Zim Showcases Cooperative Innovation at 14th AMCCO in Nairobi

Zimbabwe’s delegation impressed at the 14th Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference (AMCCO) in Nairobi (image source)

Zimbabwe’s delegation arrived in Nairobi this week to present homegrown cooperative models at the 14th Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference (AMCCO), held from October 6 to 9 at the Safari Park Hotel. The biennial forum, convened by the International Cooperative Alliance–Africa in partnership with Kenya’s Ministry of Co-operatives and MSME Development, is Africa’s flagship policy platform for cooperatives.

Themed “From Commitment to Action: Leveraging Global, Regional, and Local Partnerships for Sustainable Cooperative Development in Africa,” this year’s conference zeroes in on turning policy pledges into on-the-ground solutions. Sessions span ministerial roundtables, expert panels, and sectoral dialogues aimed at scaling up cooperatives as engines of inclusive growth.

Registration opened in August and organisers anticipated hundreds of participants, including government leaders, cooperative practitioners, development partners, and financial institutions from across the continent. The turnout exceeded expectations, underscoring renewed momentum behind the cooperative movement in Africa.

Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Co-operatives, Patrick Kilemi, emphasised the forum’s role as a springboard for tangible partnerships. “This conference isn’t just talk — it’s about forging multi-stakeholder initiatives that deliver jobs, empower youth and women, and drive sustainable development,” he said. Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya added, “By aligning continental, regional and local efforts, we can unlock the full potential of cooperatives to transform economies.”

Zimbabwe’s team showcased two flagship innovations. First, the GrainGuard Co-op, which uses solar-powered storage to reduce post-harvest losses, has boosted farmers’ incomes by 25 percent in Mashonaland East. Second, the DigiCo-op Marketplace — a mobile app that aggregates demand for inputs and negotiates bulk-buy discounts — has cut costs for 18,000 small-scale enterprises in Matabeleland South. “We’re leveraging technology to democratise access to markets,” said Dr Tapiwa Ncube, president of the Zimbabwe Cooperative League.

At a side event, Masvingo co-op leader Rutendo Ndlovu described daily challenges: “Rising input prices and erratic power supply make it hard to sustain our tomato processing factory. Sharing innovations here gives us hope that regional partners will invest in our solutions.”

Zimbabwe’s showcase underlines cooperatives’ dual role as social safety nets and economic catalysts. With inflation still above 120 percent and youth unemployment at 60 percent, these models offer practical remedies. Yet scaling them will require regulatory reform, improved rural finance, and stronger public–private partnerships. As AMCCO draws to a close, Zimbabwe must translate dialogue into funding commitments and policy adjustments to ensure these pilot projects become nationwide game-changers.