Co-operative Alliance of Kenya recently organized the East African Co-operatives Conference in Arusha, Tanzania, under the theme “Regional co-operative collaboration to build sustainable co-operative enterprises.”
The conference aimed at providing an avenue for East African co-operatives to establish linkages, networks, and areas of collaboration and cooperation.
It also allowed participants to share knowledge and experience to improve processes and optimize resources for better serving of members and discuss the opportunities, challenges, and risks facing co-operatives in East Africa and how they can be addressed.
The conference held on 20th -24th September at Mt Meru Hotel in Arusha also deliberated on how to improve the competitiveness of co-operatives to take advantage of the expanded market within the East Africa Community, riding on the integration pillar of the common market and adopting common approaches towards the disadvantaged and marginalized groups, including women, children, the youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities with the objective of employment creation, poverty alleviation, and improving working conditions.
Co-operatives are unique economic and social enterprises established on co-operative principles, values, and philosophy. They are member-owned, member-driven, and democratically managed organizations providing solutions to their members and communities.
The mission of the Community is to widen and deepen economic, political, social and cultural integration in order to improve the quality of life of the people of East Africa through increased competitiveness, value-added production, trade and investments.
Co-operatives cut across all sectors of economies and thus play a key role in attaining the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The principles of Cooperation among co-operatives guide the co-operative movement, and it is in this spirit that CAK organized the conference.
“This will accelerate economic growth and development for the common market in the regional block while strengthening integration, a global development strategy adopted by most African states for harmonious working to improve the livelihoods,” said CAK.
Kenya’s co-operative movement is the largest in the region, thriving through the unrelenting support of the government and the use of best practices in the industry.
“We believe we have much to share as well as learn from other member states to establish baselines, define best practices, identify improvement opportunities and create a competitive environment within the organization,” said CAK.
The participants were the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officers, County Executive Committee Members (CEC), County Chief Officers of Co-operatives, County Directors of Co-operatives, and Senior management staff.
