Cooperative Development Program (CDP) Project Project Biannual Report: January 2018-June 2018

The project aims to improve the governance, management, and advocacy of business-oriented, professionally managed, farmer-owned-and-operated organizations to better meet the needs of their members. CDP activities include training and technical assistance to facilitate increased agricultural productivity and marketing. Training and technical assistance have been provided to facilitate increased agricultural productivity and marketing. The project has also facilitated experience sharing visits and events and disseminated the learning from these activities, primarily through established Cooperative Learning Information Centers (CLICs) and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) platforms in collaboration with local partners in Ethiopia. CDP also strives to add value to its ongoing programs, engaging in various learning events organized by partners with similar initiatives. The project identified training needs and developed seven training modules based on identified knowledge gaps. The project adapted a specific module related to gender, which was used to provide training on the topic. The project started digitizing the training modules to be accessible to cooperatives in both the CDP target and non-target regions of Ethiopia. During this reporting period, CDP accomplished the following major activities: business skills and marketing training for leaders and members of CDP-targeted PCs and unions, training on post-harvest handling and warehouse management of coffee, cereal crops, and pulses for leaders and members of CDP-targeted PCs and unions, and financial management and cooperative accounting training for leaders and members of CDP-targeted PCs and unions. The size of beneficiary populations in the program's targeted unions and PCs has steadily increased, except in exceptional cases of administrative restructurings, such as the case of the Becho Union, whose membership reduced when some PCs shifted to a nearby, newly emerging union. The total number of direct beneficiaries in 2018 was 26,802, with 73,538 family members, totaling 131,330 individuals. The total number of indirect beneficiaries in 2018 was 307,366, with 870,823 family members, totaling 1,506,093 individuals. The total number of direct beneficiaries in 2017 was 22,173, with 61,341 family members, totaling 108,648 individuals. The total number of indirect beneficiaries in 2017 was 273,579, with 778,219 family members, totaling 1,051,798 individuals. CDP Ethiopia has also made notable progress in strengthening the membership base of its target cooperatives. The number of members in the CDP-targeted PCs has increased, with some cooperatives experiencing significant growth. The project has also facilitated the expansion of services provided to members by primary cooperatives, including product trading by Farmers Cooperative Unions (FCUs) and primary cooperatives. Distribution of dividends by primary cooperative members has also been facilitated, with some cooperatives distributing significant amounts to their members. The project has also played a role in creating employment opportunities for members of the target cooperatives.