Recognising innovative coops: Uhuru Institute, partners launch Second Edition of Coop360 Innovations Award
TUI building on last year’s success, this year’s award has garnered increased momentum with partnerships from the Bank of Uganda, Stanbic Bank, Busara Centre for Behavioural Economics, Goldstone Consulting, and Nation Media Group
KAMPALA, November 7, 2024 — The Uhuru Institute for Social Development [TUI], a social business enterprise, alongside its partners, officially launched the second edition of the Coop3600 Innovations Award today at a press conference held at the Protea Hotel in Kampala. This prestigious award recognises and promotes innovative achievements within Uganda’s cooperative sector.
TUI building on last year’s success, this year’s award has garnered increased momentum with partnerships from the Bank of Uganda, Stanbic Bank, Busara Centre for Behavioural Economics, Goldstone Consulting, and Nation Media Group.
These alliances are set to amplify the impact of the award, which celebrates cooperatives that embrace creativity, sustainability, and positive change for their communities.
The Coop3600 Innovations Award 2025 highlights cooperatives that excel in creating meaningful solutions, particularly through innovation in areas critical to social transformation, and economic development.
The award features four major categories: Cooperative Member Services for Improved Quality of Life, Climate-Smart Cooperative Business Models for Development, Leveraging Science and Technology for Business Efficiency and Competitiveness, and Solutions for Financial Inclusion.
Jane Amuge Okello, Operations Director at TUI, expressed enthusiasm for this year’s launch, stating, “We are thrilled to officially launch the Coop360 Innovations Award 2025 today (November 7, 2024). This initiative showcases the transformative power of innovation and its ability to address some of the most pressing issues facing our communities”
The institute expressed excitement about partnering with leading organizations and sponsors who support its vision for a more inclusive and progressive future.
According to Amuge, the applications for the Coop3600 Innovations Award 2025 will open on November 15, 2024. The process will culminate in a grand finale in November 2025, attracting a national audience of influential stakeholders, including social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, academics, and policymakers.
The Coop3600 Innovations Award also serves as an entry point for cooperatives into The Uhuru Institute’s Cooperative Network, an initiative aimed at uniting cooperatives across Uganda to foster knowledge exchange and partnerships. Last year’s event spurred a wave of enthusiasm across the sector, with cooperatives benefiting from shared insights and collaborative growth.
TUI CEO, Leonard Okello highlighted the transformative impact of the Coop360 Innovations Award, noting its success in uniting cooperatives nationwide to foster knowledge-sharing, partnerships, and sector-wide growth.
“The Coop360 Innovations Award has already brought about a wave of enthusiasm across the cooperative sector. Last year, we saw cooperatives from all corners of Uganda join the Cooperative Network. This network has become a marketplace for cooperatives, enabling them to share knowledge, build partnerships, and drive collective growth,” Okello said.
Stanbic Bank views its partnership with TUI on the Coop360 Innovations Award as a strategic step to boost job creation, especially for women and youth, while strengthening Uganda’s cooperative sector.
“Our focus is to support job creation, especially for women and youth,” said James Junguru, Stanbic Bank’s Head of SACCOs Unit.
Stanbic Bank expressed strong support for the Coop360 Innovations Award, highlighting its alignment with the bank’s mission to drive growth in Uganda by empowering cooperatives.
“Through our partnership, we aim to uplift the sector and directly improve community livelihoods,” Junguru added.
Nation Media Group’s Brand Manager Joshua Jaffa Watwaluma, highlighted the importance of broadcasting these success stories. “Innovation is at the heart of every successful initiative, and as a media house, we’re here to amplify these success stories,” Watwarama said.
Nation Media Group pledged its support to amplify the stories of Uganda’s innovative cooperatives, leveraging its broad media platforms, including KFM, NTV, Spark TV and Daily Monitor, to boost their visibility.
“With our extensive media reach, including KFM, NTV, and Daily Monitor, we are committed to ensuring that these innovative cooperatives receive the visibility they deserve,” he said.
Daniel Bukenya Iga, Managing Director of Goldstone Consulting, reaffirmed his company’s ongoing commitment to empowering cooperatives across Uganda, highlighting the positive impact of the Coop360 Innovations Award in supporting growth and resilience within the sector.
“We joined the Innovations Award last year with a commitment to empowering cooperatives. As we continue our journey with TUI, we are excited to support cooperatives in overcoming challenges, achieving growth, and building resilience. This award will undoubtedly expand our impact across Uganda,” he said.
About the Coop360 Innovations Award
Launched by TUI, the Coop3600 Innovations Award celebrates cooperatives across Uganda that demonstrate exceptional creativity and impact within their communities. By acknowledging and rewarding inventive approaches to common challenges, the award not only uplifts individual cooperatives but also supports the sustainable development of Uganda’s cooperative sector as a whole. This year’s award is set to spotlight the brightest and most forward-thinking cooperatives, encouraging a sector-wide embrace of innovation for sustainable and inclusive growth.
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