Lesson's from Kenya's remarkable cooperatives | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

Cooperatives are a huge part of the social development in Kenya as 63% of Kenyans earn their income from a cooperative. The officials of Kenya drew together a list of the main lessons behind strengthening their cooperatives.

1. "The government can help or hurt"

Cooperatives are often independent of the government because in many countries the government will create laws that favor other kinds of enterprises over cooperatives.

2. "Cooperatives must also organize themselves."

The cooperatives of Kenya participate in a network of organizations where they address shared priorities and together they form the Cooperative Alliance of Kenya.

3. "Cooperatives come in many forms."

In the past, Kenyan cooperatives were focused on agriculture, but now their cooperatives network has expanded to include cooperative insurance companies and banks as well.

4. "You still need to think like a business."

Cooperatives are not just a social group, there is a need for entrepreneurship that cannot get lost in idealism or member's self-interest.

5. "Cooperate locally, network globally."

Kenyan cooperatives are so successful because they collaborate with the global cooperative movement.

To read the full list of lessons, please click here.