COOPERATIVE LEADERSHIP SEMINAR 2023
Written By Admin Published on December 7, 2023

The Cooperative Leadership Seminar 2023 in Rwanda served as a pivotal platform for industry leaders, stakeholders, and development partners to deliberate on the challenges hindering the progress of cooperatives in the country. With over 10,000 registered cooperatives and 4 million members, the seminar aimed to address issues such as limited access to finance, inadequate skills, and poor financial planning, among others.

The uniqueness of the Cooperative Leadership Seminar 2023 lay in its focus on assessing the contributions of stakeholders and development partners to the cooperative sector’s growth in Rwanda. The event shed light on the role of partners in addressing challenges faced by cooperative organizations and emphasized the need for collaborative solutions.

Despite the impressive growth of the cooperative sector, challenges such as poor governance, limited managerial practices, and low productivity persist. The seminar aimed to tackle these issues by addressing factors like a lack of awareness of cooperative law, limited research, restricted access to finance and markets, and insufficient knowledge of agricultural best practices.

The primary objective of the seminar was to enhance the leadership, managerial, and business development skills of cooperative leaders. By fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, the seminar aimed to contribute to the overall development of the Rwandan cooperative sector.

Anticipated outcomes included cooperative leaders gaining an advanced understanding of cooperative policies, improved access to finance strategies, awareness of research findings in the sector, and a better understanding of productivity best practices. Participants were to be issued certificates of attendance.
The seminar was a collaborative effort organized by RICEM and Land O’ Lakes Venture37-Cooperative Development Project, in partnership with RCA and NCCR. Scheduled for September 13-15, 2023, at the RICEM premise in Kigali, Rwanda, the event brought together a diverse group of participants.

The three-day seminar saw the participation of 80 representatives from various cooperatives and 20 stakeholders from public agencies, cooperative apex organizations, donor agencies, private sector, and staff members of organizing institutions.

During the remarks, participants expressed various concerns, including the need for representation of SACCOs leaders, appreciation for the ongoing support from RICEM and Land O’Lakes, and suggestions for greater youth inclusion in cooperative movements. The seminar aimed to address these concerns and foster collaborative efforts for the sustainable development of the cooperative sector.

The Cooperative Leadership Seminar 2023 provided a valuable platform for stakeholders to come together, share insights, and discuss actionable strategies for overcoming the challenges faced by Rwanda’s cooperative sector. By emphasizing collaboration and knowledge sharing, the seminar aimed to contribute to the continued growth and sustainability of cooperatives in the country.