Expertise

Strengthening Cooperatives And Producer Organizations

Cooperatives are key to building inclusive economic opportunity

Our Approach

NCBA CLUSA applies cooperative principles and promotes cooperative business development to build wealth, economic power, and resilient communities in low- and middle-income countries. We are dedicated to developing strong, inclusive cooperatives that support equal participation, leadership, and agency among all women, men and youth.

Cooperative businesses can address local issues, such as market failures, and drive economic development. We have deep experience starting cooperatives from the grassroots level; supporting growing cooperatives to improve their governance structures and engage members; and forming innovative cooperative structures, such as joint ventures and apex organizations, to successfully access global markets.

We clear pathways for sustained cooperative development: we work with national governments and local organizations to realize positive regulatory environments that help cooperatives grow. Governments and firms around the world have looked to us to help create strong businesses in emerging markets for over 65 years.

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Our Annual Impact

Strengthening member-owned businesses and the communities they impact

 

Families equipped to deal with climate change

Conservation farming techniques means farmers can grow up to 60% more on their land in good years—and still provide reliable harvests in bad years.

Women were reached with nutrition interventions

Over 2,500 youth have come together to form primary cooperatives through the Youth Empowerment Through Agriculture Project.

People have access to potable water

Over 100 water management committees were set up through our CoopWASH program in Indonesia and USAID REGIS-ER in Niger and Burkina Faso.

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Approach Highlight

Sustainable Sourcing Solutions

Cooperatives, owned and managed by smallholder farmers, hold the key to sustainable sourcing solutions for partner organizations.

NCBA CLUSA partners with companies and organizations pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals and looking to source in a sustainable and responsible manner to develop inclusive value chains. By providing supply chain solutions for specialty products like coffee, cocoa, vanilla and others we work with smallholder farmers at the beginning of the supply chain. Increasing their capacity, product quality and ultimately their incomes, provides a stronger supply, and higher quality product to companies interested in sustainable sourcing while also empowering communities.

With partnerships with organizations like McCormick Spices, Starbucks Coffee, Green Mountain Coffee and others, we can provide sustainable sourcing and improve farmer livelihoods across the world.