FAO and ICA enhance strategic dialogue with cooperatives to achieve the 2030 Agenda
CAIRO, November 8, 2024 – The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations [FAO] and the International Cooperative Alliance [ICA] virtually convened a virtual roundtable to enhance strategic dialogue between governments and cooperatives.
The meeting aimed to improve the enabling environment for cooperative development, enhance their capacities to transform rural and agrifood systems, and contribute to food security, nutrition, and sustainable development in the Near East and North Africa [NENA] region.
In her opening remarks May Hani, FAO Senior Programme Officer, Rural Transformation and Inclusive Value Chains, highlighted FAO’s long-standing experience working with cooperatives and other forms of collective action and stressed on the importance of partnerships between governments and cooperatives, particularly in fostering cooperative resilience and promoting inclusive growth, building on the outcomes of recent Ministerial Conferences.
FAO has been supporting cooperatives, producer and professional organisations [PPOs], and water user associations [WUAs], and other forms of collective action in the NENA region, primarily through country-level and subregional work. FAO’s approach includes consultative processes, capacity development, advocacy and networking, knowledge generation and sharing, and support for creating an enabling environment.
A critical aspect of FAO’s work involves helping governments revise and develop policies and legislation that support cooperative development. This also includes facilitating policy dialogues and capacity-building efforts to ensure organizations can engage in negotiations and understand the impact of regulations.
Sifa Chiyoge, Director, International Cooperative Alliance – Africa [ICA Africa] stated that ICA-Africa through its sectoral organization: Alliance Africa Agricultural Cooperative Organisation [AAACO], envisions a region where livelihoods of agricultural cooperative members are improved through sustainable innovative agricultural practices and cooperation.
Balu Iyer, Director, International Cooperative Alliance-Asia Pacific, added, “Cooperative development is essential for transforming rural and agrifood systems, requiring an enabling environment, enhanced capacities, and strong partnerships with governments to achieve sustainable growth and food security. We are pleased to collaborate with FAO and ICA Africa in exploring opportunities and strengthening engagement in the Near East and North Africa.”
The International Cooperative Alliance [ICA] led a recent important opportunity to enhance policy dialogue in the region. Notably, the ICA, through its regional office for Asia and the Pacific, organized the 11th Asia Pacific Cooperative Ministers’ Conference in 2023, focusing on “Partnerships between Government and Cooperatives for Cooperative Resilience, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Growth in Asia Pacific and the Middle East and North Africa region.”
The importance of fostering an enabling environment for coops to thrive was a key outcome of the conference. This approach aims to include cooperatives in national development plans, recognizing them as key partners in achieving sustainable and inclusive growth.
This meeting is leading up to the in-person regional high-level policy dialogue that will take place in January 2025 and will be attended by ministers and high-level representatives responsible for agricultural cooperatives, cooperative leaders from the region, FAO representatives, other UN agencies, and donor representatives will participate. A parallel poster exhibition will be organised, offering state and non-state actors the opportunity to present innovative approaches to cooperative development.
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