National co-operative federations or national apex organisations have a special role and responsibility to protect the effectiveness and reputation of the co-operative movement in their country by promoting sound democratic and good governance practice. Global and regional sectoral organisations and regional offices of the Alliance have a similar role and responsibility in promoting good governance standards common to their co-operative business sector. Good governance codes, advice, and training and support from national, regional and Alliance sectoral organisations is particularly important for new co-operatives.

This responsibility is best discharged through the development of good democratic practice guidance, audit arrangements and model governance codes appropriate to national laws. Democratic good practice guidance and governance codes set a standard against which the practice in each member co-operative can be measured and judged. They also provide a means that enables a co-operative's members to compare their co-operative's performance with that of its peers and to set policies that strive for excellence in democratic governance.