ACDI [Agricultural Cooperative Development International] Costa Rica country program proposal : cooperative development services for Costa Rica, 1989-1992

ACDI"s program will have three components. (1) Continued TA to FEDECOOP, a federation of coffee cooperatives which accounts for over half of Costa Rica"s coffee production, in managing a USAID-funded loan trust set up in 1985 to provide loans to members of FEDECOOP affiliates for coffee crop improvements (disease-resistance, yield and quality improvement, etc.) and crop diversification (macadamia, cana india, etc). Specifically, ACDI will help FEDECOOP and its affiliates secure high rates of loan repayment and assure proper use of the reflows to achieve an equitable distribution of the benefits among FEDECOOP"s expanding membership. An important secondary goal is to strengthen affiliates" management and administrative capabilities to protect USAID"s $20 million investment in this program. (2) A second component will strengthen the management and marketing capabilities of coffee and other cooperatives involved in exporting non-traditional agricultural products. This service will be aimed at cooperatives which are past the start-up phase and need to consolidate their operations, and will include TA in all technical areas such as accounting, production, purchasing, inventory, member relations, etc. Training for management employees and boards of directors will be an important element of this assistance. (3) Finally, ACDI will provide a range of services for fledgling export-oriented cooperatives, defined as those under 5 years old, and including umbrella organizations. The grant funds 4 positions: a cooperative development/marketing advisor/chief of party; an advisor to the coffee credit program; a management/credit advisor with extensive banking, economics, and cooperative background; and an administrative assistant.