The African Development Educators (ADE) Programme is ACCOSCA’s flagship professional development initiative for the cooperative financial sector in Africa. Launched in May 2014 in partnership with the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF), ADE has run for over a decade, producing more than 30 graduating classes and counting.
ADE brings together SACCO, credit union, and cooperative financial institution (CFI) professionals from across Africa, Europe, and the USA for an immersive, multi-stakeholder learning experience. Participants are mentored by some of the world’s most renowned cooperators and engage in practical strategic thinking about the cooperative sector and its impact on members.
What the program aims to do:
- Instill cooperative principles and philosophy in a new generation of professionals
- Promote prudential oversight in SACCOs and credit unions to strengthen accountability and sustainable growth
- Explore how the cooperative business model can be applied to solve real development challenges
- Build lifelong professionals equipped to improve living standards in their communities
It’s designed as a lifelong journey rather than a one-off training — graduates go on to apply what they’ve learned to drive tangible impact in their local communities, guided by the values of empathy and purpose.
Most recent class: The 30th ADE Class convened in August 2026 in Kilifi, Kenya, graduating nearly 50 professionals from 12 countries. The cohort explored how cooperative models can help tackle Africa’s most pressing development challenges, reinforcing ACCOSCA’s mission to build a professionally run, globally respected cooperative movement rooted in strong, well-governed SACCOs.
Applications for the 2027 ADE Classes open 1 September and close 30 October 2026. For more information or to join the next class, reach ACCOSCA through their contacts.
