Moreover, members of most new co-operatives do not have to rely entirely on their own efforts. It is assured by special structures and procedures applied in the context of the widely acknowledged co-operative values of mutual responsibility, equity, honesty and openness. Members, managers and employees are all involved in making decisions and setting policies. Most importantly, member-owners, and often managers and other employees, are motivated as beneficiaries to ensure high levels of productivity. A characteristic of all co-operative enterprises is that members must commit their own resources as a share of enterprise capital.
Surplus earned by the co-operative is retained and largely reinvested.
By these means much local capital, often under-used, can be mobilized to support entrepreneurial development and thereby productive employment. They set up national federations, thereby securing access to capital accumulated within the entire co-operative system. They develop special services which enhance their capacity for promoting entrepreneurial development. They are supported by a network of financial co-operative institutions at the international and regional level providing managerial and technical assistance. International insurance and reinsurance co-operative groups also provide technical and operational assistance.