Nairobi: The Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, Dr. Wycliffe Oparanya, has urged African states to adopt the Cooperative Model Law as a foundational reference for crafting legislation. Dr. Oparanya emphasized the need for supportive policies and regulatory frameworks to promote cooperative growth across the continent.
According to Kenya News Agency, speaking at the 14th Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference in Nairobi, Dr. Oparanya underscored the government's role in investing in education, capacity building, and international cooperation to strengthen cooperative systems. He highlighted the importance of learning from each other to understand how cooperatives can drive sustainability and empower communities.
Governments should focus on the role of cooperatives in fostering sustainable development by encouraging leadership, cooperation among cooperatives, and institutional strength through organizational growth. Dr. Oparanya stated that the cooperative business model is a pathway to building a resilient and inclusive Africa, emphasizing the need for strategic partnerships that include rural and underserved communities in the broader economy.
Dr. Oparanya cited projections from the African Development Bank predicting economic growth for the continent, with an increase from 3.4 percent in 2024 to 3.7 percent in 2025, and reaching 4.0 percent in 2026. This growth is expected to be supported by recoveries in key African economies and enhanced regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The AfCFTA, once fully operational, is anticipated to become the largest free trade area by membership, offering significant opportunities in trade and financial harmonization. In Kenya, Savings and Credit Cooperatives have surpassed one trillion shillings in total assets, contributing significantly to the national GDP and providing substantial employment.
Dr. Oparanya praised the International Cooperative Alliance-Africa and the Pan African Parliament for developing the Cooperative Model Law for Africa, which serves as a guide for countries to harmonize cooperative practices. He called on African nations to adopt this framework to enhance the cooperative movement's impact on the continent.
Having assumed the role of Chair of the AMCCO, Dr. Oparanya acknowledged the progress made in advancing regulatory reforms and committed to furthering the cooperative movement. He expressed gratitude to the outgoing Chair, Major General Eng. Waleed Farouk Saeed Elbarody, for his leadership and pledged to elevate the cooperative movement's role in inclusive growth.
Dr. Oparanya and Major General Elbarody both emphasized the significance of the cooperative movement in achieving sustainable economic development in Africa. Jeroen Douglas, Director General of the International Cooperative Alliance, reiterated the cooperative movement's potential as a skilled alternative to capitalism, highlighting a new strategy for 2026-2030 focused on growth.
The conference operates under the theme 'From Commitment to Action: Leveraging Global, Regional, and Local Partnerships for Sustainable Cooperative Development in Africa,' signaling a commitment to transformative partnerships for cooperative development.