By Morris Mwaringa
In the cooperative movement, success is not measured only by financial growth. It is also reflected in a cooperative’s willingness to help others grow.
That spirit is at the heart of the International Cooperative Alliance’s seventh principle—Cooperation among Cooperatives—which encourages cooperatives to strengthen one another through partnerships, shared knowledge and mutual support.
For Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) across Africa, the principle has never been more relevant. Digital disruption, changing member expectations, cybersecurity threats, tighter regulation and growing competition from banks and fintechs are transforming financial services.
Increasingly, SACCOs are discovering that one of the most effective ways to respond is to learn from institutions that have already confronted similar challenges.
Benchmarking visits are therefore evolving from ceremonial exchanges into strategic platforms for learning, innovation and institutional growth. Recent engagements involving Kenya National Police DT SACCO, Stima Sacco and Mhasibu DT Sacco demonstrate how knowledge sharing can strengthen individual institutions while advancing the wider cooperative movement.
Learning Beyond Borders
A notable example is the benchmarking and job-shadowing visit by a delegation from Botswana’s Dikwata SACCO to Kenya National Police DT SACCO.
The engagement focused on governance, digital transformation, member service, strategic growth and institutional partnerships. More importantly, it provided an opportunity for the two institutions to exchange practical experiences, discuss operational challenges and examine solutions that have worked in their respective markets.
Although SACCOs operate within different regulatory and economic environments, many face remarkably similar challenges.
Cross-border benchmarking enables African cooperatives to learn from one another rather than relying exclusively on external models. As African economies become increasingly interconnected, stronger relationships among SACCOs can support financial inclusion, institutional resilience and sustainable economic development.
Developing the Leaders of Tomorrow
Benchmarking is not confined to technology, operations or financial management. It is equally important in developing leadership.
Stima Sacco recently hosted participants from the Duke Corporate Education and Absa Young Leaders Development Programme for an immersive learning experience covering leadership, member-centred innovation, digital transformation and the cooperative business model.
Such engagements expose emerging professionals to the practical realities of running a successful member-owned financial institution while allowing them to bring fresh ideas and experiences from their own markets.
For SACCOs navigating digital banking, data-driven decision-making and increasingly sophisticated governance requirements, developing leaders with a broad understanding of strategy, innovation and cooperative values is becoming a strategic necessity.
By opening their doors to emerging leaders, institutions such as Stima Sacco are contributing to the development of professionals who will shape Africa’s cooperative sector in the years ahead.
Sharing Digital Solutions
Technology presents both a major opportunity and a significant challenge for SACCOs.
Members increasingly expect instant services, mobile banking, digital loans, online account management and secure electronic transactions. Meeting these expectations requires investment in ICT infrastructure, cybersecurity and staff capacity.
Against this backdrop, Mhasibu DT Sacco hosted a delegation from Ushuru Sacco Society Limited for a benchmarking visit focusing on mobile banking system hosting, ICT infrastructure and digital solutions.
The exchange enabled the institutions to share practical experiences in system implementation, digital security, service reliability and technology management.
Such engagements can help SACCOs avoid costly mistakes and accelerate innovation. Instead of every institution independently solving the same technological challenges, benchmarking allows proven solutions and lessons to spread across the movement.
From Best Practices to Better Services
The value of benchmarking goes far beyond visiting another SACCO’s offices or observing its technology.
It provides access to proven approaches in governance, lending, risk management, member engagement, customer service and strategic planning. By adapting successful practices to their own circumstances, SACCOs can reduce the time and cost associated with trial-and-error decision-making.
Benchmarking can also strengthen governance. Comparing board structures, internal controls, compliance systems, succession planning and management practices provides institutions with new perspectives on accountability and transparency.
It also stimulates innovation. When institutions from different regions meet, new ideas emerge. A visiting SACCO may discover a product or technology it had not considered, while the host institution may receive feedback that challenges existing assumptions and inspires further improvement.
Ultimately, members stand to gain the most.
Better governance, modern technology, efficient processes and innovative products translate into faster services, stronger security, improved digital experiences and more responsive customer support.
Building an African Cooperative Network
The benchmarking initiatives involving Kenya National Police DT SACCO, Stima Sacco and Mhasibu DT Sacco demonstrate that leadership is not simply about achieving strong financial results. It is also about sharing knowledge that strengthens the wider movement.
This philosophy is particularly important as Africa advances regional economic integration through initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Stronger links among cooperatives can facilitate knowledge transfer, technological collaboration, institutional partnerships and the sharing of best practices across borders.
The financial services landscape will continue to evolve, driven by artificial intelligence, digital payments, data analytics, cybersecurity and changing member expectations.
No SACCO can afford to become complacent.
Benchmarking offers a practical way to remain competitive by encouraging institutions to question existing practices, learn from peers and adapt proven solutions to emerging challenges.
For host institutions, it provides an opportunity to share their achievements while gaining fresh perspectives. For visiting SACCOs, it offers practical lessons that can be taken home and implemented.
Most importantly, it reinforces one of the cooperative movement’s greatest strengths: the belief that progress is greater when it is shared.
When SACCOs exchange knowledge, innovation spreads faster, institutions become stronger and members benefit. In this way, benchmarking is not merely about learning from the best—it is about building a stronger, more connected and more resilient African cooperative movement.
