Statement on the co-operative identity, values and principles

The International Cooperative Alliance's Statement on the Cooperative Identity (1995) is the global reference definition of a cooperative. The ICA acts as its steward and publishes it with the values and the seven principles that put those values into practice.

A cooperative is "an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise." Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity; their members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.

1. Voluntary and open membership — open to all able to use the services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without discrimination. 2. Democratic member control — in primary cooperatives, one member, one vote; elected representatives are accountable to the membership. 3. Member economic participation — members contribute equitably to and democratically control the capital; at least part of it is usually common property, subscribed capital usually earns limited compensation if any, and surpluses go to developing the cooperative (possibly through partly indivisible reserves), to members in proportion to their transactions, or to other activities the membership approves. 4. Autonomy and independence — agreements with governments or external capital must preserve democratic member control. 5. Education, training and information — for members, representatives, managers and employees, and informing the public. 6. Cooperation among cooperatives — through local, national, regional and international structures. 7. Concern for community — working for the sustainable development of their communities through member-approved policies.

In 2016 the ICA's Principles Committee published Guidance Notes on the Cooperative Principles, on applying them in contemporary terms.

For housing cooperatives the statement is the yardstick: one member, one vote, member control of capital, limited return on member shares and indivisible reserves are the features that distinguish a cooperative from other forms of collective or rental housing.