Working Paper No. 7 - Cooperatives in Africa: The age of reconstruction - synthesis of a survey in nine African countries

Many governments have adopted a pro-cooperative attitude, mirrored in updated legislation and functioning cooperative departments. In some cases, the regulating policy may be felt as meddlesome by certain cooperative movements. While in other cases, the government is trying to restore the movement’s institutions. Cooperative movements, as well as selected cooperatives, have benefited from donor programmes. Different types of donors have been prominent, including northern cooperative movement agencies, bilateral agencies, UN-agencies and some NGOs. Most programmes seek to enhance institutional strength, value chain monitoring, rural access to finance and training in governance.