Cooperatives and MSME Development Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has urged African states to adopt the Cooperative Model Law, describing it as a critical tool for harmonizing legislation and fostering cross-border trade. Speaking in Nairobi during the 14th Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference (AMCCO), where he assumed the chairmanship of the body for the next three years, Oparanya said the law would serve as a vital reference for countries seeking to modernize their regulatory frameworks.
“I urge us all to move boldly from commitment to action. Let us build stronger partnerships to unleash the full potential of the cooperative movement,” Oparanya said. He emphasized that the model law was developed by the International Cooperative Alliance–Africa and the Pan African Parliament to embed best practices that respond to modern economic realities.
The CS noted that with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) taking shape, a unified cooperative movement could be a game-changer for regional integration. He highlighted the sector’s immense potential, citing Kenya’s success where Savings and Credit Cooperatives (Saccos) have surpassed the Ksh1 trillion mark in assets, employing over 300,000 people and contributing approximately 43 percent to the GDP.
Oparanya took over the AMCCO leadership from Egypt’s Major General Eng. Waleed Farouk Saeed Elbarody. He pledged to prioritize the integration of rural and underserved communities into the wider economy to tackle structural inequalities.
“The cooperative business model offers one of the most powerful pathways to building a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous Africa,” he added, noting that African Development Bank projections show the continent’s growth rising to 4.0 percent by 2026.
Jeroen Douglas, Director General of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), backed the sentiments, terming the cooperative movement as the “best skilled alternative to the raw capitalism we are living.” He unveiled a new strategy for 2026–2030 focused on making the movement “future-proof” and increasing its footprint in the global economy.
The conference was held under the theme ‘From Commitment to Action: Leveraging Global, Regional, and Local Partnerships for Sustainable Cooperative Development in Africa.’
