The Africa Region of the International Co-operative Alliance has facilitated a three-day forum for government officials and co-operative leaders and managers on 15-16 May in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. The event was followed by a two-day meeting for the technical committee of the Co-operative Ministerial Conference. Participants from across Uganda, Kenya, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania and Nigeria were joined at the two events by representatives from the International Labour Organization and the Food and Agricultural Organization.
The theme of the first forum was, “Balancing the Social Economic Development and Political Agenda of the African Countries using the Co-operative Model” with two topical areas namely: leveraging regional and international co-operation for co-operatives in Africa and enhancing inner strengths to maximise potential for co-operatives development. The second forum, the Co-operative Ministerial Conference Technical Committee (CMCTC), reviewed the mid-term progress made since the last Co-operative Ministerial Conference (CMC) held in Kigali Rwanda in 2012 and prepared the agenda for the mid-term review of CMC.
Reports presented showed that countries had made progress in most of the 19 indicators agreed upon by the CMC in 2012 including putting in place new facilitating policies and legal frameworks to support co-operative development, increased participation of women and youth in co-operatives - both as members and leaders, HIV/AIDS, member empowerment, human resources and M&E. Areas that achieved less progress include regional collaboration, information and communications technology, research and development, taxation, concern for community and support for the Alliance’s regional office for Africa.
The Africa Region of the International Co-operative Alliance forum for government officials and co-operative leaders and managers and the Ministerial Conference Technical Committee (CMCTC) recommended increased autonomy and strengthening the co-operatives around the continent, through the establishment of working groups to oversee the development of an Africa Co-operative Bank, continental co-operative sectorial organisations such as Africa Co-operative Agricultural organisation, Africa Co-operative Housing Organization and Africa Research, Gender and Youth Committee.
Photo: delegates at the two forums in Kenya.
