International Summit of Co-operatives 2016

Between 11-13 October 2016, delegates from across the world will gather in Quebec for the third edition of the International Summit of Cooperatives, under the theme ‘Cooperatives: The Power to...

Between 11-13 October 2016, delegates from across the world will gather in Quebec for the third edition of the International Summit of Cooperatives, under the theme ‘Cooperatives: The Power to Act’.

Follow all of our coverage of the events right here.

  • How are co-operatives perceived by the public in Canada, France, Brazil and Japan?

    A new study presented at the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec looks at how the public perceived co-operatives in four different counties. The “Barometer on the image of co-operatives” is a project of Chaire de Coopération Guy-Bernier, a department affiliated to the School of Management Studies of the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM) in Canada. Its main partner is ...

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  • Can co-operatives empower women?

    Gender equality is a key factor in socioeconomic and geopolitical growth, delegates at the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec were told. Marie-Claude Bibeau, Canadian minister of international development, said the co-operative model helped bring this about by increasing benefits for community, enabling flexibility and boosting innovation. Ms Bibeau has been in her role for ...

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  • Jeremy Rifkin: Co-ops will be the idea venue to scale the digital revolution

    Economist Jeremy Rifkin presented a stark picture of life over the next eight decades, but he is also optimistic about people’s ability to use co-ops to develop new economies for a better, more inclusive and environmentally friendly future. Prof Rifkin thinks the economic model resulting from the second industrial revolution is no longer viable and says countries must redirect their ...

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  • Co-ops can help us through crisis of capitalism, says Robert Reich

    Economist Robert Reich thinks that many Western countries are witnessing a crisis of capitalism, which can be overcome if co-ops spread their business model and become more visible. Speaking at the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec during a lunch sponsored by Agropur co-operative, he looked at what the future might bring for the USA, as well as the world. “I am certain ...

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  • Co-ops commit to Sustainable Development Goals

    Co-operators around the world have made a commitment to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a set of 17 global goals with 169 targets between them. The sustainable development agenda aims to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. At the end of the final day of the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec, a preliminary ...

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  • What is the role of co-ops in building a frugal society?

    Co-ops help people live better with less, according to innovation adviser, Navi Radjou, who joined delegates at the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec. The biennial event, which this year took place on 11-13 October, brings together business leaders, researchers and decision makers from across the world. Mr Radjou is a strategic consultant based in Silicon Valley and has ...

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  • Idea for a mutual fund owned by co-ops gains traction

    The idea behind a fund to invest in co-operatives and mutuals has been discussed and developed at the International Summit of Cooperatives. MoMaCC – the Mutual of Mutual and Cooperative Capital – addresses the issue of raising capital for all sizes of co-operatives, plus it allows those to make secure investments too. The members and investors in MoMaCC will be mutuals and co-operatives ...

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  • How much control of your co-op would you give up for capital?

    One of the biggest challenges for co-operatives and mutuals is gaining access to capital for growth, while ensuring control by members. A session at the International Summit of Cooperatives explored this challenge, following on from the publication of The Capital Conundrum for Co-operatives by the International Co-operative Alliance last year, which looked at the problems co-operatives face ...

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  • Forestry co-ops can support the Sustainable Development Goals

    Research on the challenges faced by forestry co-operatives has been revealed at the International Summit of Cooperatives by the Institut de recherche et d’éducation pour les coopératives et les mutuelles de l’Université de Sherbrooke (IRECUS). The findings were discussed during the sectoral meeting Living Sustainably from our Forests, which also explored how these organisations can help ...

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  • International Summit of Cooperatives – Preview Day 3, Thursday 13 October

    The third day of the International Summit of Cooperatives will focus on the contribution of co-operatives to reaching the new UN Sustainable Development Goals. The day will begin with a randez-vous on how agricultural co-operatives can be positioned in the digital era. Alternatively, delegates can attend a thematic breakfast featuring a presentation on the contribution of co-operatives and ...

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  • Two mistakes co-operatives make in business

    Co-operatives are making two mistakes in business, according to the managing director of the Boston Consulting Group. Yves Morieux, who made a presentation on Smart Simplicity at the International Summit of Cooperatives, said co-operation is an important driver of the business world. He said “co-operation is an accelerator of intelligence” for the workforce. This is especially needed in ...

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  • International Summit of Cooperatives - Preview Day 2, Wednesday 12 October

    The second day of the International Summit of Cooperatives will see delegates engage in discussions on innovation, sustainability and leadership. Prior to the day’s first plenary session, delegates can choose to attend one of the four breakfast randez-vous. A conference breakfast and various randez-vous will also take place throughout the day for participants attending under the Young ...

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  • Joseph Stiglitz proposes co-op models as an alternative to trickle-down economics

    A changing political landscape and economic challenges mean we are witnessing “interesting” but “unsettling” times, warned economist Joseph Stiglitz at the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec. The Nobel Prize laureate was a keynote speaker at the three-day conference, which brings together over 3,000 delegates from across the world to discuss the future of the co-operative ...

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  • How to improve monitoring and control within boards of financial co-operatives?

    A new report presented at the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec explores the importance of the monitoring and control function by board members of credit unions. The paper is authored by Sylvie Guerrero, Marie-Ève Lapalme, Olivier Herrbach, and Michel Séguin of the University of Quebec at Montreal. The research took into account board members’ personality, the importance ...

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  • The roundtable during the Capacity to Act on Real Economy roundtable discussion

    How co-operatives define the real economy

    What is the real economy? A group of panellists came together at the International Summit of Cooperatives to look at the tangible and intangible elements of our economy and how co-ops sit in this space. Seven co-operators shared their experiences and different interpretations with delegates: Anna Manca, National Coordinator Women Commission, Confcooperative, Italy We inspire ourselves to ...

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  • Nestle has helped cocoa farmers in Cote d'Ivoire to produce better yields

    A competitive advantage exists for co-ops, but others are already doing it

    A competitive advantage exists for co-operatives if they work together across industries to solve problems within society. At the International Summit of Cooperatives, Mark Kramer, founder and managing director of FSG, a consulting firm that shares ideas that achieves social change, presented his thoughts on the power of shared value as people become more aware of their impact on ...

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  • International Summit of Co-operatives: opening ceremony

    Co-operatives demonstrate a fight against inequality, according to Quebec’s premier Philippe Couillard, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Summit of Co-operatives. Mr Couillard, leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, welcomed delegates to the city and highlighted the strength of the global movement. “The co-operative movement is a good example of a fight against ...

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  • Co-operatives and international development: what next?

    Can co-operatives bring an added value to international development? This was one of the key topics addressed in a special session in the run-up to the International Summit of Co-operatives in Quebec. Delegates from across different co-operative apex bodies highlighted what they were already doing to promote the work of co-operatives in development. In the USA, the Overseas Cooperative ...

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  • Uniting, promoting and developing co-ops: updates from the Alliance general assembly

    Uniting, promoting and developing co-operatives is the focus of the International Co-operative Alliance. Speaking at its General Assembly in Quebec City, director-general Charles Gould talked about the ways the global co-op body is achieving this. “We have been focusing this year on positioning co-ops at the centre of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals," he said. "This will define the ...

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  • International Summit of Cooperatives - Day 1 Preview

    The International Summit of Cooperatives is underway today, Tuesday 11 October, in Canada. Around 3,000 delegates are attending the event in Quebec City, which is organised by Desjardins Group and the International Co-operative Alliance. The Summit’s official opening will feature introductory speeches from co-hosts Monique Leroux, president of the International Co-operative Alliance, and ...

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  • Quebec welcomes 3,000 delegates for the International Summit of Cooperatives

    The International Summit of Cooperatives has officially opened in Quebec City, Canada, bringing together almost 3,000 delegates from across the world. A biennial event, the three-day conference will explore the existing global socioeconomic and geopolitical trends and challenges as well as the ability of co-operatives to act. Delegates at the event attended the opening cocktail ...

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  • Global co-ops body appoints two directors to board

    During its annual meeting, the International Co-operative Alliance appointed two directors to its global board. Members voted for Ben Reid from the UK and Dmitry Zubov from Russia to join the board. The two winners were chosen from a pool of five candidates at the General Assembly in Quebec, prior to the International Summit of Cooperatives. A sixth candidate, Kim Cu Vo, nominated by Vietnam ...

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  • Eight tips for co-op apex organisations

    How can co-operative apex bodies improve efficiency?  This was the question explored at two events in Quebec ahead of the International Summit of Co-operatives. Here are eight brilliant ideas we heard during the conversations...  Have quality data on the sector ... ... but don't just focus on numbers – tell individual stories! Be patient and see how data can be used for ...

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  • How can co-operative apex bodies improve efficiency?

    The role of co-operative apex organisations is to unite, promote and develop co-ops, said Monique Leroux, president of the International Co-operative Alliance. Ms Leroux was speaking at an event in the lead-up to the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec. During a special pre-summit activity, delegates from co-operative bodies across the world gathered to explore methods through ...

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  • Interview: Q&A with National Co+op Grocers' Robynn Shrader

    Robynn Shrader is chief executive of the National Co+op Grocers, a business services co-op for 150 natural food co-ops in the United States. At the International Summit of Cooperatives she will be speaking about digital, data and co-op competitiveness. Anca Voinea: What will you discuss in your speech? Robynn Shrader: I am participating on a panel related to “Increasing Our Capacity to Act ...

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  • Interview: Desjardin's Guy Cormier

    Guy Cormier is chief executive, president and chair of the board of Desjardins Group, the world’s sixth largest co-operative financial group, which has been rated as one of the strongest banks in North America. He started his four-year term at Desjardins on 9 April, having been with the organisation since 1992. Mr Cormier started as a business account manager and general manager at several ...

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  • Interview: Q&A with Monique Leroux ahead of the 2016 Summit

    Monique Leroux is president of the International Co-operative Alliance. Prior to joining the Alliance last year, she was president, chair of the board and chief executive officer of Desjardins Group, where she played a key role in launching the International Summit of Cooperatives. The idea for the Summit came to her at the World Economic Forum in Davos – she wanted the co-operative movement ...

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  • Ten things to look forward to at the International Summit of Cooperatives

    With only a few days left until the 2016 International Summit of Cooperatives, we've picked ten things to look forward to during the four-day global gathering. The grand opening Monique Leroux, president of the International Co-operative Alliance and co-host of the International Summit of Co-operatives will officially welcome delegates to Quebec. The opening cocktail event also ...

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  • Preview: The 2016 International Summit of Cooperatives

    Next week, delegates from across the world will gather in Quebec for the third edition of the International Summit of Cooperatives, under the theme ‘Cooperatives: The Power to Act’. Around 3,000 people from over 90 countries will attend the event (11-13 October), held every two years to explore and develop thinking around business development in the co-operative and mutual community. It ...

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  • World’s top 300 co-ops increase turnover to USD $2.53tn

    The largest 300 co-operatives and mutuals in the world had a combined turnover of USD $2.53tn in 2014. This represents an increase of 7.20% from the previous year. The figure was revealed in the latest World Co-operative Monitor, which was presented at the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec. Now in its 5th year, the monitor remains the only project of its kind, collecting and ...

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