Cooperatives network

The project builds on the successful model of establishing cooperatives and applying the principles of collective work in Egypt. During the Cooperate project, 12 Cooperatives were established and registered leading to an increase in the income of 300 small farmers and producers by 35% over 3 years. This project aims to enhance the existing model by establishing 15 more cooperatives and engaging 500 new producers, particularly economically inactive youth and women. The partner uses the village savings and loans associations (VSLAs) model to encourage a community-based financing approach that would enable financing collective business as cooperatives and empower the producers to self-organize. The partner facilitates networking and cooperation among cooperatives to strengthen their capacities in various areas, especially in marketing. During this phase, special emphasis is placed on strengthening the organizational capacities of the “Cooperate” centre to achieve its optimal operational capacities and to position it better to provide technical, financial and legal services to other organizations in establishing cooperatives. Overall, the project seeks to deepen and broaden the impact of the model and promote economic empowerment in the target communities.