The Columbian Confederation of Co-operatives (CONFECOOP) has developed a ‘100% co-operative’ logo in collaboration with ICA Americas for co-operatives to mark their difference.
ICA Americas will award the logo to co-operatives in the Americas on behalf of CONFECOOP through an independent assessment team. The first two co-operatives to receive the logo were La Equidad Seguros and Caja Cooperativa Credicoop.
The ‘100% co-operative’ logo shows that the organisation is committed to co-operation; plus it also raises awareness of the co-operative model among customers and the visibility of the sector.
The assessment of co-operatives is made by an independent evaluation group made up of qualified professionals, which takes into account three main issues: whether the co-operative has developed activities in accordance with its aims and the needs and objectives of its members; the way in which the co-operative principles have been applied to the business; and the managerial performance of the co-operative.
The evaluation committee, formed by three experts in the co-operative sector - Jorge Bermudez Salgar, Belisario Guarin Torres and Ricardo Davrila Ladron - validate the conclusions reached by the evaluation group. Throughout the evaluation process the name of the co-operative is kept confidential. The same applies to the findings of the evaluation process.
One of the keynote speakers of the event will be ICA President Dame Pauline Green, who will discuss the contribution of co-operatives in rural development.
