ICA-APs work with consumer cooperatives

In 2020, we mark 60 years of ICA in the Asia-Pacific region, working hand-in-hand with our members to grow and enhance the cooperative movement. Over the years, ICA-AP has worked across many sectors and focused on key development areas such as gender equality, youth inclusion, entrepreneurship, and capacity building. This month, we highlight the work undertaken by ICA-AP and our members in the space of consumer cooperatives.

Consumer cooperatives play an important role in the socio-economic fabric of a country by making strong economic contributions and strengthening social development. Consumer cooperatives are present in communications, education, financial, food, health, housing, insurance, retail and wholesale, social work, transportation, and utility (such as power). In the 2019 World Cooperative Monitor: Exploring the Cooperative Economy, consumer cooperatives occupy 3 out of the top 5 rank among the Top 300 cooperatives based on turnover and 3 of the top 10 rank based on turnover over GDP per capita.

ICA-AP Committee on Consumer Cooperation

The ICA-AP Consumer Committee was established in 1977 to engage with consumer cooperatives, promote the development of consumer cooperation in the region and develop appropriate policies and programmes. The objectives of the committee include reviewing progress made by consumer cooperatives in the region; promoting the growth and development of consumer cooperatives; recommending policies of consumer cooperatives and consumer protection; improving managerial competence and operational efficiency of consumer cooperatives; assisting in the strengthening, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the existing consumer cooperatives; and promoting the dissemination of information and exchange of experiences/ best practices among consumer cooperatives.  

The ICA-AP Consumer Committee defines consumer cooperatives as those operating in wholesale and retail sectors, selling goods and/or services to its members. As of 2020, the Committee represents 19 consumer cooperatives from 13 countries in the region (See Figure 1).  Since its inception in 1977, the ICA-AP Consumer Committee has organised many training programmes and workshops for managers of consumer cooperatives, created opportunities for cross-learning and collaborated both within the region, and globally. The Japanese Consumer Cooperative Union (JCCU) has been at the forefront of promoting consumer cooperation in the region, with an emphasis on women and youth development. In 1987, JCCU set up the Asian Cooperation Fund with ICA-AP, using its own funds, to assist consumer cooperatives sector.

For more information on consumer cooperatives in the region, and examples of their contributions, see the consumer snapshot created by ICA-AP here.

Figure 1: Members of the ICA-AP Committee on Consumer Cooperation

Over the years, ICA-AP and consumer cooperatives in the region have incorporated the 7 cooperative principles in their actions, with emphasis on Cooperation among Cooperatives, and Concern for Community. Some of the key activities promoted by the committee and members include: 

• Consumer Cooperative Development Project in India;
• Accelerating trade by importing 20 tonnes of horsemeat by Consumer Cooperative Trading Company of Japan from cooperative trading organisation in Poland, in 1969;
• Providing consultancy services to consumer cooperatives in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, in 1992;
• Organising technical meetings and seminars on consumer cooperation. For instance, the Open Asia Conferences on Management, Agriculture, Consumer, etc.;
• Publishing and disseminating information on consumer cooperation development;
• Income-generating activities through various projects, such as the Canadian-supported project for the study of women in fishery cooperatives, the SCC-sponsored projects in Sri Lanka and India 
• Technological innovations, such as computer-read order sheets and settlements through member bank accounts, improved efficiency and enhanced member participation.  
• Health cooperatives in Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Singapore are also organised by consumers, placing greater emphasis on health promotion by combining consumers’ learning activities with professional help.
• Fulfilling the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, by focusing on SDG3 (health and safety of consumers), SDG12 (responsible production and consumption), SDG13 (climate action), and incorporating other aspects of the SDG Agenda, such as gender equality, reduced inequalities, decent work and economic growth, quality education, and technical innovations.

The timeline below provides a brief overview of ICA-AP's involvement with consumer cooperatives in the region, to promote and enhance development of consumer cooperatives.