CAIRO-President of the General Authority for Construction and Housing Cooperatives Hossam Rezq days ago held a press conference to announce details about the hosting by Egypt of the 13th Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference for the first time ever.
On October 17-20, 2022, the International Cooperative Alliance- Africa [ICA-Africa] will hold its 13th Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference [AMCCO] with the collaboration of the Egyptian Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities and the General Authority for Construction and Housing Cooperatives.
The theme of the event, which will be convened under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, is “Growing Africa Together: The role of African Cooperatives in accelerating Sustainable Development Goals [2030] and the Africa We Want [Agenda 2063]”.
According to Rezq, the topics tabled for discussion at the conference are: Governments Support and enabling environments for Cooperatives; “Cooperation among cooperatives”: An integrated socio-economic development model; Cooperatives and Community Development; Maximizing the benefits of the “African Continental Free Trade Agreement” [AFCFTA, 2019] through Cooperatives; Legal and regulatory policy frameworks; and Cooperatives and Climate Change.
The conference will coincide with the 4th International Conference for Cooperative Housing, he added.
“The move comes in implementation of the political leadership’s directives about boosting cooperation with other African countries in different fields.”
The conference activities include opening sessions, scientific sessions, workshops, seminars and lectures.
According to the Concept Note of the upcoming conference, African cooperatives have key roles in facilitating both the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and African Agenda 2063 implementation at the international, regional, national and local levels.
“As umbrella bodies, cooperatives aspire to use tools and initiatives to facilitate a ‘trickledown’ effect throughout the movement and their communities; thereby ensuring inclusive and sustainable development at all levels. Unlike other enterprises, cooperatives contribution to the implementation of SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals] and African Agenda 2063 is part and parcel of their critical role towards its membership and surrounding communities. This is evident from the purpose for which they are formed and the principles and values under which they operate.”
The Concept Note adds that while it is universally accepted that cooperatives are formed to solve common socio-economic problems for its members across sectors, they operate under, among others, the principles of openness in membership, democratic control, equity in economic undertakings, education training and information as well as concern for the community making them responsible for not only the membership but also its surrounding communities.
“Because of their uniqueness, important lessons [including those of democratic governance, economic equity, unity in poverty alleviation, and social capital] which are critical to inclusive and sustainable development are harnessed by multiple other enterprises at local, regional, and international stakeholders for sustainable development. Besides, co-operatives formation purposes, their nature of business across sectors and the operational principles are in line with the 17 objectives of the SDGs and the aspirations, goals, and priorities of the Agenda 2063,” adds the Concept Note.
https://thecooperator.news/egypt-ready-to-host-13th-africa-ministerial-cooperative-conference/
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