Interviews with women cooperatives leaders in the region

As the world celebrates the International Women's Day, here is what some of the women co-operators who are also in co-operative leadership in Africa region have to say about their role in the co-operative movement, some of their achievements as co-operators, what they would like to see happening to accelerate the participation of women in co-operatives and the anticipated challenges.

Prof. Esther Gicheru

Chairlady for the Alliance Africa Research and Gender Committee, Director (Institute of Co-operative Development) at the Co-operative University of Kenya and member of Shirika Sacco.

I have been involved in research and development in diverse areas of the co-operative movement in order to identify possible areas of intervention to solve problems identified by the research.

Through my participation and knowledge of the co-operative movement, I served as the chairperson of Shirika Sacco one of the most progressive Saccos in the Kenya. I have greatly benefited from my Sacco by borrowing funds at affordable interest rates which has helped me to undertake projects which include education, health, and housing.

However, this journey has not been without challenges. Some of the challenges include failure to implement policies that call for affirmative action. Cultural issues interfering with women participation in co-operatives and some women consider themselves not good enough because of societal expectations.

In my view, I would like to see more sensitization of both men and women in lobbying for policies that provide for affirmative. This will make it easier for women to join co-operatives as members and occupy leadership positions.

Hilda Ojall

President Alliance Africa Youth Network and Credit Union Development Educator at the Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives Ltd (KUSCCO)

I have been involved in educating Credit Unions / SACCOs on building capacity of their members on issues that affect smooth running of SACCOs and particularly the youth across Africa.

Under the Development Education program, I have seen new relevance to the philosophy of ‘people helping people’. With this continuous training, I have had critical lessons in the co-operative principles, philosophy in national and international developmental issues while incorporating challenges co-operatives face today. Being the Alliance Africa Youth Network President, the opportunity has opened a way for the youth in co-operatives to be heard and understood by entire movement, it has also enhanced youth participation in co-operative activities nationally and regionlly.

Illiteracy, inadequate knowledge, lack of confidence in women can lead to low participation among women in co-operatives. In addition, we tend to use our African traditions to guide us for example women should be at home taking care of the children and this hinders participation.

I would like to see continuous education and training to change women’s mind set and let them understand that truly women can as men, and deserve to exercise their power and democracy. Secondly, the formation of gender committees in our primary co-ops to identify gender related issues (men and women) since each group has its own challenges hence we need to have modalities of solving this challenges.

Nonhlanhla Emelt Mnisi

Commissioner for Co-operative Development, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade in Swaziland.

My role as a Co-operative leader and a head of Department for Co-operatives is to help in developing of co-operatives policies and legislations and assist in creation of an environment conducive to the growth of co-operatives without affecting their rights to develop as autonomous, self-reliant enterprises.

For the past ten years, I have contributed in making co-operatives visible in Swaziland, by making awareness champagnes and public statements on radio, newspapers and television to the point that many people now see the contribution of co-operatives and the need to form cooperatives. In my capacity, I have also spearheaded the introduction of school co-operatives programme with more than 40 schools participating for a start and many more expressing the desire to be part of the programme. And recently I helped in the establishment of a Youth Apex organisation called Swaziland Cooperative Youth Alliance (SYNCA) which is vocal about young people participation in co-operatives in Swaziland.

The anticipated challenges seen is the new SACCO legislation in Swaziland that has received a lot of hostility against co-operatives and its members which is not going to offer an enabling environment for SACCO growth in the country.

I would like to see more women participate in leadership positions. More women should be vying for election positions during annual general meetings, and in church leadership as this forms part of a training ground for even bigger leadership positions.

Salome Kimeu

Member of Utonyi Women Group and Finance and Administration Manager at Alliance Africa

I have been in the front line in ensuring that women in rural areas come together to form small scale co-operative groups to enable them cater for their families needs more so food, clothing, school fees and others.

In terms of achievements, yes, I have advocated for table banking usually know as ‘marry go round’ that has really helped in money savings and other welfare needs for the group members.

Motivating and uniting friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive for #coops4dev