Suchergebnisse

AbstractWhat is the added value of co‐operatives in a people‐centred development setting? Applying the human development and capability approach to co‐operatives in a case study in Brazil, this article investigates the impact of co‐operative membership on member agency and well‐being as well as on community development. It uses both participatory and econometric methods to understand the real contribution that co‐operatives, as people‐centred participatory enterprises, can bring to human development and poverty reduction. The article aims to contribute evidence on how co‐operatives work for the poor and identifies the crucial role of policy‐makers in creating the appropriate environment for co‐operative development. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In a mood of reassessing the role of co-operative enterprises as a tool for fighting poverty both from the academic community and the international organisations, the thesis aims at contributing to the understanding of the added value of the co-operative form of business especially in a people-centred development setting. In particular, in applying the human development and capability approach to co-operative economics and therefore by linking co-operatives to the concept of well-being, the thesis contributes to shifting the co-operative thinking beyond the homo oeconomicus rational choice perspective bringing it closer to the reason why people adhere to collective livelihood strategies, thus providing greater insight for policies and practice. The case study on COPPALJ -a Brazilian primary co-operative located in Maranhão State - is aimed at evaluating the impact of co-operative membership on member well-being as well as on community development. Adopting both econometric (namely propensity score matching) and participatory methods, it offers a valuable methodology both for the impact assessment and for understanding in depth the democraticity of the co-operative process. In such a way, this methodology aims at contributing to overcoming the evaluation of co-operative performance based only on monetary indicators, and instead, enhancing the concrete contribution that co-operatives can bring to human development and poverty reduction.

ABSTRACTThis article focuses on the role played by innovation in the context of coffee co‐operatives. It shows how interconnected forms of innovation contribute to co‐operative resilience. Data was collected from the largest coffee co‐operative Union in Malawi and illustrates how coffee co‐operatives have innovated in order to cope with organizational and market constrains. We identify four areas of innovation: sustainable technologies, development of market niches, women's inclusion and business diversification. The combination of these forms of innovation contributes to co‐operative resilience in different degrees, the article also analyzes how innovation is influenced and driven by co‐operative's values and principles and by partnerships with national and international actors.

AbstractIt has been argued that current interest in co‐operatives is because they can reduce poverty and are resilient organisations. However, histories of co‐operatives' successes and failures suggest that co‐operative organisational resilience needs better understanding. This article reviews the literature, particularly with respect to sub‐Saharan Africa. It argues that co‐operative organisational resilience centres on co‐operatives' multidimensionality and the development of collective capability in five mutually reinforcing areas of activity. These are membership, networks, collective skills in governance, innovation and engagement with governments. Together, they strengthen co‐operatives' resilience, but where lacking, they undermine it. The article adds to thinking about 'co‐operative advantage'. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.