Reciproka

= " facilitates the development of a co-owned network of open co-operatives through ownership transfer, network building and co-operative accumulation".

URL = http://www.reciproka.cc/

Description

"While several organizations already provide services for workers and communities to gain ownership over productive assets, we believe that a more systematic approach is required to create an ethical and federated counter-economy able to perpetuate itself on its own.

A network of mutually-owned co-operatives federated around a common accumulation mechanism might just do the trick to instigate a self-propelling co-operative system.

* Reclaiming the commons

Traditional co-operatives tend to adopt the logic of their market environment by focusing on individual organisational gain rather than the build-up of an integrated, ethical economy. Reciproka functions as a structure to align interests by mutualising ownership of each co-operative under a common trusteeship legal structure.

• Reclaiming finance

To turn this federated coalition into a self-propelling co-operative system, it needs a mechanism to accumulate value for further expansion. Therefore, a share of each co-operative’s profits is pooled to feed a common internal investment fund designed to grow this ethical entrepreneurial coalition through further conversions."

Characteristics

"HERE IS HOW IT WORKS

Reciproka is a system that facilitates the development of a self-propelling, open co-operative movement through ownership transfer support services, network building and co-operative accumulation.

Ownership transfer

Reciproka acquires enterprises from retiring owners on behalf of their employees to transition them into “open co-operatives”. While ownership of each co-operative is mutually held between all of Reciproka’s members, governance of the individual enterprises remains with their workers.

Network building

Technical and process support is provided to the newly-formed open co-operatives via an internal team of mentors to help them adopt sustainable business models and integrate into a co-operative value chain network.

Co-operative accumulation

Reciproka pays its operational and financial expenses, finances new acquisitions of additional co-operatives and pays out an increasing income to its investing members by mutualising a share of each co-operative’s profits for a commonly held fund.

Financial and technical support facilitate individual enterprise conversions. Network building services and common ownership unite the co-operative ventures into a federated whole. The co-operative accumulation mechanism is the missing piece which makes the co-operative system integrated, competitive and financially attractive for outsiders to join."