products. Its principal outputs are advocacy, organizational guidance, cooperative standards, research and knowledge exchange, and coordination among national and regional federations. The organization remains part of the ICA family and serves as a specialized international platform for cooperative enterprises in industry and services.

CICOPA was established in 1947 as the International Cooperative Alliance's specialized organization for cooperatives active in industry and services. Its creation reflected the need for an international cooperative structure able to represent forms of enterprise that were not limited to agricultural, retail, or consumer cooperation. Over time, its remit developed around worker cooperatives, social cooperatives, and producers' cooperatives, as well as the federations and support bodies that organize or assist them. The organization operates as a network rather than as a commercial enterprise. Its membership comprises 46 national and regional cooperative federations or support organizations, with activity extending across 30 countries. CICOPA connects these members to the wider ICA movement, supports international exchange, and promotes recognition of cooperative enterprise in industrial and service sectors. Its work is relevant to both established cooperative systems and emerging forms of worker-owned or socially oriented business. CICOPA's regional organization includes CECOP, also known as CICOPA Europe, and CICOPA Americas. The Americas structure includes CICOPA North America and CICOPA Mercosur. These bodies give the network regional channels for representing members and discussing legal, economic, and institutional conditions that differ across jurisdictions. A major stage in CICOPA's policy development occurred with the World Declaration on Cooperative Worker Ownership. The 2003 CICOPA General Assembly in Oslo approved the declaration in principle. The Executive Committee adopted its final draft on 17 February 2004, and the ICA General Assembly later approved it in Cartagena, Colombia, in 2005. The declaration established an international reference point for describing the principles and characteristics of worker-owned cooperative enterprises. CICOPA subsequently undertook a two-year consultation process with its members to build a shared understanding of social-cooperative typologies. This process recognized that social cooperatives operate under varied national laws and institutional arrangements, making a common international framework useful for communication and advocacy. The resulting World Standards of Social Cooperatives were approved in substance at CICOPA's General Assembly in Geneva on 18 November 2009. Their final form was approved at the General Assembly in Cancun, Mexico, on 16 November 2011. These declarations and standards illustrate CICOPA's core function: developing common international language and guidance for cooperative organizations while allowing national and regional members to operate within their own legal contexts. The organization is consequently best understood as a cooperative-sector institution and international network, not as a consumer product brand. Its continuing activities center on representation, policy work, standards, education, networking, and the promotion of cooperative models in industry and services.

• 2011

  World Standards of Social Cooperatives finalized

  [1]CICOPAen.wikipedia.org

  The CICOPA General Assembly in Cancun approves the final form of the World Standards of Social Cooperatives.

• 2009

  Social-cooperative standards approved in substance

  [1]CICOPAen.wikipedia.org

  After a two-year member consultation, the CICOPA General Assembly in Geneva approves the substance of the World Standards of Social Cooperatives.

• 2005

  ICA adopts the worker-ownership declaration

  [1]CICOPAen.wikipedia.org

  The ICA General Assembly in Cartagena, Colombia, approves the World Declaration on Cooperative Worker Ownership.

• 2004

  Final draft of worker-ownership declaration approved

  [1]CICOPAen.wikipedia.org

  The CICOPA Executive Committee approves the final draft of the World Declaration on Cooperative Worker Ownership on 17 February.

• 2003

  Worker-ownership declaration approved in principle

  [1]CICOPAen.wikipedia.org

  The CICOPA General Assembly in Oslo approves the World Declaration on Cooperative Worker Ownership in principle.

• 1947

  CICOPA is founded

  [1]CICOPAen.wikipedia.org

  CICOPA is established as a branch of the International Cooperative Alliance for cooperatives in industry and services.

An international cooperative-sector organization focused on worker ownership, social cooperatives, producers' cooperatives, and cooperative enterprise in industry and services.

• International cooperative declaration · 2005

  World Declaration on Cooperative Worker Ownership

  An international policy document defining common principles and characteristics associated with cooperative worker ownership. It was developed through CICOPA's governance process, finalized by its Executive Committee in 2004, and approved by the International Cooperative Alliance in 2005.

• Cooperative standards · 2011

  World Standards of Social Cooperatives

  A framework developed through a two-year consultation with CICOPA members to establish shared international terminology and principles for social cooperatives. The standards were approved in substance in 2009 and adopted in final form in 2011.

• 2011

  Adopt final World Standards of Social CooperativesStrategy

  Background

  The organization completed its member consultation and review process for a common framework on social cooperatives.

  Action taken

  The General Assembly in Cancun approved the final form of the World Standards of Social Cooperatives.

  Aftermath

  The standards became an international reference for CICOPA's members and the wider cooperative movement.

  Source

• 2009

  Approve social-cooperative standards in substanceStrategy

  Background

  CICOPA conducted a two-year consultation to establish a shared international understanding of social-cooperative typologies.

  Action taken

  The General Assembly in Geneva approved the substance of the World Standards of Social Cooperatives.

  Aftermath

  The standards were refined and adopted in final form at the 2011 General Assembly in Cancun.

  Source

• 2004

  Approve final worker-ownership declaration draftStrategy

  Background

  Following the 2003 approval in principle, CICOPA completed the drafting process for its international worker-ownership declaration.

  Action taken

  The Executive Committee approved the final draft on 17 February 2004.

  Aftermath

  The declaration was submitted to the ICA General Assembly and approved in 2005.

  Source

• 2003

  Begin international declaration on cooperative worker ownershipStrategy

  Background

  CICOPA sought a common international statement describing the principles of worker-owned cooperatives.

  Action taken

  The General Assembly in Oslo approved the World Declaration on Cooperative Worker Ownership in principle.

  Aftermath

  The draft proceeded to Executive Committee approval in 2004 and ICA approval in 2005.

  Source

1. 1CICOPAen.wikipedia.org