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MAG 3 -Padova : an eco-pacifist financing scheme for alternative economy

07 / 1993

MAG 3 was founded in June 1986. It is a cooperative promoting an alternative saving and financing scheme aimed at supporting ecological sustainable projects and activities in favour of underprivileged people in the Veneto region (Northern Italy). Over the years MAG 3 has supported more than 20 cooperatives and associations (over 150 employed people)and has a total budget of more than 1.500 million Lire (around 1 million US $). MAG 3 is run on a voluntary basis. It also cooperates with CTM-MAG (see fiche)for consultancy work on fiscal and project development matters.

In order to keep members informed, MAG 3 publishes a newsletter and "Gazzetta Mag" a review of the cooperative’s members articles and opinions. Members take part in training courses and in 3/4 informal general meetings a year, as well as the official meetings for discussing the budget and formal matters. MAG 3 also has a close relationship with local environmentalist groups.

Among the organizations that have received Mag 3 financial support in the first six years are: cooperatives producing or selling biological agricultural products, craftworkers, communities housing young marginalised people and the disabled, cooperatives helping immigrants find proper housing, organizations creating job opportunities for the mentally handicapped; but also removal agencies, theatre groups, campsites for social tourism etc.

In principle there is no quantitative limit to a loan. Organisations have to offer guarantees for repayment. All MAG 3’s profits come from the interest on loans. MAG 3 does not provide any other service besides the financial scheme for its member cooperatives. In the future it wants to group financial activities together into some main sectors such as organic farming, social solidarity, housing solidarity activities as an alternative to the dominant housing model etc.

It has a social capital of 8 million Lire (around 5,300 US $), 130 members and a fund of 36 million Lire (around 24,000 US $).

Key words

savings and credit cooperative, alternative financing, financing, company


, Italy, Padova

Comments

MAG 3 has been very coherent in its basic principles though it has remained quite a small structure. By the end of 1993 it wants to have built up a savings fund of 600 million Lire (around 400,000 US $)and to have incresed its membership to 200.

Notes

Translated by Alessio Surian

Source

Other

DAVICO, Luca, IRED NORD, IRED NORD, 1993 (ITALY)

IRED NORD (Innovations et Réseaux pour le Développement) - Via Tacito 10. 00193 ROMA. ITALIA. Tel (19)39 6 320 78 49. Fax (19)39 6 320 81 55. E-mail irednord@geo2.poptel.org.uk - www.ired.org

legal mentions