The International Labour Organization (ILO) has geared its efforts towards improving productivity in the cooperative sector. The organization has thrown in mechanisms and processes to strengthen the cooperative movement through job creation, enhancing social solidarity and promotion of decent work.
Lilyanne Ndinda, ILO’s National Program Coordinator, while speaking in Mombasa during the Co-operatives Annual Stakeholders Meeting courtesy of Cooperative University of Kenya (CUK) held at Sarova Whitesands, noted that to increase productivity in the sector, the organization has partnered with various actors through trainings, market support systems such as working with financial services to unlock credits for the vulnerable groups and enhancing digitization to increase maximum production in the value chains.
To support the process, ILO has also developed several modules which include;
Think Coop – A module which explains why the cooperatives are important and gives reason as to why
individuals should be part of the cooperative sector.
Start Coop – Which helps individuals while joining the Cooperative movement.
Manage Coop – A module that highlights how the cooperatives should be managed and how services should be run so as to remain relevant.
My Coop – A module developed specifically for the agricultural value chain to enhance growth and
development in the sector.
The organization has also worked with Technical and Vocational Education Training Institutions (TVETS) to develop curriculum and ensure the administration of quality skills in the institutions. It also champions for individuals who acquired prior knowledge and skills in particular areas with no formal certification through the provision of certificates to the individuals and also widen their opportunity base.
ILO has further worked with the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by creating modules to help in the start and development of businesses, strengthening the MSMEs, providing financial literacy and education to individuals on the importance of joining a formal entity and fostering gender entrepreneurship.
It has also worked with the government to provide a pathway to formalization by transitioning businesses from the informal sector to the formal sector and enhancing access to social protection.
ILO moreover, has developed a score program aimed at improving productivity at the work place by bringing together the employers and workers as one. The program sees the workers of organizations as part of the organizations rather than employees and thus enables the institutions to work towards a common goal of enhancing sustainable competitiveness.
Other than striving to ensure a decent working environment for all, ILO additionally fosters the productivity of businesses, reduce costs, delays among others.
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