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Structure
RECOCARNO and its affiliated cooperatives have transparent and democratic structures that encourage members' participation. The structure above was formally adopted at RECOCARNO's first General Assembly (26th to 28th June 2002).

Click on any of the parts of the diagram to see information about the activities and people associated with each of these.

Membership and Candidacy
Members for new committees and board are elected after a long democratic process. The process starts in the cooperative: each one elects its two candidates. In 2002 there were 36 persons for 3 positions: Board of Directors, Women Committee (now replaced by an Education Committee) and Controller Committee. Afterwards, the candidates were required to present themselves in front of the members of the General Assembly, explaining why they should be elected.

Supervising Committee
The Supervising Committee is currently chaired by Luckson Bastien, a member of COSAHEC since 1979.

Delegates
Delegates for the assembly meet every 3 months in Cap-Haïtien.

  
The co-op remains committed to the Fairtrade principles of transparency and democracy, and women are increasingly involved in the leadership of the co-op.
Barthelemy Léon, RECOCARNO Business Manager

The General Assembly
At its annual meeting, the General Assembly (GA) approves the annual operational plan and strategic decisions.

The Board
Decisions made by the GA are turned into actual plans by the Board, which has responsibility for their implementation. The Board, which meets each month, has discretion to make decisions in support of this work but is then accountable back to the GA for their decisions, and may be called on to explain them. The Board instructs the management team, which is answerable to the Board, in the actual implementation.

Local Assembly Input
One month before the GA, a report is given to the Local Assemblies about all the activities of the previous year in each of areas (production support, business including sales and input costs, organisational strengthening plus comprehensive financial accounts). The GA formally approves the report if they are satisfied –part of democracy in action.

In addition to the review of the past year, during the month before the GA, the Local Assemblies have an opportunity to propose specific new plans and/or continue with ongoing plans and projects. When the HQ staff receive these they include the proposals within the plan for the forthcoming year. This plan is also endorsed (or varied) by the vote of the GA.

GA Decisions
Other decisions taken by the GA include:

Endorsement of any modification of internal rules;
Election for a third of each committee (Education, Control etc);

Committees
The Control Committee meets monthly to scrutinise expenditure during the previous month. This committee plays an important part in the democratic process by providing considered advice, supported by a management specialist, to the membership as a whole through the GA: it reviews the income and expenditure for the whole year during the month prior to the GA and presents its report to the GA.

The Education Committee has responsibility for the education and training of all members of RECOCARNO. Supported by the Education Committees of each cooperative, and aided by specialists whenever necessary, this structure represents a recent development. Previously, educators were employed from amongst the cooperative members, but the new arrangements are expected to make education a higher priority for the business of each cooperative and to significantly reduce costs by encouraging many more volunteers.

Delegate Assemblies
The Quarterly Meetings of the Delegate Assemblies (DA) enable further guidance to be given to the Board and management to take account of any changing circumstances and new developments during the period between the GA meetings. In the event that income is less, or expenditure greater, than projected then this situation needs to be managed by the DA without delay.