Read the ICA-Africa May 2024 Newsletter to Catch up with all Activities in the Region
Naija CooperativeNews ICA-Africa May 2024 Newsletter on Cooperative Activities happening in the Region 1. Empowering African Youth through the Cooperative Business Model  The International Cooperative Alliance-Africa hosted a Youth Side Event at the Midterm Review of the 13th Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference on 19th May, 2024, in Maseru, Lesotho. The event, themed “Empowering African Youth through the Cooperative Business Model: Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development Workshop,” aimed to foster and cultivate leadership among young cooperators. Participants delved into youth entrepreneurship by exploring best practices, including how to start cooperatives that address the needs of young people and other enterprise activities. 2. Leveraging Cooperatives for Transitioning African Economies  The Midterm Review of the 13th Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference was held virtually on May 20th and 21st, 2024. The conference addressed the theme “Leveraging Cooperatives for Transitioning African Economies: A Holistic Approach to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Peace and Security, and Economic Stability.” Over the two days, participants from across the continent discussed strategies for utilizing the cooperative model to address critical issues facing African economies such as climate change, peace and security and economic stability. Cooperative experts and delegates shared insights and innovative approaches, emphasizing the importance of the cooperative model in fostering sustainable development in Africa. 3. Driving Cooperative Growth Through Legal Reform: Drafting a Model Law for Cooperatives  The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the International Cooperative Alliance-Africa (ICA-Africa) held a Technical Working Group Meeting in Maseru, Lesotho, from the 15th to 18th May 2024. The meeting aimed to finalize the draft Model Law on Cooperative Societies for Africa by incorporating stakeholder inputs to ensure it reflects the needs and aspirations of the African people. The refined draft is set to be presented to the PAP Committee on Finance and Monetary Affairs. Find out more. 4. CoopStar: Empowering the African Cooperative Movement as a key player in the transition towards a circular, green, and sustainable economy in Africa  The International Cooperative Alliance-Africa in collaboration with The Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy and the Office of Cooperation Development (ODCO), successfully held the second CoopStar (Cooperatives for a Sustainable Transformation in Africa) Workshop in Rabat from May 26 to 28, 2024. Following the preliminary workshop held in Nairobi, Kenya, in December 2023, which brought together experts to lay the foundation for the book project on the role of cooperatives in transitioning to a circular, green, and sustainable economy, this event focused on finalizing the book chapters. Read. 5. FENASCOOPH-CI Hosts Forum on Sustainability of Cooperative Societies in Côte d’Ivoire’s Rubber Sector  Federation Nationale Des Societes Cooperatives D’hevea De Côte D’ivoire (FENASCOOPH-CI) hosted the “Forum for Reflection on the Viability and Sustainability of Cooperative Societies in the Rubber Sector” in Abidjan from March 20 to 22, 2024. Held under the high patronage of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Production of Côte d’Ivoire, Mr Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, the forum focused on the theme “Cooperativism in the Rubber Sector: Threats and Opportunities.” The event brought together about a hundred participants, including representatives from national agricultural institutions, rubber sector organizations, and private economic actors to explore the development of cooperativism within the rubber sector, discussing various threats and opportunities. Read more. 6. Strengthening the Cooperative Movement Through Strategic Partnerships  The 11th Asia-Pacific Cooperative Ministers’ Conference (APCMC) in Jordan, Dead Sea, marked a significant milestone in global cooperation among cooperatives. The event saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Morocco’s Office of Cooperation Development (ODCO) and the Jordan Co-operative Corporation (JCC). This historic agreement marks the beginning of a fruitful partnership and sustained collaboration, paving the way for mutually beneficial knowledge exchange and large-scale projects in the cooperative sector. 7. Enhancing the Capacity of Cooperatives- Morocco  The Mourafaka program, a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy, and the Office of Cooperation Development, has reached a significant milestone with the launch of its second phase in the fourth range dedicated to supporting cooperatives. This phase has been strengthened by the partnership between the UM6P Coop Lab and the OCP Foundation. The Mourafaka program, launched in 2011, aims to enhance the technical and managerial capacities of cooperatives established less than four years ago by providing strategic diagnoses, training for managers, and individualized support over a two-year period. The second phase of the fourth tranche of the Mourafaka program is now being implemented across several regions in Morocco, including Casablanca-Settat, Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, Fez-Meknes, and Beni Mellal-Khenifra, demonstrating its national scope and potential to positively impact Morocco’s economic and social fabric. CoopsDay Theme: Cooperatives Build a Better Future for All |
 On July 6, cooperatives around the world will celebrate the International Day of Cooperatives with the theme “Cooperatives Building a Better Future for All“. Cooperators are invited to showcase their contribution in realising the universal goal of building a better world and how they are striving to create a better future for all. Read more. |
