COPAC Open Forum

1

• COPAC Open Forum
• Washington DC
• May 2004
• Can the PRSP Process Be Effective Without
  Co-operatives?
• B.A. Kadasia, International Co-operative
  Alliance, Nairobi

2
Co-operatives and the PRSP Process up to now

• .. CO-OPERATIVES HAVE NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY
  INVOLVED IN THE PRSP PROCESSES
• THIS IS CHANGING BUT ONLY SLOWLY AND NOT ENOUGH

3
Factors Challenging Participation of
Co-operatives in PRSP Processes

• PRSP seen as Government and WB/IMF Responsibility
• History of non-participation and exclusion of
  stakeholders by Governments
• Institutional mechanisms underdeveloped by all
  sides

4
Additional Challenges

• Past non-performance by co-operatives
• View by WB that Co-operatives are public
  institutions
• View by WB that Co-operatives are not part of
  private sector
• View by WB that Co-operatives are social, even
  socialist non-business institutions
• Failure of Co-operatives to entrench themselves
  in both the CSO and the Private Sector Forums
• Insufficient grasp of the Co-operative Form by
  WB/IMF staff

5
New Co-operatives and New Services

• Area Co-operative Enterprises in Uganda
• Gathering and passing to farmers market price and
  demand information
• Identifying Suppliers of Farm Inputs and
  Extension Services, negotiating prices and
  arranging delivery
• Planning and coordinating introduction of new
  High Value Enterprises
• Adding Value to produce by sorting, grading and
  bulking

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New High Value Products

• Cardamom, Cinnamon, Ginger and Chillies, Vanilla,
  Moringa and Neem
• Pineapples, Mangoes
• French Beans, Sugar Beans and Asparagus
• Flowers

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Co-operative Mirofinance

• Safe, Secure Savings for Investments
• Friendly Credit for land purchase, housing,
  school fees, medicines, life cycle events and
  food
• Financing group and individual Small and Medium
  Enterprises

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Co-operatives and Previously Marginalized Social
Groups

• Pastoralists and Nomads
• Women
• Young Persons
• Landless
• People with Disabilities
• Traders
• Transport operators
• Informal Sector
• Community Based Organizations

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Sustainable Environmentally Friendly Practices
and Technologies

• Organic Farming
• Composting and Farmyard Manure
• Household Biogas production and Use

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Important Contemporary Issues

• Urbanization and Urban Poverty
• Housing, Shelter and Sanitation
• Employment creation
• Gender Equality
• Involvement of Young people
• HIV/Aids
• Ecology

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Wealth Creation and Risk Mitigation in Gujarati
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Co-operative Tree Nurseries in Kenya
13
Employment Creation Mukono, Uganda
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Health Matters

• Health Co-operatives and Mutuals in Benin and
  Mali
• Healthcare workers co-operatives in Brazil and
  South Africa
• Micro-insurance in Burkina Faso and Benevolence
  Funds in Kenya
• Nutrition Awareness and Planning through
  Co-operative events

15
Functional Literacy - Americas
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• THE PRSP PROCESS CAN BENEFIT FROM AN INCREASED
  INVOLVEMENT BY CO-OPERATIVES
• AND
• CO-OPERATIVES CAN BENEFIT FROM A GREATER
  INVOLVEMENT IN THE PRSP PROCESS

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Co-operatives

• CAN BE A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY FOR POVERTY
  REDUCTION
• ADDRESS ALL THE MDGS
• ALREADY INVOLVE MAJORITY OF POPULATION IN MANY
  COUNTRIES IN ALL SECTORSAND HAVE POTENTIAL TO BE
  PROMOTED IN ALL THE OTHERS
• CAN MOVE PRSPS BEYOND PAPERS AND PLANS TO ACTUAL
  COMMUNITY LEVEL ACTIONS

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PROPOSALS I

• To enrich PRSP design, implementation and
  monitoring, and increase contribution by
  co-operatives to poverty reduction
• Develop a comprehensive strategy for
  co-operatives and poverty reduction. ICA/ILO
  initiated Global Campaign can be a good starting
  point.
• Capacity Building for national co-operative
  systems. Good Examples ILO, SCC, CCA, Norgesvel,
  and WB.
• Capacity Building for global international
  co-operative movement (e.g. WB support to ICFTU)
• Increase and systemize ICA engagement with WB

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PROPOSALS II

• Give Technical and Financial Support to the
  Global Co-operative Campaign against Poverty
• Increase understanding of WB needs, priorities
  and workings
• Larger Powerful ICA Member Organizations lobby
  their Government Representatives in WB, IMF and
  Regional Development Banks for inclusion of
  Co-operatives on Agenda
• Strengthen Co-operative Division at WB

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• THANK YOU