« Back to Projects

Regional Project for Promoting Cooperative Self-help Organisations in Asia

Cooperative Development Organisation

Implementing Partners and Organisations

Department of Agricultural Extension and Cooperatives (DAEC), PAFO Champasak, PAFO Oudomxay, Bank of Laos

Period of Implementation

January 2015 - December 2023

Geographic scope

Asia-Pacific: Laos

Budget

$ 1,412,250
€ 1 345 000

Donor(s)

Bilateral Aid: German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Sector(s)

Agriculture & Fisheries, Banking & Financial Services, Rural Development

Type of Activity

Governance and Organizational Strengthening, Institutional Building and Policy Dialogue, Legal and Regulatory framework, Technical Assistance & Advisory, Training & Capacity Building

Summary

DGRV follows a multi-level approach: The individual cooperative i.e. at the micro-level, needs a consistent business orientation, adequate internal organization and well-trained managers and staff. In addition, the cooperative must be part of an integrated subsidiarity-based network at the meso-level in order for it to benefit from services provided by specialized central enterprises and associations, such as for training and auditing. At the macro-level, the government must create an adequate legal and regulatory framework for cooperative activities. The Regional Project for Promoting Cooperative Self-help Organizations in Asia consists of project activities in 7 countries: Cambodia (DGRV country office), Myanmar (DGRV country office), Laos (DGRV country office), Vietnam (DGRV country office), Thailand, Philippines and India (partnering with APMAS). Fields of activity in Lao P.D.R. are: - Support of the reform of the cooperatives in agricultural sector - Work with pilot cooperatives - Training schemes on the topics: role of cooperatives in market economies, function of cooperative federations, transformation of cooperative, cooperative audit, relevance of savings and credit cooperatives - Consultancy to agricultural cooperatives, federations, for the set-up of business an investment plans and at local level for the set-up of a system of cooperative credit banks, audit, training - Promotion of agricultural commodity cooperatives - Support of legal and regulatory framework (Cooperative Decree)

Project Objectives

Strengthening cooperatively organized self-help-initiatives especially in agricultural areas. By promoting a more effective market-orientation, efficient organizational structures and an adequate administrative framework, the project is striving to ensure that cooperatives contribute to a sustainable economic and social development in Laos.

Impact on SDGs

SDG1 - No Poverty
SDG8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth

Key Tags

Employment, Entrepreneurship