The 14th Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference in Brief
Nairobi, Kenya — 8th- 9th October 2025
The 14th Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference (AMCCO) concluded on a historic note in Nairobi, Kenya, marking a new chapter for cooperative development across the continent. With more than 500 participants in attendance, this forum, convened by the International Cooperative Alliance–Africa (ICA-Africa) in collaboration with the Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development of Kenya brought together Ministers responsible for cooperative development and other cooperative stakeholders from across Africa to review progress, share experiences, and chart the future of the cooperative movement in the region.
Signing of the Nairobi Declaration
African Ministers responsible for cooperative development reaffirmed their collective commitment to strengthening the cooperative movement across the continent through the signing of the Nairobi Declaration for Regional Cooperative Development at the 14th Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference (AMCCO) held in Nairobi, Kenya.
The declaration, endorsed by Ministers and representatives from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Senegal, Gambia, South Africa, Botswana, South Sudan, Mozambique, Uganda, Lesotho, Mauritius, Togo, Liberia and Rwanda, is a shared pledge to implement the recommendations of the 14th Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference and accelerate cooperative growth, improve policy environments, and enhance collaboration among African nations.
Read the 14th AMCCO Nairobi Declaration 2025.
Other Key Highlights
A major highlight of the conference was the launch of the Model Law on Cooperatives for Africa by the Pan-African Parliament. The Model Law provides a harmonized framework to guide African countries in developing or reforming national cooperative legislation, ensuring that cooperatives operate under supportive and modern legal environments.
Another significant moment was the symbolic handover of the AMCCO Chairmanship from Egypt to Kenya. Hon. Wycliffe A. Oparanya, EGH, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Kenya, officially assumed the chairmanship role from Egypt’s Hon. Dr. Assem Al-Gazzar, Minister for Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities.
Conclusion
The 14th AMCCO not only reaffirmed Africa’s shared vision for cooperative development but also set a renewed agenda for action under the Nairobi Declaration Commitment. With the adoption of the Model Law on Cooperatives, the transition of the AMCCO leadership to Kenya, and a unified commitment from Ministers, the conference has laid a strong foundation for accelerating cooperative-driven transformation across the continent.