CDI's work is guided by the Madison Principles, professional standards set by cooperative development leaders in Madison, Wisconsin in 1994:

- Individuals providing technical  assistance subscribe to the highest level of ethics and shall declare any  conflict of interest, real or perceived, so that they can be a credible  source of objective feedback and an articulate advocate of the project.
Cooperatives are tools for  development and should promote both social empowerment and economic goals.
Applied appropriately, cooperatives  have value to all population groups and for business and services in the  public and private sectors.

- Each cooperative responds to its  unique economic, social and cultural context; as a consequence, each  cooperative is different.

- An enthusiastic group of local,  trustworthy leadership is a prerequisite for providing technical assistance.  The effective cooperative development practitioner nurtures that leadership by helping them shape a vision that will unite members and provide ongoing  training.

- Cooperatives only work when they are  market driven; the development practitioner seeks to ensure that accurate  market projections precede other development steps.

- Member control through a democratic process is essential for success.

- Success also depends on the commitment of member time and financial resources.

- There must be tangible economic benefits for members.

- The cooperative's products and services must generate sufficient revenue so that the effort can be  financially self-sustaining. Provision must be made to share any surplus equitably.

- Market opportunities exist throughout the world. Cooperatives and market development should transcend national boundaries.

- Successful, established cooperatives  should assist emerging cooperatives to develop. New and emerging cooperatives should be encouraged to communicate with and learn from successful cooperatives.