People we've helped

Kibagenge

Category

Other

The Co-operative Enterprise Hub believes that, by equipping people with the skills and knowledge to build successful co-operative enterprises, it is helping them to build better lives for themselves and their communities.

Our work extends beyond the advice and training provided to co-operatives in the UK, to a number of projects overseas that seek to promote co-operative enterprise as a means of alleviating poverty.

Kibagenge means ‘coming together as one’ in the Kenyan communities where the Hub is supporting smallholder tea farmers to organise into co‑operatives.

A Hub investment of £125,000, match funded by the Department for International Development, is being used to train 11,000 farmers in co‑operation and help them work towards the Fairtrade certification that would guarantee a minimum price for their tea. One co‑operative has already achieved Fairtrade certification.

Peter Marks, Chief Executive of The Co-operative Group, visited the Kenyan project to meet the famers and see how the formation of the five new co‑operatives was already having positive outcomes. He said: “By forming into co-operatives, farmers have benefited in many ways, including having a stronger voice in trading negotiations and enjoying improved access to markets. They can also build a business they own and in which they will share the profits. Fairtrade certification will guarantee a minimum price for their tea and enable them to supply into The Co‑operative’s ‘99’ Fairtrade tea blend, as well as to other retailers in the longer term.”

The project is being delivered by the Hub in partnership with The Co‑operative Food and the Co‑operative College in the UK, and the NGO Africa Now and tea supplier, Finlays, in Kenya.

“ As well as higher income from our tea, we will also have access to loans, which means we will be able to put our children into education. ” Zeddy Simotwo

WE ARE ALSO HELPING

Communities in South Africa to develop funeral co-operatives as a way to reduce the costs for poor families. We have allocated £46,000 to the project, and two co- operatives are being developed.
The co-operative sector in Malawi to identify a programme for sustainability and growth. We are providing £15,500 to fund a study of the co-operative sector.
To strengthen the links between Fairtrade towns and co‑operatives. We have invested £44,500 in the redevelopment and promotion of a Fairtrade Towns pack and website, which encourages local groups and co-operative members to work together for their mutual benefit.

For more information, please visit: www.co-operative.coop/overseas-co-operatives