Page 47 - Ramco JO SACCOStar _Vol 50.indd
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LOCAL OUTLOOK
USAID Launches NEW SYSTEMS,
NETWORKS TOOL to BOOST
PARTNERSHIPS among Co-operatives
Participants take part in an activity during a meaning making session Mr. Gilchrist Okuom said Ushirika Hub will inform and help map
in Nairobi. out gaps in the movement.
CBy Ngumbo Njoroge He noted that the co-operative movement has not advanced
o-operatives will get a major boost following the launch in Kisumu and other counties in the Nyanza region, adding
of a pilot online social systems networking analysis tool that platforms such as Ushirika Hub would boost efforts to
dubbed “Ushirika Hub” to map actors and relationships strengthen the co-operative movement in Kisumu County.
in the country’s co-operative sector.
“Our biggest challenge is lack of information and understanding
Ushirika Hub is supported by the USAID Cooperative on why co-operatives are not succeeding in this region. We are
Development Program in Kenya implemented by Global happy that Kisumu is one of the counties mapped. This will
Communities, NCBA CLUSA and the World Council of Credit inform our approach moving forward,” he said.
Unions (WOCCU).
He urged other county governments to support the initiative,
“The USAID CDP partners in Kenya have launched the pilot of noting that Kisumu will embrace the platform to grow co-
Ushirika Hub in six counties to assess the nature and strength operative societies.
of the relationships within the cooperative movement in those
counties. More specifically, the system helps to draw out the A total of 589 co-operatives stakeholders across 6 counties
key resource hubs, brokers, active networkers and influencers have been enrolled on Ushirika Hub so far. The stakeholders
in the sector,” said Olga Oyier, Team Lead and Policy & range from Savings and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs),
Legislative Affairs Specialist at Global Communities, one of the housing co-operatives, service delivery, dairy, agriculture and
development partners. include other sectors such as service providers such as banks,
IT services and business development services and insurance
Currently, the Ushirika Hub maps Nairobi, Meru, Laikipia, Nandi, companies. Finally, it includes government institutions, non-
Kisumu and Kirinyaga counties. Each county has provided governmental organizations (NGOs) and additional support
open feedback and has received commitment to address the organizations.
issues raised including follow up meetings set up to provide an
opportunity to address the issues in depth. There were 137 actors in Kirinyaga, 83 in Kisumu, 82 in Laikipia,
137 in Meru 92 in Nandi and 129 in Nairobi.
She said the online Hub is a source of information and source
for quick recommendations, adding that it also helps identify In Nairobi, the most common types of co-operative actors
organizations’ strengths in specific collaboration areas. These were businesses, government institutions, consultants and
relationships mapped in the system include sources of funds, international NGOs. KUSCCO, CAK, Co-operative Bank and the
advocacy, communication and awareness, legal services, IT, Co-operative University were identified as the top four key
education and training, among others. non-NGO actors.
“The other benefit is that it helps to point towards or identify In Kisumu, the top actors were the County Government of
certain gaps that may be there based on the feedback that we get Kisumu, KUSCCO and SASRA. Among these, the most common
over time. From a policy perspective, county governments may be areas of collaboration were source of funds, co-operative
able to assess areas that need strengthening.” education and training, co-operative news and product
development.
Speaking during a learning workshop for co-operatives in
Kisumu County, Executive Member in charge of Co-operatives, In Laikipia, the top actors were the county government of
Laikipia, Co-operative Bank, WOCCU and Siraji SACCO Society.
The most common areas of collaboration were co-operative
advocacy, source of funds and co-operative information.
Going forward, the system is open for existing and new users
to map more relationships and leverage the networks therein.
Following the successful launch, the USAID CDP partners will
allow the system to grow organically and review uptake after
several months to determine demand for this platform and
inform the next steps.
SACCO Star Magazine | 45
