ICA-Africa holds workshop on NCGP to advance gender inclusivity and equality
The NCGP will serve as a safe and dedicated space for women to share experiences, discuss gender issues, and promote inclusivity within the cooperative movement at national and regional levels
NAIROBI, April 7, 2025 — In celebration of International Women’s Day, the International Cooperative Alliance-Africa [ICA-Africa] hosted a Validation Workshop on the Establishment of National Cooperative Gender Platforms [NCGP] last month in Nairobi, Kenya.
The workshop brought together cooperative leaders, gender advocates, and stakeholders to discuss and plan actionable steps towards creating a framework that will advance gender inclusivity and equality within the cooperative movement.
The NCGP will serve as a safe and dedicated space for women to share experiences, discuss gender issues, and promote inclusivity within the cooperative movement at national and regional levels. Social inclusion is vital for the future of cooperatives, yet women, have historically been excluded from leadership and decision-making roles. The need for such a platform became clear during the ICA-Africa Gender Equality Forum in November 2024, where participants emphasised the lack of safe spaces for women in cooperatives.
As a next step, ICA-Africa, through its Gender Equality Committee, will play a central role in the establishment and operationalization of the NCGP by facilitating capacity-building programmes, fostering collaboration among cooperatives, supporting national-level structures, advocacy and the development of a structured framework for engagement to ensure its success in promoting gender equality within the cooperative sector.
Meanwhile, the Cooperative Bank of Oromia [Coopbank] recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of transformative impact on cooperative societies and rural communities across Ethiopia. Since its establishment, Coopbank has played a pivotal role in promoting financial inclusion, offering tailored services to women-led cooperatives, farmers, and entrepreneurs.
With a commitment to sustainable development, Coopbank has actively championed gender equality, enabling women’s participation in traditionally male-dominated sectors. In the past three years alone, the bank’s MICHU Uncollateralised Digital Loan platform has disbursed over 18 billion Ethiopian Birr [about US$ 135.7 million] to MSMEs, with 60 percent of the beneficiaries being women.
Additionally, the bank’s Michu Kiya product, designed specifically for women entrepreneurs, has distributed 5.4 billion Birr [about US$ 40.7 million], further demonstrating its commitment to empowering women and promoting financial inclusion. Reflecting on two decades of progress, Coopbank takes great pride in its achievements and remains steadfast in its mission to champion gender equality and promote access to financial services for all.
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
Views: 3
