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By J. M. Kollie
Liberia joined the rest of the world in celebrating International Cooperatives Day, an event that highlights the vital role cooperatives play in socio-economic development and community empowerment. The day was marked by various activities, including speeches, exhibitions, and community outreach programs aimed at promoting the cooperative movement in the country.
In a ceremony held in Voinjama, Lofa County, key stakeholders from the government, non-governmental organizations, and cooperative societies gathered to discuss the progress and challenges facing cooperatives in Liberia. The theme for this year’s celebration, “Food Security and Sustainability through Cooperatives,” underscored the importance of cooperative enterprises in achieving sustainable development goals.
At the event, Cooperative Development Agency (CDA) Registrar General, Lwopu G. Kandakai, expressed gratitude for the interest that the government has in cooperatives. emphasized the significant contributions of cooperatives to the agricultural sector. “Cooperatives are crucial in mobilizing resources, improving agricultural productivity, and enhancing the livelihoods of our farmers. They provide a platform for collective action and empower smallholder farmers to access markets and improve their income,” she stated.
The Cooperative Development Agency (CDA) showcased successful cooperative models and initiatives that have transformed communities across Liberia and highlighted projects that have significantly boosted the economic status of women through microfinance and entrepreneurial training.
Speakers at the event also addressed the challenges faced by cooperatives, including limited access to finance, inadequate training, and infrastructural deficits. They called for increased government support and investment in the cooperative sector to overcome these hurdles and harness the full potential of cooperatives.
The celebration concluded with a cooperative exhibition where various cooperative societies displayed their products and services, ranging from agricultural produce to artisanal crafts. The exhibition provided an opportunity for cooperative members to network, share experiences, and explore new market opportunities.
International Cooperatives Day, celebrated annually on the first Saturday of July, is a global observance set aside by the United Nations General Assembly Proclamation Resolution 47/90 that recognizes the contributions of cooperatives to social and economic development. It serves as a platform to raise awareness about the role of cooperatives in building a more inclusive and sustainable economy. The event underscores the contributions of the cooperatives movement to resolving the many problems addressed by member states of the United Nations.
As Liberia continues to navigate its path toward sustainable development, the cooperative movement remains a vital partner in achieving national development goals and improving the lives of its citizens. Stakeholders comprising those from the Cooperative Development Agency (CDA), the Liberia National Federation of Cooperative Societies (LNFCS) and the Liberia Credit Union National Association (LCUNA), the Ministry of Agriculture, the UN agencies and others on Saturday, July 6, 2024, formed part celebration in Voinjama.
A special statement from the office of the President of Liberia, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, read by the Superintendent of Lofa County, J. Lavelah Massaquoi in commemoration of the day, underscored the significant contributions by cooperatives in Liberia before the civil war and even now.
According to the statement, because cooperatives have the potential to generate jobs and contribute to food security and financial stability, the Boakai’s administration under the National Agriculture Development Plan for Liberia, cooperatives will be required to form themselves into clusters and will be strengthened to support production and marketing of products.
According to the President’s statement, the first cooperative society, the Intofawor Farmers’ Cooperative Society was established on September 24, 1971, in Foya, Lofa County, followed by the establishment of the Gbandi Farmers’ Cooperative Society and the Voinjama District Farmers’ Cooperative Society, all in the same county. According to the statement, since 1989, the cooperative movement of Liberia has joined other world cooperative movement bodies in observance of International Cooperatives Day.
Regrettably, such a global event had not been observed since then until 2019, and now because of the civil crisis and the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in recent years and the Coronavirus pandemic, which further exacerbated the decline in social cohesion and social capital development of community members including agricultural production in many parts of the country where the majority members of Liberia’s cooperative movement are concentrated.
