Written by: Gandulam Chuluu, MEL Specialist, EMIRGE Mongolia I became a member of EMIRGE Mongolia team quite recently, in March 2017. Straight away, I got immersed into the activities, which our team conducts for the program-supported co-operatives as well as dairy and vegetable sector stakeholders. My role in the project is as a Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Specialist. In this role, I would like to share my knowledge of an activity that is facilitating how different co-operatives are learning and collaborating with each other. This activity is playing an important role not only within the EMIRGE co-operatives in Mongolia, but also in global co-operative development. The activity is the “Co-operators’ World Club,” initiated by the EMIRGE Mongolia team in August 2016. At the time, there were no any other similar set-ups in Mongolia, and there was a need for such a club in order to provide continuous flow of information and knowledge, and thus, to support the smooth development of the EMIRGE-supported co-operatives. The Club provides a lasting opportunity for the co-operatives to share their experiences, exchange ideas and best practices. On the other hand, through the Club, the EMIRGE team is organizing discussions on the co-operatives’ challenges, on improving the governance and leadership, increasing the efficiency of cooperative businesses, and other capacity building activities. The Club members meet on the monthly basis in Ulaanbaatar in a venue provided by EMIRGE. Any member of the EMIRGE co-operatives can attend it, but from the experience so far, mostly the co-operative leaders or the most active co-operative members regularly join the Club meetings. Sometimes, members of a certain co-operative takes turns, so that the coverage is even and they can substitute the members busy at the co-operative’s site. Each monthly meeting is being held under a specific agenda related to the co-operative development, which is covered by using interactive facilitation tools, such as active knowledge exchange, case presentations and group discussions. Many crucial co-operative development subjects, such as expanding membership, motivating existing members, conducting efficient all members’ and Board of Directors’ meetings, financial regulations and reporting, creating transparency and resolving internal disputes have been discussed at the Club. In addition, each Club meeting has a sub-topic discussed, which is not necessarily directly linked to the cooperative development, but, nevertheless, the Club members are interested in. As an example, as a person with the public health background, I had an opportunity to present about the nutrition basics and organize a small interactive trivia game on it, which the Club members clearly enjoyed. I believe that the Club is a valuable platform that is presented as an informal and friendly environment where the members can freely exchange not only their knowledge and experience, but also are giving each other much needed advice. In many occasions, the Club members discussed together the challenges faced by a certain co-operative and would come jointly to a good solution. I observed that the Club members also are attracted by the welcoming atmosphere. What is more, the Club helps to create a really effective network among all the program co-operatives, and they continue to interact outside the meeting room to visit each others’ sites to exchange and sell products. The Club is a successful activity and the members have further plans to develop the Club. For example, they created their own logo and EMIRGE is supporting the Club in its branding and promotion among local communities and outside co-operatives. Also, Club members are considering establishing the Co-op World Club’s branches at local sites.
1 Comment
6/20/2023 03:26:58 am
Trying to separate your business costs from your personal ones can get messy if all your payments are from one account. It’s much harder to keep records and keep track of everything. ANNA business account is well tailored to the needs of sole traders.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AboutThis blog is authored by professionals working in various parts of the developing world to strengthen co-operatives. Archives
December 2017
Categories |