GICS-Empowering People to Act
At the Global Innovation Coop Summit, this Innovation Factory session focused on how cooperatives can foster a culture of accountability rooted in ethical practice, transparency, and shared responsibility. Participants co-created practical strategies for strengthening internal governance and aligning values with action across all levels of cooperative life. Accountability is more than oversight — it’s the foundation of trust. When members and leaders hold themselves and each other responsible for the cooperative’s mission, accountability becomes a source of empowerment and innovation. The question for all of us now is: how can we make accountability a shared, living practice within our cooperatives?

What concrete actions can cooperatives take to build and sustain a culture of accountability that reinforces trust, transparency, and democratic participation?

Some things to consider in the discussion:
Challenge:  What structural, behavioral, or communication gaps weaken accountability within cooperatives?
Opportunities:  What tools, systems, or cultural practices could strengthen ethical frameworks and make transparency more actionable?
Intercooperation and Innovation:  How can cooperatives share accountability models, benchmarks, or digital tools that help strengthen governance across the movement?