Written by: Mark Matabi, Co-operatives Specialist / Country Lead, EMIRGE Kenya The international image of the Kenya’s co-operative is glorious. The co-operative movement in Kenya is ranked first in the continent and seventh globally. The Internal Co-operative Alliance indicate that the movement contributes to about 45% of the national GDP. However, if the recent local media reports of dismal performances and leadership dishonesty cases in agricultural, housing and financial co-operatives; are anything to go by, then the movement may be gloomier, eroding the very socio-economic brightness that was celebrated before. The ‘co-operators’ being swindled for their hard earned monies with air-filled promises by ‘co-operatives’, are now becoming the order of the day. Issues of member equity, trust, satisfaction and co-operative performance should be under the stakeholders’ radar, more now than ever before. What is more, the devolution of the co-operative function to the county government, should correct the ‘deformities’. In short, Kenya’s co-operative movement needs ‘structural surgery’ – a paradigm shift in focus. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including Global Communities, cannot be left behind in the ‘theatre room’ as the key co-operatives’ promoter since economic liberalization in early 1990s. USAID is one of the key donor agencies funding co-operative strategy for rural economic development, and their tenets of development resonate well with the co-operatives principles. USAID implementation of such donor funded programs, needs to be innovative in developing strong and sustainable co-operative structures as vehicle for development. Global Communities is implementing one of the USAID funded programs dubbed ‘Enabling Marketing Integration through Rural Groups Empowerment’ (EMIRGE) since 2016. The principle of this program in Kenya is that, no one should be doing the same thing all the time and expect different results. The recent concerns of some of the co-operatives’ underperformance, dormancy, and scandals in Kenya are attributed to leadership. But is leadership the main essence of the development of co-operatives? Not burying our heads in the sand as co-operative promoters, the emerging question is the whereabouts of followership – the capacity and willingness of members to follow leaders in current co-operatives’ stressed situations. Followership is becoming a greater missing link in the co-operatives development than leadership. The shift of focus from co-operative leadership to followership is therefore critical. This is because co-operative success cannot be solely dependent on dynamic leaders, it also needs followers who are actively contributing to the betterment of the co-operative. The consideration of an effective followership should be the emphasis for partner NGOs, and indeed Global Communities’ emphasis, to create an everlasting impact in co-operative movement. The followership concept was advanced by Robert Kelley, featured in his writings, ‘In praise of followers’, ‘the power of followership’, and ‘rethinking followership’. It is an interactive role that individual members play to complement the leadership in achieving co-operative performance. Key dimensions of followers are active or passive engagement, and/or critical or dependent thinking. The followership dimensions are rooted in self-determination theory, and are in tandem with the first three co-operative principles of open and voluntary membership, autonomy and independency, and member economic participation. When practiced, individuals have inherent growth tendencies and are motivated behind the choices that they make without any external influence and interference. In strengthening co-operatives in Kenya, USAID/EMIRGE program is building the capacities of co-operative members, for effective followership. The co-operatives are now boasting member-followers who are able to engage in independent critical thinking, analyzing the information given to them, meticulously evaluating situations and actions, and making judgements independent of the consequences of their decisions. Furthermore, the co-operative members are being educated to be actively engaged in taking initiative, assume ownership, and actively assume and participate in performing their co-operative roles. They are doing so even beyond their minimum role requirements and exert considerable effort to accomplish high-quality goals. This is increasing satisfaction through regular attendance of meetings, organizational commitment through share contribution, and fewer membership withdrawals. There is increased self-esteem among the co-operators, and personal growth into mature and effective performers. The co-operatives member-followers have found a reason and strength to complete given tasks, working effectively with others, seeing themselves as important resources, and embracing change, without influence from other people or situations. They are building trust on core values, with their word as their bond. They are able to communicate courageously, with honesty and timely feedback. They are able to identify with their leaders as their ‘partner in success’, and even adopting the leader’s vision (seeing the big picture from the boss’s perspective). This has enhanced the co-operatives’ structural, relational and cognitive social capital dimensions.
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Written by: Ms. Tuul Tuvshinbayar, Program Manager, EMIRGE Mongolia Since leading the implementation of Global Communities’ EMIRGE Mongolia program, I have constantly grappled with the following questions: Who can be considered a leader? What effects can leaders have on the local community? How do we identify leaders? How do we build more leaders within cooperatives? On one hand it seems impossible to create leaders. However, I believe we can help people to acquire certain leadership skills. I believe a leader is a torchbearer who shares and spreads his or her good practices to others, and also supports, influences and encourages them. Since the start of the program in 2010, we have repeatedly provided trainings and advisory services to cooperative and group members, covering effective self articulation, presentation, identification of problems and solutions, listening to others, team discussion and decision making skills. I can see that our program cooperative and group members have already become leaders in their local communities. Although they do not self-identify as leaders, I have witnessed their growth in leadership abilities during recent site visits. Many of the program cooperative/group members have developed skills to make good presentations, facilitate discussions, listen to others, share experiences with others, develop themselves, as well as skills to encourage and influence others. Many of the program cooperative members have become mentors, teaching and helping others within the community. They educate others about technology, governance and savings. For example,. Mrs. Uranchimeg B from Burhantin Buteelch Busguichuud cooperative, had struggled with obtaining large orders from buyers. She learned from others how to develop a clear product catalog to share with potential buyers, which the cooperative now distributes. Even others have noticed the positive change. For example, Ms. Bolormaa, Agriculture Officer within the local Governor’s office has noticed the following: Increased willingness from other businesses to listen to members, better information sharing and distribution, tendency to be proactive; thus underlining the fact that our cooperative members have become leaders in their local communities. As more leaders emerge it helps the entire local community. Our cooperative members are even carrying over their new skills into governance. Some of our cooperative members have run in local elections this year, including 4 members from cooperatives/groups in Mandal soum, Selenge province, 1 member from Darkha-Uul province and 1 member from Shaamar soum, Selenge province. These cooperative/group members competed in the local election upon the request and encouragement of other fellow cooperative/group members as well as wider community members. Many local businesses and cooperative members have supported them in the elections. They said they will run in the next elections with even more enthusiasm and confidence. Our cooperative leaders are becoming the face of their local communities, and also initiative takers in their communities. They come up with new ideas and initiatives to develop youth in their communities and improve their knowledge. I believe few people are born to be leaders but many people can develop into leaders. I believe a person’s leadership skills can be seen from how effective that person utilizes his innate as well as acquired skills in given circumstances. In other words, some people discreetly apply their skills and knowledge only for personal or his/her family benefits and business whereas others share and spread their skills to others. These are the good leaders and identifying, encouraging and showing appreciation to them can help them become even better leaders. I believe other programs as well as local governments have an important role to play when it comes to showing appreciation, support and encouragement to these good leaders. I think as development programs and projects build more leaders in local communities it will strengthen the basis for sustainable development. I’m proud that our cooperative members are becoming local leaders. Workers’ And Service Co-Operatives Are The Pathway Of Inclusive Youth Progress, Not Gambling8/29/2017 Written by: Mark Matabi, Co-operatives Specialist / Country Lead, EMIRGE Kenya Youth unemployment stands at 13% globally. Kenya’s youth unemployment is at 40%. Globally, the country is eleventh according to the recent CIA World Factbook, International Labour Organization and UN World Youth reports. These reports further indicate that there are disturbingly high numbers of employed youth who are still living in extreme or moderate poverty despite having a job. In the recent 2017 Global Youth Survey by Citi Foundation, 70% of the youth are extremely optimistic about their future despite uncertainty and change across the globe. In developing nations including Kenya, this cannot be far from the truth with 79% of the youth being optimistic. An overarching question is how do we capitalize on this optimism and best prepare young people to take advantage of future opportunities that will lead them towards economic success? The Government has endeavored to develop policies and initiatives for youth development. However, things seem not to add up. There are notable failures in and unsustainability of the related Government development funds and employment programs such as Youth Enterprise and Uwezo Funds and National Youth Service. Many individual youth enterprises die at conception. This shifts the youth’s perceived optimism to economic frustration. The result is ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes and engagements. Gambling is becoming such an engagement among the youth. The gambling craze as reported by various media outlets including BBC, is spreading like bushfire among the young people in Kenya. In 2017/2018 budget, the Government announced 50% tax on gambling firms. But this may remain an elusive effort in addressing the youth unemployment and economic frustration. Essentially, this is another exposé of the government’s inability to enforce policies that can address youth unemployment. The promotion of workers and service co-operatives in Kenya, should be the deliberate and immediate next frontier initiative for youth development. We have dared before, we need to dare once more as a country! We need a radical paradigm shift. We dared to promote and develop agricultural and marketing, savings and credit, and housing co-operatives. Let us dare to invest in the new generation co-operatives to address youth unemployment and economic frustration. In Kenya, the co-operatives are lifting the lives of many especially farmers and employees, contributed highly to the country’s gross domestic product, and put the country on global map of co-operative movement. Co-operatives are intrinsically inclined to prioritize and emphasize job security, dividend‐sharing, membership development and community support through communal facilities and the provision of reliable and affordable products and services. However, the co-operatives in Kenya seem not to be effectively harnessed as a vehicle that empower young people to promote social integration and cohesion in a way that may address joblessness. We need workers and service oriented co-operatives, which have a more comparative job creation advantage over other types of enterprises, for the youth populace in this country. These type of co-operatives will instill a working spirit among the youth while generating economies of scale and scope through horizontal and vertical integration, establishing links between the informal and formal sectors. Why? It is doubtless that most of young people are in the informal economy as freelancing marketers, masons, beauticians, mechanics, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, house helps, cat-pushers, boda-bodas and gardeners. The youth workers and service co-operatives, will offer young workers the opportunity to be incorporated intensively and extensively into the formal sector. Doing so will enable them to gain the security of decent employment and social safety networks. Moreover, as co-operative workers and service providers in the formal market, they gain access to formal social security, banking and insurance that will not only protect, but will also enhance their livelihoods. There should be a concerted efforts for such co-operatives to be initiated from schools, colleges and universities. Brand Ambassadors Youth Co-operative is such a workers’ and service co-operative society operating in Nairobi City County. With offices along Mfangano Street in Nairobi’s CBD, the co-operative is composed of young men and women, in and out of college. The co-operative offers branding and marketing services to corporate organizations. This attracted the support of a development organization – Global Communities - under USAID funded program "Enabling Market Integration through Rural Group Empowerment". The organization has been able to build its members and leaders’ capacity. The individual members who used to be lone freelancing marketers are offering marketing services jointly. Here the members are assured of a consistency of jobs and salaries, and even short term financing. All they need now is to secure corporate opportunities. The workers and service co-operates are able to directly transition young people to the world of business, where their employment worries will be a thing of the past. Moreover, the grounding of these co-operatives from schools, colleges and universities will offer resources, trainings, and opportunities for leadership and managerial roles that prepare them when they graduate. The young members originating from schools will experience early nurturing in a sense of ownership and belonging while instilling the values of hard-work, teamwork and comradeship. Alternatively, the existing co-operatives should within their operations directly create workers and service wings to attract young people. For instance, housing co-operatives may create the construction service wing, with young people with artisan and technical skills as members. Seeking to recruit, train and supervise young members will be a means to rejuvenate the co-operative movement for future generations. Its role in youth employment will be inevitable. As we celebrated this year’s international day of co-operatives, on 1st July, 2017 with the theme of Inclusivity - ‘Co-operatives ensure no one is left behind’; let the youth not be left behind. Workers and service co-operatives will include the Kenyan youth in the co-operative movement. I recently had the opportunity to speak with EMIRGE Mongolia Program Manager, Ms. Tuul Tuvshinbayar. After spending some time in the field, in the more rural areas of Mongolia, Tuul was clearly distraught over what she and her team were witnessing. Tuul, when you were last in the field, what were you seeing happening? I have recently returned from what is normally the breadbasket of Mongolia, but what I actually saw was very worrying. When crops are usually 60-80 cm in height, this season they are only 10-40cm high. Why are the crops underperforming this year? Unfortunately, Mongolia is experiencing a severe drought. In Mongolia, we have a very short summer, and therefore, a very short growing season. However, during this season, it has only rained twice! Farmers are losing their harvests, and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is already announcing a 40 % loss of crops across the country due to drought. What other implications does the drought have? Mongolians rely upon livestock, and it is one of the largest sectors in the country. The drought is difficult for the livestock, but it is particularly difficult because during the summer season, farmers often grow hay and feed to get the animals through the harsh Mongolian winters. I have spoken with many farmers that are saying that they will have to cull their animals this year because they will otherwise starve during the winter. It is a very difficult decision for a farmer to make—to slaughter his own animals—as it will take at least three years to recover from the slaughter. Do you think there are any potential solutions or ways that the drought could have been handled differently? To be honest, this is one of our biggest challenges. Farmers and herders could have made the decision to plant and grow green fodder. I understand that it has its own challenges, such as lack of irrigation and other animals can easily destroy the fodder if there are no fences, but in this situation, fodder could be the alternative to slaughter. EMIRGE has taught many farmers how to plant fodder, but not all of them have planted it. These fodder demonstrations were also attended by farmers other than EMIRGE farmers. We wanted to spread this knowledge as wide as possible, however because of many obstacles faced by farmers, they do not plant as much as we would hope they would. This is a challenging question for me that I cannot understand. Many farmers say that they will just purchase hay, but because of the drought, hay is going to be twice as expensive as before and there is a shortage in the country. Is index-based weather or livestock insurance available for smallholder farmers in Mongolia? Although crop insurance is available, it is mostly purchased by larger scale farmers or herders. The World Bank first supported the Index-Based Livestock Insurance Program in the country in 2005, and it is slowly growing. It is still new for many smallholder farmers, and it is not well marketed to many smallholder farmers. What are the most immediate next steps for EMIRGE? The winter is rapidly approaching. Some of the rural areas expect snow in a couple of weeks. Our team is doing our best to support our cooperative members to make fodder for the winter time. For me, as a development practitioner, I am looking for any lessons learnt from others in similar situations. I keep asking myself how the farmers can overcome these obstacles and plant enough fodder so that they can feed their livestock. I think it is a question that will haunt me all winter long. USAID/EMIRGE Program Lesson Learnt: Kenya’s Co-operatives Movement in Crisis of Image and Identity8/2/2017 Written by: Mark Matabi, Co-operatives Specialist / Country Lead, EMIRGE Kenya The USAID-funded Enabling Market Integration through Rural Groups Empowerment (EMIRGE) program in Kenya has brought to the fore key lessons on co-operative development. With the objective of piloting and promoting urban and youth workers and service-oriented co-operatives, the sensitization and registration process of these types of co-operatives proves to be a challenge. This is a clear indication that Kenya’s co-operative movement is in the midst of an image and identity crisis. The USAID-funded Enabling Market Integration through Rural Groups Empowerment (EMIRGE) program in Kenya has brought to the fore key lessons on co-operative development. With the objective of piloting and promoting urban and youth workers and service-oriented co-operatives, the sensitization and registration process of these types of co-operatives proves to be a challenge. This is a clear indication that Kenya’s co-operative movement is in the midst of an image and identity crisis.
Indicator 1 First, the government and donors who are to attract and promote the co-operative business model, have tended to fuse types of co-operatives. With the dominance of SACCOs in the country, every other economic activity that is to adopt the co-operative business model is now ‘homologous’ to SACCOs. For instance, you will find people, including government co-operative officers and media, making such references as farmers’ SACCO instead of producer and marketing co-operative; or transport SACCO instead of transport service co-operative. A SACCO is not a co-operative in and of itself, but rather an entity that co-operative members use for savings and loans. With such a co-operative image and identity crisis, the effort of piloting and promoting other types of co-operatives such as workers and service co-operatives is killed, stifled and crippled. For instance, it takes more time to register such other co-operatives compared to SACCOs, as the registry officers try to locate and consult the co-operative policy, legislation and regulatory framework for the definition and basis of registration. The development of SACCOs is interestingly, disguising the development of the country’s co-operative movement as ‘great’! This casts a shadow on the co-operative knowledge and capacity among promoters and regulators in the country. There is, therefore, the need to review the co-operative policy and legislation framework in light of the new constitution, develop a curriculum and continuously build the capacity of co-operative promoters, regulators, leaders and managers through training forums and information materials. In addition, there is a need to develop a centralized and digitized co-operative bureau of statistics and registration for data segregation. Indicator 2 Secondly, there is no common understanding of co-operatives’ formation and development approach and practices by the promoters in the country. In a country where there are different types of both formal and informal groupings around economic activities, such as ‘chamas’, self-help groups, and companies, the co-operatives environment makes the co-operative business model unattractive for service-based economic activities, such as branding and marketing, building and construction, beauty and wellness. In some cases of agri-based activities, there have been blame-games of development politics on co-operatives formation. Specifically, the donors implementing the secure livelihoods programs have been blamed for the mushrooming of un-sustainable producer and marketing co-operatives, which collapse immediately after projects’ end. The learning by USAID/EMIRGE program is that in the course of changing socio-economic and political environment, the development of successful co-operative ‘organisms’ in Kenya is as a result of regeneration of one type from another type – that is synonymous to the biological process of ‘sympatric and allopatric speciation’. For instance, at independence in 1963, the major types of co-operatives in Kenya were agriculture producer and marketing co-operatives – especially for such commodities as coffee, dairy, pyrethrum, cotton and horticulture. With the financial access challenges by these co-operatives and their members in 1970s, and through the Bretton Woods institutions’ structural adjustment programs of 1990s; the concept of Co-operative Production Credit Scheme (CPCS) was born to what are the today’s thriving SACCOs. Many other independent initiatives in organizing housing, fisheries, handcraft, farm purchase and multi-purpose co-operatives were made with less success. Furthermore, with greater savings mobilization, and reducing member credit needs, SACCOs faced challenge of investing financial surpluses. This led to diversification into real estate ventures, setting up housing investments sections for members’ housing needs. Later, this would regenerate to stand-alone successful housing co-operatives. With change of climate conditions and poor markets, agricultural co-operative members for such commodities as coffee are also disposing off their parcels of land for real estate, which the housing co-operatives capitalize on. To date, therefore, the vibrancy of Kenya’s co-operative movement is largely comprised of the continuous ‘speciation’ of agriculture, financial and housing co-operatives. Moving Forward If any other type of co-operative is to be promoted successfully in Kenya, it has to be on the principles of ‘sympatric and allopatric speciation’. With the new constitutional dispensation, and the space for co-operative policy and legislation framework development, the environment is rife to advance the country’s co-operative movement. Therefore, there is need of advocacy for county based co-operative policy and legislation that promotes the diverse regeneration of co-operatives types; from agriculture, financial and housing co-operatives, to such other co-operatives as service and workers co-operatives. Furthermore, there is need for continuous research and documentation work on Kenya’s co-operatives movement for continuous learning on vertical and horizontal integration of co-operatives. For Kenya’s co-operatives movement to grow faster, it must overcome co-operatives image and identity crisis. It must develop to maturity, be competitive and all-inclusive, and not leave any other economic sector behind. There is still greater need for co-operatives’ promoters to develop and implement initiatives that would focus much more on exploiting current co-operative legal environment and stakeholders’ capacity. This will expand the co-operative business model to all sectors in Kenya, developing more small and medium enterprise markets, create more employment opportunities, and more secure livelihoods. |
AboutThis blog is authored by professionals working in various parts of the developing world to strengthen co-operatives. Archives
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