COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PROJECT BIANNUAL REPORT: JANUARY 2017-JUNE 2017

COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (CDP) PROJECT

USAID COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT NUMBER: AID-OAA-A-10-00027

Submitted by:

Eric Wallace

Director, Inclusive Market Systems

ACDI/VOCA

E-Mail: ewallace @acdivoca.org Tel: 202-469-6073

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CONTENTS

ACRONYMS ......................................................................................................................................... 3

CDP ETHIOPIA ................................................................................................................................... 4

CDP ETHIOPIA SUMMARY OF IMPLEMENTATION EXPERIENCE ............... 4

CDP ETHIOPIA MAJOR IMPACTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS ..................... 5

CDP ETHIOPIA DESCRIPTION OF NOTABLE PARTNERSHIPS ................... 11

CDP ETHIOPIA MAJOR IMPLEMENTATION PROBLEMS/ DEVIATION

FROM EXPECTATIONS FOR MAJOR PERFORMANCE INDICATORS ......... 11

CDP ETHIOPIA PLANS FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS ................................. 12

CDP LIBERIA .................................................................................................................................... 12

CDP LIBERIA SUMMARY OF IMPLEMENTATION EXPERIENCE ............... 12

CDP LIBERIA MAJOR IMPACTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS ...................... 15

CDP LIBERIA DESCRIPTION OF NOTABLE PARTNERSHIPS...................... 17

CDP LIBERIA MAJOR IMPLEMENTATION PROBLEMS/ DEVIATION FROM

EXPECTATIONS FOR MAJOR PERFORMANCE INDICATORS .................... 18

CDP LIBERIA PLANS FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS .................................... 18

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ACRONYMS

ACDI/VOCA Agricultural Cooperative Development International/Volunteers in

BSD Business Skill Development

CDP Cooperative Development Program

CLIC Cooperative Learning Information Centers

FCA Federation of Production Cooperatives

GALS Gender Action Learning Systems

GAP Good Agricultural Practices

IT Information Technology

M&E Monitoring and Evaluation

OCA Overseas Cooperative Assistance

PMP Performance Monitoring Plan

RUSACO Rural Savings and Credit Cooperative

SNNPR South Nation, Nationality and Peoples Region (Ethiopia)

TOT Training of Trainers

USAID United States Agency for International Development

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CDP ETHIOPIA

CDP Ethiopia Summary of Implementation Experience

Ethiopia’s Cooperative Development Program (CDP) is working with nine unions and 31 primary

cooperatives located in the districts of Benshangul-Gumuz, Oromia, SNNP and Tigray regions of

Ethiopia. The project aims to improve the governance management and advocacy of business-oriented,

professionally managed, farmer-owned and operated organizations to better meet the needs of their

male and female members.

CDP activities include trainings, technical assistance, strategic management and mentorships to

facilitate increased agricultural productivity and marketing, strengthen cooperatives and enhance

knowledge and cooperative development learning. The project has also facilitated experience sharing

visits, events and disseminated the learnings from activities across the project areas, primarily through

established Cooperative Learning Information Centers (CLICs) in collaboration with local partners in

Ethiopia.

Major activities accomplished during this reporting period include:

Conducted ToT training on Business skill development

Conducted ToT training on Postharvest handling and warehouse management

Conducted ToT training on Cooperatives leadership, governance and gender

Conducted ToT training on Gender Action Learning Systems (GALs) Methodology

facilitate Cascade training on GALs tools to cooperatives

Conducted staff training on SCOPE insight assessment tool

Conduct CDP training module review workshop

Conduct baseline and scope insight assessment for new unions and cooperatives

Procure and distribute in-kind grant equipment (laptop computers) to CLICs

Organized a national forum on cooperatives access to finance

Participated in different cooperatives development workshops and events

Recruit additional CDP project staff (M&E specialist)

Compilation of biannual report

CDP is under implementation in 14 districts of four regions, engaging with a total of nine unions and

31 primary cooperatives.

The table below shows the detail on target areas and cooperatives.

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Region Zone Woreda /

District Cooperative

Union Primary Cooperative

Oromia

South West Shoa

Becho Becho woliso FCU

Awash buni

Dawo Busahide

Teje Asgori

Jimma

Limukosa Limuinara FCU

Kecho Tertera

Debelo

Limuseka Bufeta Gibe

Jatooseka

Qersa

Jimma FCU

Kitibili

Mana Geruke Mazoria

Seka Chekorsa Waqito Medalo

Benishangul Gumuz

Assosa

Bambasi Dabusafa FCU

Maheber Tsehay

Edegetber/Kesh Meando

Tseahayberhan

Shenda

Assosa Zuria Assosa FCU

Nurjedid

Addis Chora

Sirawutet

SNNPR Sidama

Loka Abaya Sidama Union FCU

Hantate

Wenenata

Salakebado

Gorbe

Hawassa Zuria Sidama Elto FCU

Odona gallo

Shemona

Kere

Tigray Central Tigray

Kolatemben Debreassa

Fire

Kokeb

Lemlem Bega

Wore Leke Wore ie FCU

Ruba gerede

Biherawi

Shewit

Dedebit

Trainings, workshops, and experience sharing visits, use of the CLICs, technical assistance and

coaching are the major approaches that CDP Ethiopia employed to achieve its objective. To make the

capacity building successful, the project identified training needs and developed seven training modules

based on knowledge gaps findings. In addition, the project has started digitalizing the training modules

to be accessible to cooperatives in CDP target and non-target regions of Ethiopia. The project has also

established CLICs and provide learning equipment’s to cooperatives to increase cooperative

information access to cooperative promoters, leaders and members.

CDP Ethiopia Major Impacts and Accomplishments

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In the reporting period various ToT trainings have been conducted in all targeted regions of the project

involving 206 (14% female) cooperative development agents and cooperative union experts. The

thematic areas covered by the training are part of the capacity building scheme designed by CDP in

light of assessed needs. Hence discussed below are the ToTs organized during the reporting period

including objectives, target regions and number of participants.

ToT on cooperative Leadership, Governance and Gender

This ToT was conducted in the four target regions of the project involving 67 (11 female) participants

of CDP targeted regions, zone and woredas, respectively. The training modality involves cascaded

approach in that ToT trained individuals will subsequently conduct similar training to cooperative

leaders and member in their respective working sites. Leadership, good governance, membership

development and gender were the key knowledge components that were covered in the four day ToT

training.

Participants while attending ToT training on cooperative leadership, governance and Gender

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ToT on Business skills development

As anticipated, CDP has provided ToT training on business skills development during the reporting period.

The training focused mainly on marketing and business plan preparation for cooperative extension workers

supporting cooperatives in CDP targeted woredas and technical staff of target unions. This ToT training

was received by 71 (10 female) participants gathered from the CDP target regions. The major session

covered in the four day training were business planning, marketing and record keeping. The trainees of the

ToT upon their return to working sites are expected to cascade similar training to cooperative leaders and

members to equip them with the required skills during the next semester.

Training events in Tigray and SNNPR regions

Training participants while presenting group activities in Tigray region

ToT on Post harvest and Warehouse management

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This ToT that lasts for four days was conducted in each of the four regions of Benishangul, Oromia, Tigray

and SNNP involving 67 (10 female) participants.

In all the above three ToT trainings trainers are experienced senior specialists from the respective

government sector offices in close consultation with the regional cooperative agencies.

To ensure tailored and hands

on learning process, training modules translated into local language of Amharic and Oromifa have been

used. In addition as part of the methodology trainees were supported with modules, Power Point

presentations and other visualized technique including learning visits.

Consultative national workshop on access to finance

As reported in the previous biannual report, CDP Ethiopia has facilitated access to finance workshops with

partners and cooperatives across the project target regions aiming to improve target cooperatives' access to

loan from financial institutes. With the intent of consolidating the discussions held at region's level, a

daylong consultative meeting on access to finance was facilitated during this reporting period at national

level.

PHH and warehouse handling ToT in Benishangul-Gumuz

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The workshop was convened in Addis Ababa and the project organized it jointly with Ethiopian Federal

Cooperative Agency. A total of 57 participants drawn from national and regional cooperative agency, ATA,

federations, cooperative unions, government and private banks (CBE, Dashen, Nib, OCB, Addis

International bank, Abysinia bank, Awash bank), NGO's (Agritera, 2SCALE) and staffs from ACDI/VOCA

were attended the workshop.

FCA director while leading discussion

The workshop after officially opened by his Excellency Ato Ousman Surur, CEO of Ethiopian Federal

Cooperative Agency deliberated on a set of operational and strategic issues related to access to finance.

Access to finance by farmers' organization have been thoroughly reviewed from perspectives of existing

trends, potentials, constraints and enablers informed by lively experiences. The meeting was facilitated with

proactive moderation of his Excellency Ato Ousman, and deliberated covering the following key sessions:

Background of the overall profile of the Ethiopian agricultural cooperative sector, ACDI/VOCA’s key

lessons on cooperative engagement and access to finance in agriculture.

International Women’s Day (IWD) Celebration in CDP operational Regions

CDP has conducted a learning forum across target regions for cooperatives during the month of March,

2017 in celebration of International Women’s Day. In each region the IWD event was launched after

introducing the international and national IWD 2017 theme, 'Be bold for change' and 'Promote women's

saving culture', and CDP - IWD 2017 celebration objectives respectively.

The IWD event was organized intending to address the following major objectives:

To create an environment where PC members can share their ideas and experiences focusing more on

introducing concepts and roll out experiences of GALS by those PC's that developed their Gender

strategy.

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To ensure meaningful participation of women within the cooperative (% of female membership, % of

women in leadership and female member participation within the cooperative activities like their

participation in meetings, trainings, how much dividend female members are getting etc.. )

To create a common platform for cooperative families at all level and to familiarize the newly revised

cooperative proclamation that entails a minimum of 30% representation of women in cooperative

leadership.

Group photo of IWD participants- Oromia region

WID participants on discussions-Mekelle (Tigray)

Group discussions were facilitated by participants and further explored lesson from cooperative on the

following issues:

1. What have cooperatives done to increase female membership, what were the successes and challenges?

2. What does the cooperative benefit if women become members?

3. Have you tried to bring women in to leadership position? What are the successes and challenges?

4. How does the cooperative benefit from Female leaders within the cooperative?

Eventually each cooperative was asked to clarify participants the number of female and male and the

number of men and female in leadership positions.

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Awash Buni Primary cooperative chairperson presenting notable lessons

Accordingly outlined below are the cooperative data of CDP target PCs of the four regions:

Gender disaggregated members of existing and newly targeted PC's of CDP

No Name of Cooperative CDP Project status M F %f T

Management

committee

members

Other

committee

members M F T M F T

A Oromia Region

1 Awash Buni Existing 976 524 35 1500 5 2 7 3 3 6

2 BusaHidi >> 321 129 29 450 5 2 7 3 3 6

3 Debelo New 632 85 12 717 6 1 7 5 1 6

4 GarukeMazoria Existing 1277 67 5 1344 6 1 7 5 1 6

5 Bufata Gibe New 270 20 7 290 7 0 7 5 1 6

6 Wekitomedalo Existing 612 40 6 652 6 1 7 5 1 6

7 JatoSeka >> 300 105 26 405 6 1 7 5 1 6

8 Kitimbili >> 1000 210 17 1210 6 1 7 5 1 6

9 KechoTirtira New 440 25 25 590 7 0 7 5 1 6

B SNNPR

1 Wenenata New 2474 45 2 2519 9 0 9 3 0 3

2 Gorbe New 1109 52 4.6 1161 9 0 9

3 BerekeAkababi Existing 940 60 6 1000 9 0 9 3 0 3

4 Odo and Galo >> 158 52 25 210 10 3 13 2 1 3

5 ShemanaAkababi >> 207 21 10 218 6 1 7 3 0 3

6 Kera& surrounding >> 87 42 33 129 7 3 10 2 1 3

7 Sala Kebado New 1047 259 20 1306 8 1 9 2 1 3

8 HantateAkababi Existing 612 38 6 650 8 1 9 3 0 3

C Tigray Region

1 Begashaha Existing 98 160 62 258 3 2 5 4 3 7

2 Fere >> 782 751 49 1533 3 2 5 6 4 10

3 Kokebe >> 992 537 35 1529 3 2 5 6 6 12

4 Shewit New 768 152 17 920 4 1 5 6 3 9

5 Beherawi >> 750 110 9 1280 3 2 5 4 2 6

6 Ruba gerede >> 274 86 24 360 3 2 5 6 3 9

7 Dedebit Existing 731 226 24 957 3 2 5 2 1 3

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D Benshagul Gumuz Region

1 NureJedid Existing 159 76 32 237 4 1 5 9 1 10

2 AdisChora >> 240 37 13 277 5 0 5 5 3 8

3 EdegeteBere >> 190 14 7 204 5 0 5 12 0 12

4 Tsehay Birhan New 240 55 19 295 5 0 5 10 2 12

5 SiraWetete Existing 198 50 20 248 4 1 5 14 1 15

6 Mahebere Tsehay New 202 7 3 209 5 0 5 3 0 3

7 Shenda yesetoche wefecho

New 3 112 97 115 0 5 5 0 6 6

The data in the above table shows that those cooperatives who have been supported by CDP have shown

better participation of women within their cooperatives. The new target cooperatives have shared from the

experiences of the previous target cooperatives that have been receiving training on gender mainstreaming

within cooperatives.

In general, CDP International Women’s Day celebration has created an opportunity for new target

cooperatives to learn from the previous cooperatives. Those four cooperatives who were in GALs

methodology and have a gender strategy have proven the tangible changes they have brought about in

attracting more women and how they were able to elect women to leadership positions within their

cooperatives. Competitive environment among cooperatives was instated and consent has been made to

consider gender equality as an imperative criteria to get support from CDP project. The event ensures the

need for continuous training and follow up activities to increase female membership and leadership

Gender Strategy Development in Cooperatives

CDP is promoting the practice of gender equity and building capacity for gender mainstreaming in partner

cooperatives. As reported during the previous biannual report, in April 2016, 48 participants from two

cooperatives (Busa hide and Awashbuni) participated in GALS methodology workshop. This is a

community-led empowerment methodology using specific participatory processes and diagram tools which

aims at giving men and women control over their lives as individual, household, community and

organizational level. During the training they have developed Gender Strategies for their respective

cooperatives. The Gender Strategies were translated in to their local language and distributed to each

cooperative in early June 2016.

In 2017, CDP has extended cooperative gender strategy development practices in four additional

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cooperatives and to realize this conducted the following two trainings.

Training of Trainers (TOT) on GALs Methodology

A four-day Training of Trainers (TOT) on GALs Methodology has been organized from December 26 –

29, 2016 and held in Tokuma Hotel, Adama. A total of nineteen participants (11 male and 8 female) drawn

from Federal cooperative Agency (FCA), Oromia Cooperative Promotional Agency, South West Shewa

Zone Cooperative Agency, two Woreda cooperative staffs and a staff from Jimma farmers Union and Heads

and staffs from SNNPR and Sidama Zone cooperative Agency ,and from two Woreda Cooperative office

have participated in the TOT training. The training is designed to equip the participants with the necessary

knowledge and skills to provide cascaded trainings on GALs methodology for two targeted cooperatives in

each region. Trainers of the GAL methodology will collect baseline data of trained cooperatives to

objectively measures future progresses.

GALs Methodology Cascaded Training

Subsequent to the TOT training, trainees who were trained were able to train cooperative leaders and

members of the four targeted cooperatives of the two regions, SNNP and Oromia. To ensure tailored

training, the manuals have been translated to Amharic and Oromifa languages. As a result, a total of forty

eight participants (24 from two cooperatives in each region) trained on GALs (Gender Action Learning

system) methodology.

Participants of the cascaded training were couples, female headed households, young single men and

women drawn from cooperatives of Sala Kebado and Odo and Galo of SNNPR and Debelo and Garuke

Mazoria of Oromia region. After the training it is expected that they go back to their community and train

others about equal division of labor, shared decision making and gender equality and importance of female

leadership.

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GALS cascade training events in Lokabaya and Hawassa zuria Woreda (SNNPR)

Like other CDP activities, GALs trainings were conducted closely with FCA promoters within their own

structures and the agency is now working to institutionalize the tool in its training curriculum seeing the

tool results and practicality in improving gender issues in cooperatives. Currently, the agency has secured

finance to provide the same training to non- CDP target regions. The agency has already requested CDP

Ethiopia to assign our gender specialist to provide the training to cooperative promoters of two non CDP

target regions. CDP Ethiopia believes that once FCA institutionalized the tool, it will be sustained beyond

the life of the project.

Cooperatives Membership Increased

PCs who have taken GALs methodology training in March 2017 were able to increase number of women

and men in their cooperative. The table below shows the number of male and female members who joined

cooperatives after GALs methodology training which is from March to June.

No Name of

Cooperative

Increased no

of Female

Increased no of

male

Remark

1 Garuke Mazoria 204 163 have paid their

registration fee as well as

share but 41 of them paid

half.

2 Debelo 83 37

3 Odo and Galo 27 8

4 Sala Kebado 72 48

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Women while registering for cooperative membership following GALS training in Oromia

Training modules review

During the reporting period CDP has also conducted training module review workshop in collaboration

with the FCA. The objective of this review workshop was to update CDP training modules and make them

in line with cooperatives training curriculum of the federal cooperative agency. It was conducted during the

first week of January in Adama (Oromia).

In the training module review workshop 10 senior experienced federal cooperative agency experts have

participated. CDP Ethiopia the final versions of these training modules will be ready for translation and

digitalization process during the coming quarter.

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FCA and CDP Ethiopia staff on CDP training module review

Organizational Capacity Assessment

As described during the previous report, CDP has expended its activities to 4 cooperative unions and 16

primary cooperatives and planned to conduct cooperatives capacity and gap assessment to set as a bench

mark for the newly targeted cooperatives. To this end, during the reporting period, the project conducted

M4 and SCOPEInsight assessments for 16 cooperatives.

The M4 is a participatory survey instrument developed by ACDI/VOCA for assessing capacity and

determining development priorities for farmer groups, associations and cooperatives. The M4 assessment

is in itself an institutional strengthening activity, described as a participatory survey for assessing capacity

and identifying development priorities for cooperatives.

During the reporting period, in addition to M4 assessment tool, CDP has introduced SCOPEInsight tools

aiming to objectively measure the performance level of the organizations. The tool is managed by

Netherlands based private company called SCOPEInsight which is accredited globally for measuring the

level of professionalism and maturity for producer organizations and small and medium enterprises.

To roll out the SCOPEInsight tool for CDP program three technical staffs of the program have been certified

by the company after receiving on line training on overall techniques of the assessment. Accordingly

capacity of the assessed farmers’ organization are measured against eight major dimensions using SCOPE

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Basic to justify the level of competency of the organizations overtime. The tool enables assessors to measure

the existing performance level of the assessed organizations against similar organizations around the world.

Following the online training, the three CDP staff who became a certified assessor to use a SCOPE tool

were conducted capacity assessment of the newly CDP targets of 4 unions and 12 primary cooperatives that

are found in Oromia, Tigray, SNNPR and Benishangul Gumuz regions. As indicated in the technical

procedures, the assessment was participatory to ensure ownership of the assessment. As a result, scoring

for performance level was rated jointly with representatives in light of the eight dimensions.

Subsequent to the field visit draft report was produced for each assessed organizations by the company after

a thorough back and forth quality check between the assessors and quality review team of SCOPE insight.

The report indicates the scores given for the organizations performance for the overall as well against each

of the eight measurements.

Assessment result of SCOPEInsight basic tool has scoring system from 1-5, 1 being the lowest and 5 being

the highest score. Therefore assessed organization that score B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5 are characterized as

very immature organization, immature organization, maturing organization, professional organization and

very professional organization, respectively.

CDP Ethiopia Description of Notable Partnerships

During the reporting period, CDP Ethiopia project has continued its ongoing collaboration with Federal and

Regional cooperative agencies, project target unions and cooperatives and other stakeholders. Both the

federal and regional cooperatives agencies actively collaborated with CDP through assigned trainees,

trainers and focal contact persons to all CDP-related activities.

CDP Ethiopia participated actively in the Fourth National Cooperatives Exhibition, Bazaar and Symposium

in February 2017, the National Stakeholder Validation Workshop on Rural Savings and Credit Cooperatives

(RuSACCO) Sector Capacity Building Roadmap Development held in March 2017, National Cooperatives

Day in June 2017,

CDP Ethiopia Major Implementation Problems/ Deviation from Expectations for Major

Performance Indicators

None noted during the reporting period.

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CDP Ethiopia Plans for the Next Six Months

In the coming six month project period, CDP will focus on the following major issues:

Conduct ToT training on financial management

Facilitate cooperative auditing training FCA auditors in project areas

Conduct Peace tree Accounting Software training for selected cooperatives and unions

Conduct CLICs training workshop

CLICs Maintenance Service Grant

Link the FCA- CLIC systems with reginal CLICS and target unions through the installment of

network switches at the union level (10 established connections for information sharing between

5 regional CLICs and the FCA)

Enrich CLICS with soft and hard copy reading materials

Procure and distribute in-kind grant equipment (laptop computers) to CLICs

Conduct annual survey

Compilation of biannual report

Prepare annual plan-( Sept.2017-sept. 2018)

CDP LIBERIA

CDP Liberia Summary of Implementation Experience

The Cooperative Development Program (CDP) in Liberia, implemented by ACDI/VOCA, aims to

build the capacity and strengthen Cooperatives in Liberia in collaboration with the Cooperative

Development Agency (CDA) and the Liberian National Federation of Cooperative Societies (LNFCS).

The project’s target and objective are to improve the performance of Cooperatives in areas of business

development, marketing, financial management, access to finance, women and youth empowerment,

and good leadership and governance. The end goal is to enable the Coops and their members to raise

their standard of living by increasing their incomes and level of food security. The objectives are to be

achieved by the setting up training and resource centers at three Cooperatives in Bong, Lofa, and

Nimba counties. Training Cooperative leaders and members in effective and efficient Cooperative

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management may increase production, and facilitate trade and investment opportunities in their areas.

The CDP in Liberia commenced in December 2016. Initial activities and approaches include:

Conducting assessments to develop a baseline against which cooperative can measure

improvements in their operations and performances

Provide institutional capacity building and commodity-specific technical assistance through

training

Establish in-country Cooperative Learning and Information Centers (CLIC) where

cooperatives can access learning tools to improve their operations and performance

Conduct assessments to inform enabling environment interventions

Assist male and female cooperative members in building awareness and developing strategies

and policies that encourage and facilitate women and youth’s participation and leadership

Build capacity of Cooperative members in areas such as leadership training, governance and

membership development.

During the period December 1st, 2016, through January 6, 2017, the following activities were carried

out, results and impacts made:

Identified three multi-purpose Farmers’ Cooperatives in Lofa (Sebehill), Nimba (Tarpeleseh),

and Bong (Kwapaigeh). The three Cooperatives and their membership are depicted in Table 1.

The Coops agreed to make available properties/buildings to house the training and resource

centers, and the CDP agreed to perform minor repairs on the buildings provided. Subsequently,

the buildings were assessed, repaired and modified.

Table 1

No Name of

Cooperative

District Town/Location Shareholder

Membership

Contact

person Name

Contact person

#

Male Female Total

1. Sebehill Kolahun Massabolahun 106 51 157 Fofi Nyei/

Matetee Sesay

0886755889

2. Kwapaigeh Sanoyea Gbonota 105 50 155 Mohammed 0886078761

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Sirleaf

3. Tarpeleseh Mainpea

Mah

Bunadin 123 33 156 Saye G.

Zawolo

0886415425

Total 234 134 468

Initial Training & Responses

The first training with the three cooperatives in Bong, Lofa, and Nimba focused on cooperate

governance and leadership. The Training of Trainers (ToT) brought together 135 Coop member farmers

from the various clusters in the CDP’s three counties of operation. The participants or trainees included

90 males (67.7%), and 45 females (33.3%). Topics covered in training were:

Overview of Liberian Cooperatives

o Principles and values

Cooperative Leadership

o Leadership Style

o Communication Skills

o Conducting Meetings

o Problem Solving and Decision Making

One of the problems identified in the cooperatives was the lack of communication between the

leadership and members. It was discovered that most cooperative members were inactive and reluctant to

buy coop shares because of the lack the basic knowledge and understanding of the operations and

financial activities of the cooperatives. The members complained in the presence of their leadership of

their lack of awareness of the inner workings of the cooperatives. With the completion of the training in

cooperative leadership and governance, coop leaders and members became aware that successful and

viable coops depend on open communication, transparency, honesty, and teamwork. The leaders

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promised and agreed to be transparent and keep members informed and acquainted with all operations of

the coops. The members registered their willingness to cooperate and work along with the leadership in

all activities of the cooperative including the purchase of shares.

The training was interactive and open. The cooperative leaders and members indicated that the training

was detailed, simple and insightful. They admitted that things would have been different in the

cooperatives if they had previously had such training. The expressed their desire to have similar training

in the future.

CDP Liberia Major Impacts and Accomplishments

As the result of the initial training in Cooperate Leadership and Governance, leaders and members are

now aware that successful cooperatives are comprised of participation, transparency, accountability, and

anticipation. The cooperative members have become aware that cooperatives are member driven and

should be responsive to their needs. The Leadership and Governance training taught coop members the

significance of women and youth participation in the cooperatives. The cooperatives have agreed to

launch recruitment campaigns that will seek to elevate more women in leadership and encourage youth

participation.

CDP Liberia’s activities including technical assistance in the form of training have resulted in a slight

increase in the general membership and shareholders in two (Tarpeleseh in Nimba and Sebehill in Lofa)

of the three Coops as depicted in Tables 2 and 3 below.

Table 2

Total General Membership and Total Shareholders of the three Cooperatives before the CDP

Project

No Name of

Cooperative

District Town/Location General Membership

Male Female Total

1. Sebehill Kolahun Massabolahun 1,405 468 1873

2. Kwapaigeh Sanoyea Gbonota 165 80 245

3. Tarpeleseh Mainpea Bunadin 442 58 500

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Mah

Total 2,012 606 2,618

Table 3

Total General Membership and Total Shareholders of the Cooperatives after the Launching of the

CDP

No Name of

Cooperative

District Town/Location General Membership

Male Female Total

1. Sebehill Kolahun Massabolahun 1,415 482 1897

2. Kwapaigeh Sanoyea Gbonota 165 80 245

3. Tarpeleseh Mainpea

Mah

Bunadin 522 63 585

Total 2,165 625 2,827

No Name of

Cooperative

District Town/Location Shareholder

Membership

Male Female Total

1. Sebehill Kolahun Massabolahun 106 51 157

2. Kwapaigeh Sanoyea Gbonota 105 50 155

3. Tarpeleseh Meinpea

Mah

Bunadin 123 33 156

Total 234 134 468

No Name of

Cooperative

District Town/Loc

ation

Shareholder

Membership

M F Total

1. Sebehill Kolahun Massabola 109 55 164

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CDP Liberia Description of Notable Partnerships

CDP Liberia started out partnering with the cooperatives, local and international non-governmental

organizations, and government institution by attending collaborative meetings and working together. We

attended meetings with:

December 2016 – Work with the LIFE 3 (USDA funded) Project to set up the CDP Liberia office.

LIFE 3 donated office equipment (2 Laptops), a gently used Toyota Land Cruiser and one (1)

used motorcycle to the CDP. LIFE 3 COP also took the CDP staff in the field to introduce them

to the Coops and their leadership.

January 2017 - The Cooperative Development Agency (CDA) of Liberia to introduce the project,

forged partnership and explored collaborations in implementing the project.

February 2017 – Liberia Credit Union National Association (LCUNA) and Village Loan Savings

Association (VLSA) to discuss how to help Coops have access to finance and collaborate on

financial management training for the Coops.

March 2017 – Met with the three cooperatives in Lofa, Bong and Nimba to strategize on how to

increase women and youth membership and participation in leadership, operations in the

Cooperatives

hun

2. Kwapaigeh Sanoyea Gbonota 105 50 155

3. Tarpeleseh Mainpea

Mah

Bunadin 132 33 165

Total 346 138 484

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April 2017 – German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) to collaborate on installing solar energy at the

training and resource centers

May 2017 – Provided technical support and collaborated with the LIFE III project, installing 32

Cocoa (and other crops) solar dryers at Coops sites including the three CDP Coops.

May 2017 – Collaborated with LIFE III in the negotiation and acquiring of a ton truck donated to

the Sebehill Cooperative in Lofa County. CDP Liberia is tasked with monitoring the truck to

ensure that it is being used for its intended purposes.

May 2017 – Attended a workshop on cocoa certification sponsored by the SIDA-funded GROW

Liberia activity that benefits cooperative members who grow cocoa.

May 2017 – LIFE 3 during their asset disposition donated filing cabinets, chairs and desks to be

used by the cooperatives.

CDP Liberia Major Implementation Problems/ Deviation from Expectations for Major

Performance Indicators

Liberia is a challenging environment for cooperative development activities. The CDP project sites are

in rural Liberian villages where modern infrastructure barely exist. Hence the first problem encountered

was identifying suitable buildings that would safely house the training centers and the training equipment

and materials. Conducting a baseline survey was another issue we encountered in the project. A baseline

survey was inadvertently left out of the CDP’s initial work plan and not in project’s budget.

Installing solar power at the training centers was not part of the original CDP work plan. The idea of solar

power emanated after series of assessment and observation of the disadvantages of the use of gasoline

generators. Investment in solar power will have long-term benefits, which includes maintenance and

purchase of gasoline or fuel for generators.

CDP Liberia Plans for the Next Six Months

CDP Liberia from the onset has enjoyed a good working relationship and cooperation with the three

Cooperatives and other stakeholders including the Cooperative Development Agency. With this level of

corporation and teamwork, the following training and activities will be conducted or implemented in the

next six months:

Complete the setup of the training and resource centers

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Conduct training on the following topics:

o Financial Management, Cooperative Accounting, and Audit

o Business Skill Development

o Women’s Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming

o Savings and Credit

The following activities will be implemented:

o Produce a documentary film of best-performing coops to be kept at the Training and

Resource Centers for use in experience sharing to educate weaker cooperatives.

o Launch Award Scheme to encourage the increase in female and youth membership and

leadership in the Coops.

o Celebration of International Women’s Day

o Conduct annual workshop on cooperative performance with the Coops, CDA, and

LCUNA

o Conduct technical assistance (TA) to Coops to prepare bankable business plans

o Conduct annual project data collection

Appendix

Renovation of Designated Buildings to House Training Centers

Sabehill Cooperative – Massabolahun, Lofa County

Before Renovation after Renovation

Tarpeleseh Cooperative – Bunadin, Nimba County

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Before Renovation After Renovation

Kwapaigeh Cooperative Training & Resource Center – Gbonota, Bong County

Before Renovation After Renovation

Training in Pictures

Kwapaigeh Coop, Gbonota Town, Sanoyea District, Bong County (Training photographs)

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Trainer-Steven G. Goe presenting in Gbonota, Bong County Kwapaigeh Cooperative,

Gbonota, Sanoyea District, Bong County

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Participants having lunch Brainstorming, what makes some leaders effective

than others

Group photo-Bong County

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Sebehill Coop, Massabohun, Kolahun District, Lofa County (Training photographs)

Above: Trainer present in Massabolahun, Lofa County

Below: Participant Fofie Nyei demonstrating leadership behavior in Lofa

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Above: Sebehill Cooperative, Massabolahun, Lofa County

Below: Sebehill Coop Board Chairlady, Matee-Jay Sesay expressing her ideas

Tarpeleseh Coops, Bunadin, Mainpea Mah District, Nimba County (Training photographs)

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Above: CD. M. Kemokai giving word of caution to Coop’s members in Nimba County

Below: Refreshment time during leadership training in Nimba County