What is a Cooperative? • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Updated as March 2008

Cooperatives Development Department

Jamila Bachiri/ What’s a Coop

Research

Legislation

Business Business

Cooperatives

Association of Members

Cooperatives are Business

Credit Union / Caisses Populaires

Producers

Workers

Consumer

Health Communication

Housing

Who is the owner?

Who Uses the services

Cooperatives Are Incorporated Under

By laws

Formulated into

RegulationsCooperatives Act

Board of Directors

Elect

Members

Management

Board of Directors

Association

Business

Vo

lun

tary

an

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M

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Mem

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Au

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Ind

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Ed

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Tra

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In

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Co

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Co

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Dem

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atic

Mem

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Members

COOPERATIVECOOPERATIVE

1- Voluntary and Open Membership

2- Democratic Member Control Association

issuesBusiness Issues

Decision

3- Member Economic Participation

Raising Capital

Investment

Membership fees

4- Autonomy and Independence

Needs

Services &

Product

Potential & possibilities

Satisfaction of usersmembers

5- Education, Training and Information

6- Co-operation among Co-operatives

7- Concern for Community