South Sudan Launches Digital Cooperative Registry to Enhance Transparency

Without a centralized system, fraudulent or inactive cooperatives could continue to receive support or partner with banks and donors. A digital registry increases accountability, ensures only verified cooperatives access benefits, and minimizes data manipulation or errors.

The Government of South Sudan, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, launched, on Tuesday, April 8, a cooperative e-registry, a digital platform designed to streamline the registration and oversight of cooperatives across the country. The platform aims to enhance transparency, improve data management, and foster government better coordination between agricultural cooperatives and bodies.

At the launch event, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Hussein Abdelbagi Akol described the initiative as a major shift from manual processes to a more efficient digital system. “ The electronic registration is an innovation in the registration of cooperatives to foster, preserve information on cooperatives, and to know the status of the cooperatives at a glance and ensure stronger communication,” he said. He also emphasized the need for individuals to come together in groups to qualify for government support, signaling a push for more structured and organized cooperative efforts.

The platform is expected to enhance nationwide coordination of cooperatives, support youth engagement, and serve as a foundation for more data-driven agricultural development in South Sudan.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Country Representative Meshak Malo called on young people to embrace the platform and view agriculture as a modern, tech-enabled business opportunity.

For years, cooperatives in South Sudan have operated in a largely informal and fragmented system. There has been no central, reliable database to verify their existence, activities, or impact, Stephen Almadi, Head of the Cooperative Department at the Co-operative Bank of South Sudan noted. This led to duplicate efforts, inconsistent data, and limited coordination among stakeholders.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, South Sudan has approximately 33 million acres of fertile arable land, yet only 4% is currently under cultivation. This minimal usage highlights an urgent need for financial services to help farmers expand production. A centralized registry will help formalize and connect these farmers to financial institutions like Co-operative Bank, expanding access to credit and savings tools.

Hikmatu Bilali