CCA ACC
International Co-operative Development
Our Projects Africa Ghana
Tanzania
SEND-Ghana Farmer Sustainability Project
Meru and Arusha Livelihood and SACCO’s Initiative (MALI)
Partner: Social Enterprise Development Foundation (SEND)
Partner: Moshi University College of Co-operative and Business Studies (MUCCoBS)
Sector: Agriculture and Finance With food security a serious issue in the eastern corridor of Northern Ghana, there is a strong need for independent, sustainable family-based farmer co-operatives in order to improve returns to farmers, increase production and distribution, and reduce the amount of food lost to spoilage. CCA is supporting SEND to provide training, mentoring and coaching in the areas of agriculture, finance and community wellbeing to enable these co-ops to move towards meeting the needs of their members and communities. Gains such as increases in household income and savings, access to credit (especially for women), conflict reduction and improved family nutrition have all been reported so far. Strengthening CUA in Reaching the Rural Poor II Partner: Ghana Co-operative Credit Unions Association Limited (CUA) Sector: Finance A great need has created a great solution. The lack of basic financial services has left many rural Ghanaians, particularly in the Northern area, vulnerable to economic hardships. CCA is working on a project with CUA to extend credit union services to rural communities by building and supporting board, management and staff capacity. This project ensures Ghanaian credit unions are financially sound, competitive and provide affordable financial services to people, particularly youth and women, and in turn create social and financial empowerment.
Ontario Co-operative Association Executive Director Mark Ventry with youth savings club members at Dormaa SHS, Ghana. (photo: Margaret Pomaa Okyere)
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Sector: Agriculture and Finance In the Arusha region of Tanzania, 70% of the population lives on less than $1 a day. This project aims to address the livelihoods of the co-operative members in this region, especially poor women and their families. Part of the problem has been weak leadership and member commitment within the co-operatives, poor agriculture productivity and limited income generating alternatives. Moshi University, in partnership with CCA, is changing this through building capacities of members of the SACCO so that they can participate more, improve their financial strength and enhance their productive skills, thereby increasing revenue potential that will be deposited into the SACCO as savings.
Malawi Sustainable Livelihoods through SACCO’s Partner: Malawi Union of Savings Credit Co-operatives (MUSCCO) Sector: Finance An inclusive financial system is critical to the development of a country’s economy. With this understanding, the Malawi Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives (MUSCCO), through its nationwide network of Savings and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs), is helping to mobilize savings to create sustainable and affordable credit and other financial services. The aim is to reduce poverty by improving access to services for those financially excluded,
including the rural poor, women and youth. CCA has supported MUSCCO’s work since 2002 through financial management and leadership training, development of special services and products for women and youth, programmes to mainstream HIV/AIDS and gender equality and assistance in the computerization of SACCO’s. CCA has also provided specialized technical assistance to help the credit union system weather an economic crisis in Malawi.
Uganda Examining Success Factors for Sustainable Rural Development through the Integrated Co-operative Model Partner: International Development Research Council (IDRC) Sector: Agriculture and Finance This collaborative research project is looking into the role the Integrated Co-op Model plays in rural development and poverty reduction in rural Africa and Canada. Financed by the IDRC and involving research institutions in Canada and Africa, this research will assess whether rural development through co-operatives works better when the co-ops are integrated and if so, what conditions work best. Data will be gathered in four countries (Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Canada) and the results will apply directly to future CCA programming in these four countries. Integrated Finance and Agriculture Production Initiative (IFAPI) Partner: Uganda Co-operative Alliance (UCA) Sector: Agriculture and Finance When Northern Uganda emerged from years of conflict, CCA and CUA (Ghana) introduced the IFAPI project with one simple goal; to contribute to improved livelihoods of small holder farmers in Uganda. The success of this project involves an innovative and integrated approach of supporting and linking three types of co-operatives (production, marketing and financial). These three areas of co-operation are essential ingredients in improving peoples’ well being and the project has been running successfully now for 10 years. Focus is placed on production and productivity, greater access to financial resources and an improvement in the capacity of co-ops to meet their members’ needs.
Rwanda Co-operative Agricultural Growth Partner: UGAMA and IWACU Sector: Agriculture and Finance Rwanda has experienced remarkable growth over the past decade and continues to place co-operatives at the forefront of the move towards self-sufficiency and poverty reduction. In support of efforts to improve household food security and income levels, CCA is partnering with two local NGOs, UGAMA, a co-operative training and development institute and The Rwandan Centre for Co-operative Research and Training (IWACU), on a five-year project aimed to improve the productivity, marketing, infrastructure and management capacity of 15 agricultural co-operatives and their members. Building on the successes of a three-year pilot, this project will directly benefit more than 22,000 households and indirectly benefit 132,000 individuals.
Ethiopia Climate resilience and co-operatives in Ethiopia Partner: Ethio-Wetlands Natural Resources Association (EWNRA) and Self Help Africa (SHA) Sector: Agriculture The Amhara region of northern Ethiopia provides much of the nation’s food needs. Deforestation, declining rainfall and unsustainable farming practices are contributing to environmental degradation in the region. Working with two local natural resource associations, Ethio-Wetlands Natural Resources Association (EWNRA) and Self Help Africa (SHA), the project aims to help 12,000 farmers learn environmentally friendly techniques to increase their economic, social and ecological resilience to climate change.
The fifteen-month project will also strengthen the capacity of farmer-owned co-operative enterprises by improving the production, storage and marketing of vegetables, ground nut, linseed, and garlic and by linking farmers to sources of needed credit.
Strengthening the Regional Voice of Co-operatives in Africa
has taken over delivery of the bi-annual regulators roundtables to increase the capacity of African Governments to regulate the credit union sector. These roundtables were previously hosted by CCA, the World Council of Credit Unions and the Irish League of Credit Unions Foundation which each sponsored their own participants. Participants are now self-funded and CCA continues to support by providing Canadian experts to provide technical assistance and deepen the dialogue.
Partner: International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) Africa
Women’s Mentorship Program (WMP)
Sector: Finance
Partner: Various
ICA, with the support of CCA, is working towards the development of co-operatives in Africa and also looking to influence change and innovation through its member organizations in the Africa region. This three-year project builds on a long term working relationship between CCA and ICA and works to improve ICA’s sustainability in Africa. The project will increase visibility for members of the ICA Africa office, improve delivery of ICA’s services and enhance their capacity. Key to this success is promoting the effective use of funds, providing membership support and information dissemination.
Sector: Finance
Africa Regional
Strengthening Regulatory, Leadership and Management Capacity of Financial Co-op Sector in Africa Partner: African Confederation of Co-operative Savings and Credit Associations (ACCOSCA)
Access to appropriate financial services can have a huge impact on poverty in the developing world. This is particularly true for women. CCA’s Women’s Mentorship Program contributes to this by helping to ensure that savings and credit co-operatives— often the only institutions providing financial services to the poor—are sustainable and able to continue to provide those services. Each year women managers are chosen from credit unions around the world to participate in this program which provides professional development and training. The goal of this project is to help enhance selected overseas female credit union managers’ capacity to improve their skills in managing their loan portfolios and general management issues at their financial co-operatives in their communities. Volunteer Internship Program
Sector: Finance
Partner: Various
ACCOSCA is a forum for African Credit Union managers and leaders to network and access professional development opportunities. Networking forums have proved an effective tool in developing “made in Africa solutions” to “made in Africa challenges”.
Sector: Various
CCA will support professional development for these leaders and managers by funding guest speakers for ACCOSCA’s annual congress. With CCA’s support, ACCOSCA
CCA will be focusing its internships on the Americas and Africa—but has also included two new placements in Cambodia and Mongolia. In Africa, more than half the placements focus on the credit union sector, though mainly using it as a platform to tackle issues such as HIV/AIDS, gender, and youth issues. Based on the success of last year’s placements in the Americas. CCA
CCA’s 2012-2013 youth interns excitedly await their placements after finishing training in Ottawa. (photo: John Julian)
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Africa (continued) will continue to use its interns to build capacity of staff and board of second-tier agricultural co-operatives. In Asia, interns will be placed in the credit union system as well. The IYIP program has returned to a strong focus on the goal of youth employability, therefore interns will be given a thorough pre-departure briefing, which includes career related workshop planning, as well as workshops on gender, environment and co-operative development.
CCA credit union coach Bev Maxim and three past Women’s Mentorship participants reconnect in Malawi. (photo: John Julian)
Asia Philippines
business lines, and providing management and life skills training to members.
Cambodia
Persons with Disability Pursuing Empowerment and Employment through Co-operatives.
Expanding the reach of MicroInsurance in Southeast Asia III (ERMISEA III)
Transforming Rural Finance in Cambodia
Partner: National Federation of Co-operatives for Persons with Disability (NFCPWD) Sector: Small, micro and medium enterprise Being employed provides not only an income but also dignity. NFCPWD Member Co-ops provide jobs for their members, all of whom live with a physical disability, making them one of the most marginalized groups in the Philippines. CCA channels our support towards improving co-op management and governance functions, better business planning, and helping to diversify revenue streams. Focus is placed on assisting with contract negotiations, job creation, new co-operative development, identifying new
Partner: RIMANSI Organization for the Asia and the Pacific, Inc. Sector: Finance “The poor need insurance more than the wealthy,” says Ernesto Galenzoga, a director of RIMANSI. Providing for funeral or medical expenses should catastrophe strike can wipe out hard-won gains and leave families in debt for years. This four-year project provides low income households with access to affordable micro-insurance against catastrophe. CCA is supporting RIMANSI to create new services and products, create more micro-insurance providers and improve the risk protection capacity of over two million poor and low-income households in the Philippines and several other countries in Southeast Asia.
Members of the National Federation of Co-operatives for Persons with Disability (in yellow t-shirts) pose with CCA staff outside their office in the Philippines. (photo: Denyse Guy)
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Partner: Cambodian Community Foundation Network (CCFiN) Sector: Finance During the Khmer Rouge years, the co-op model was discredited in Cambodia. CCA is helping CCFiN (the Cambodian Community Foundation Network) establish credit unions in the country by bringing together small informal savings and loans groups or community finance institutions (CFIs). To date, seven credit unions and over 2,200 members (70% women) have been mobilized and CCFiN is aiming to triple the number of credit unions and increase rural outreach significantly. To achieve this, CCA is assisting with training to CFI leaders, with an emphasis on financial literacy and sound management.
A farmer member of the Sragne Commune Credit Union waters lettuce in Siem Reap, Cambodia. (photo: Julie Beckett)
Vietnam Sustainable Livelihoods for Women in North Vietnam Partner: TYM Fund Sector: Finance
Chairperson Ms. Tirtha Maya Pradhan (centre) stands outside the Laxmi Mahila Savings and Credit Co-operative Ltd. located in the mountains near Kathmandu. (photo: Anna Brown)
Nepal NEFSCUN Capacity Building for Sustainable Credit Union Movement in Nepal Partner: Nepal Federation of Savings and Credit Co-operatives (NEFSCUN) Sector: Finance As the gap between rich and poor grows, co-operatives have been recognized by the Government of Nepal as a key player in reducing this disparity. CCA has been working with the Nepal Federation of Savings and Credit Co-operative Unions (NEFSCUN) since 1994 to build the credit union movement. Today there are more than 800 credit unions in operation providing one of the few financial services options for poor rural people—particularly women. CCA is supporting NEFSCUN to continue building their institutional capacity in order to create sustainability and growth. Sustainable Microfinance Services and Micro Enterprise Promotion through Women Managed Co-operative Societies Partner: Centre for Microfinance (CMF) Sector: Finance For many women in Nepal, Savings and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs) provide not only a safe, constant and reliable way to access financial services, but they also act as a valuable space for learning, sharing and
personal development. For 10 years, CCA has worked with Nepal’s Centre for Microfinance (CMF) to successfully strengthen Women’s Savings and Credit Co-operatives through training, technical assistance and encouraging networking between SACCOs and non-financial organizations. This project continues to support the ongoing work of CMF to capitalize on previous achievements and enable sustainability.
Indonesia Production of Passion Fruit Co-op Development in South Sulawesi Partner: Lembaga Pengakajian Pedesaan, Pantai dan Masyarakat (LP3M)
By empowering socio-economically disadvantaged women and men to become business owners and entrepreneurs, you give them the tools necessary to improve their quality of life. Partnering with three microfinance institutions, all of whom were part of previous CCA projects, this project aims to provide these tools by strengthening the institutions in-house capabilities to provide entrepreneurship training and business development support services that link enterprising women to markets, technology, financing and business information. The convergence of microfinance, microinsurance and business development support provided by CCA’s Vietnam partners strengthen the prospects for sustainable livelihoods for more than 100,000 women, many of whom are from ethnic minorities who have been left out of the country’s economic growth.
Asia Regional Entrenching Credit Union Solutions in the Philippines and Asia Partner: Associations of Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU)
Sector: Agriculture Passion fruit may be small fruit but for the 800 plus farmers of this co-op on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, it is a big deal. Indonesia produces 18% of the world’s passion fruit and thanks to sustainable farming techniques learned through their co-operative, members have seen their yields improve from an average of two kgs per tree pre project to approx 6 kgs per tree after two years of support. Higher yields and better prices achieved through co-op marketing have contributed to a doubling of family incomes among project beneficiaries. CCA is working with local NGO LP3M to assist farmers in crop diversification and to gain access to value chains and better prices which result in strengthening local economies.
Sector: Finance This project is a consolidation of 10 years of collaboration with the Asian Confederation of Credit Unions in the Philippines. The work of building a credit union is never over but the initiatives and approaches taken by CCA and ACCU will enable their 13 member organizations to grow and prosper. Initiatives such as using lessons learned in microfinance, federation benchmarking, diagnostic tools and stabilization funds are used to develop and preserve gains. This regional project addresses the sustainability of credit unions so that they can best perform their role in helping people improve lives and build communities.
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South America Peru Sustainable Product Diversification for Value Added Economic Development Partner: Multiple Services Co-operative NORANDINO Sector: Micro, small and medium enterprise While achieving success with its fair trade coffee, sugar and cocoa products, CCA’s partner NORANDINO was looking to expand and upgrade its existing facilities to increase product exports. With the ongoing support of CCA, this business expansion has resulted in higher incomes for the 800 farmers involved with NORANDINO and an improved quality of life. Gender mainstreaming has also been a result of CCA’s involvement, with more women participating in the co-op and more gender equal relationships in the community, an example being men participating in household chores traditionally viewed as “women’s” roles.
in employment, training and better infrastructure in the area. Improvements include upgrades to the existing thermal baths infrastructure, the training of 32 women by a top Peruvian chef with plans to open a restaurant, and an increase in tourists visiting the region. Through a previous project, CCA introduced the production processing of organic Canola through the co-operative. CCA is providing training with a focus on marketing the oil on national and international markets.
Colombia Increase Economic Growth and Food Security in Colombia
Sector: Micro, small and medium enterprise Illicit crop production in Colombia was once a major source of income for farmers. By promoting sustainable alternatives such as cocoa, and fruits and vegetables, CCA and its partner GESTANDO are promoting sustainable economic development and improving food security and livelihoods in rural areas in Colombia. The aim is to develop and strengthen co-op organizations by providing enterprise and organizational development training and on-going business and marketing technical assistance, therefore improving competiveness in the marketplace. This project takes place in three departments (areas) of the central region of Colombia.
Partner: Incubadora Empresarial GESTANDO
Economic Diversification in Huancahuasi Partner: Cooperativa Agraria de Produccion Atahualpa Sector: Agriculture Thermal baths built in the Fujimori era are providing the Athahualpa co-op in the small community of Huancahuasi with an innovative business enterprise. With the support of CCA, the co-op is maximizing the region’s tourism potential. Assistance is being provided to upgrade the facilities to entice more visitors and diversify the attractions available. The community is benefitting from an increase
A birds-eye view of Huancahuasi, home of the Athahualpa Co-operative in Peru. (photo: Gwen Temmell)
Caribbean Advisory to the CEO of the Financial Service Commission of Barbados
St.Vincent and the Grenadines
Partners: Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Special Projects Unit Government of Barbados; Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
Technical Assistance to Support the Co-operative Financial Sector Modernisation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Partner: Government of Barbados
Sector: Finance
Sector: Finance
CCA will be advising the Financial Services Commission of Barbados (FSCB) on the development of policy guidelines, systems and procedures to assist with creating an operational framework for the coming years.
Partner: St. Vincent and Grenadines Co-operative League Limited (SVG Coop League)
Barbados Technical assistance to support the Co-operatives Department, Barbados: Promoting Co-operatives in Barbados
The government of Barbados has invited CCA to help its co-operatives department retool its capacity to better serve and market the non-financial co-operative sector in Barbados. The 12-month project will see Canadian volunteers work with the co-operatives department. Counterpart departments in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts, and the Bahamas plan to attend the trainings. For the first time, CCA is using webinars to orient and train participants from the four countries.
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By utilising a team of senior experts that are well-placed to support the design of this operational framework and conducting workshops training staff in regulatory/ supervisory activities, CCA aims to help the FSCB to become a premier non-bank financial sector regulatory institution in the Caribbean region.
Sector: Finance CCA, in partnership with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Co-operative League is developing a training program for credit unions in that country. Using CCA’s Development Ladder Assessment tool, Canadian credit union experts will use assessed data to develop business plans to grow the sector. It is expected that by the end of the six month project, the SVG Co-operative League and some of its members will have training tools in place. These training tools will be included in membership education and leadership development programmes for the SVG Co-operative League and its members.