COPAC Open Forum Washington DC May 2004 Can the PRSP Process Be Effective Without Co-operatives?

1. COPAC Open Forum Washington DC May 2004 Can the PRSP Process Be Effective Without Co-operatives? B.A. Kadasia, International Co-operative Alliance, Nairobi

2. Co-operatives and the PRSP Process up to now ….. CO-OPERATIVES HAVE NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY INVOLVED IN THE PRSP PROCESSES THIS IS CHANGING BUT ONLY SLOWLY AND NOT ENOUGH

3. Factors Challenging Participation of Co-operatives in PRSP Processes • PRSP seen as Government and WB/IMF Responsibility • History of non-participation and exclusion of stakeholders by Governments • Institutional mechanisms underdeveloped by all sides

4. Additional Challenges • Past non-performance by co-operatives • View by WB that Co-operatives are public institutions • View by WB that Co-operatives are not part of private sector • View by WB that Co-operatives are social, even socialist non-business institutions • Failure of Co-operatives to entrench themselves in both the CSO and the Private Sector Forums • Insufficient grasp of the Co-operative Form by WB/IMF staff

5. New Co-operatives and New Services • Area Co-operative Enterprises in Uganda • Gathering and passing to farmers market price and demand information • Identifying Suppliers of Farm Inputs and Extension Services, negotiating prices and arranging delivery • Planning and coordinating introduction of new High Value Enterprises • Adding Value to produce by sorting, grading and bulking

6. New High Value Products • Cardamom, Cinnamon, Ginger and Chillies, Vanilla, Moringa and Neem • Pineapples, Mangoes • French Beans, Sugar Beans and Asparagus • Flowers

7. Co-operative Mirofinance • Safe, Secure Savings for Investments • Friendly Credit for land purchase, housing, school fees, medicines, life cycle events and food • Financing group and individual Small and Medium Enterprises

8. Co-operatives and Previously Marginalized Social Groups • Pastoralists and Nomads • Women • Young Persons • Landless • People with Disabilities • Traders • Transport operators • Informal Sector • Community Based Organizations

9. Sustainable Environmentally Friendly Practices and Technologies • Organic Farming • Composting and Farmyard Manure • Household Biogas production and Use

10. Important Contemporary Issues • Urbanization and Urban Poverty • Housing, Shelter and Sanitation • Employment creation • Gender Equality • Involvement of Young people • HIV/Aids • Ecology

11. Wealth Creation and Risk Mitigation in Gujarati

12. Co-operative Tree Nurseries in Kenya

13. Employment Creation – Mukono, Uganda

14. Health Matters • Health Co-operatives and Mutuals in Benin and Mali • Healthcare workers’ co-operatives in Brazil and South Africa • Micro-insurance in Burkina Faso and Benevolence Funds in Kenya • Nutrition Awareness and Planning through Co-operative events

15. Functional Literacy - Americas

16. THE PRSP PROCESS CAN BENEFIT FROM AN INCREASED INVOLVEMENT BY CO-OPERATIVES AND CO-OPERATIVES CAN BENEFIT FROM A GREATER INVOLVEMENT IN THE PRSP PROCESS

17. Co-operatives • CAN BE A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY FOR POVERTY REDUCTION • ADDRESS ALL THE MDGS • ALREADY INVOLVE MAJORITY OF POPULATION IN MANY COUNTRIES IN ALL SECTORSAND HAVE POTENTIAL TO BE PROMOTED IN ALL THE OTHERS • CAN MOVE PRSPS BEYOND PAPERS AND PLANS TO ACTUAL COMMUNITY LEVEL ACTIONS

18. PROPOSALS I To enrich PRSP design, implementation and monitoring, and increase contribution by co-operatives to poverty reduction: • Develop a comprehensive strategy for co-operatives and poverty reduction. ICA/ILO initiated Global Campaign can be a good starting point. • Capacity Building for national co-operative systems. Good Examples: ILO, SCC, CCA, Norgesvel, and WB. • Capacity Building for global international co-operative movement (e.g. WB support to ICFTU) • Increase and systemize ICA engagement with WB

19. PROPOSALS II • Give Technical and Financial Support to the Global Co-operative Campaign against Poverty • Increase understanding of WB needs, priorities and workings • Larger Powerful ICA Member Organizations lobby their Government Representatives in WB, IMF and Regional Development Banks for inclusion of Co-operatives on Agenda • Strengthen Co-operative Division at WB

20. THANK YOU