Cooperative Development Program Semi Annual Report

Over the past seven and a half years, Land O'Lakes has partnered with cooperatives in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Rwanda to help improve cooperative performance in response to evolving market conditions. The program has focused on partnering with cooperatives that have leveraged economies of scale through horizontal or vertical integration, working with each partner to improve operational management, organizational governance, and business decision-making. With additional funding between November 2016 and September 2018, Land O'Lakes is applying a modular approach to implementation, building on lessons learned with a refined focus on two countries—Kenya and Rwanda. In Rwanda, the program is building capacity of cooperative unions in both the maize and dairy industries, as well as building support of Rwandan research institutions. The program is focusing on two national federations (one for maize and one for dairy), three cooperative unions (in three districts in Rwanda), and two primary cooperatives in each district for a total of six primary cooperatives. In Kenya, the program is undertaking a study on cooperatives and SACCOs, as well as a financial symposium this reporting period. During the reporting period, January through June 2018, several highlights were achieved in Rwanda. The Cooperative Development Program was acknowledged by CTA (Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Co-operation) for co-hosting a well-coordinated and implemented Enhancing Development Through Cooperatives, Cooperative Leadership Event in February. This event was part of the OCDC Research Center in partnership with CTA and Oxfam UK, and 98 cooperative leaders were in attendance, along with key cooperative stakeholders and policy makers. The Cooperative Expo and Conference was also supported in March 2018, where project beneficiary organizations such as National Cooperative Confederation of Rwanda (NCCR), maize federation, dairy federation, and IAKIB cooperative were able to showcase their products and services alongside other exhibitors from different cooperatives and service providers across the country. Land O'Lakes staff participated in conference panel discussions and led presentations. UNILAK completed their research on the impact of rice cooperatives on livelihoods of farmers in Eastern Province, and a first draft of an article has been written to eventually submit to a research journal. A Cooperative Research Symposium was held in May, bringing together researchers from Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania to present their work and network with other researchers. The symposium promoted a larger discussion on the role of cooperatives amongst attendees, including apex cooperative partners. Technical assistance was provided for the final training of professors and students at UNILAK on research aspects, specifically qualitative, by a researcher from the University of Mississippi. The program also supported the Cooperative Research Symposium, which brought together researchers from Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania to present their work and network with other researchers. The Cooperative Development Program has made significant progress in Rwanda, with a focus on building capacity of cooperative unions in both the maize and dairy industries, as well as building support of Rwandan research institutions. The program has also supported several events and research initiatives, including the Cooperative Expo and Conference, the Cooperative Research Symposium, and the final training of professors and students at UNILAK. In Kenya, the program is undertaking a study on cooperatives and SACCOs, as well as a financial symposium this reporting period. The program is continuing to work with a small number of individual cooperatives that can serve as important learning grounds for other cooperatives, and that can simultaneously positively influence government policies and the broader enabling environment. The Cooperative Development Program is committed to improving the performance of cooperative enterprises and contributing to building more inclusive and resilient communities. The program has made significant progress in Rwanda and Kenya, and will continue to work towards its goals in the coming months.