Co-op News (August 2019)

GLOBAL UPDATES
USA
Give credit unions a role in international
development, sector leaders tell Usaid funders
Credit unions should be included when
international development money is
allocated, say sector leaders.
The call came from the Credit Union
National Association (Cuna) and World
Council of Credit Unions (Woccu) at a
meeting with Mark Green, administrator
of the US Agency for Development (Usaid).
Among those present were Woccu
president/chief executive Brian Branch,
Cuna president/chief executive Jim Nussle
and House Foreign Relations Committee
chair Ed Royce.
Mr Branch said Woccu’s network
reaches more than 260 million members
in 117 countries. The organisation
provides training and support to credit
union members, he added, helping them
to face challenges and make a difference
in their local communities.
After the meeting, Mr Nussle
said: “Woccu has a long history of
using the financial co-operative
model to foster international development
and increase access to financial services.
With continued engagement with
Usaid and other policymakers, credit
unions can do even more.”
Mr Branch said: “This year, Woccu
is successfully leveraging Usaid funds
to allow more small farmers to secure
loans and grow their yields in Africa and
Eastern Europe.
“In Haiti, we’re helping to finance
affordable green-housing initiatives and
boost financial literacy programmes.
“None of that would be possible
without the assistance and buy-in from
p Community members in Colombia at a Woccu training event
‘Support co-ops’, NCBA-Clusa urges US presidential candidates
our partner credit unions on the ground.
Administrator Green seemed very open to
the idea that this type of model could be
replicated across the world.”
Over recent months, Cuna and Woccu
have also asked Usaid to ensure a level
playing field for smaller development
contractors, such as credit unions, when
prioritising its procurement reforms.
In April, Cuna and Woccu wrote to
the House Appropriations Committee
asking for increased funding for the
Cooperative Development Program,
a Usaid-funded initiative that
focuses on building the capacity
of co-operatives.
The National Co-operative Business
Association (NCBA-Clusa) has launched
a campaign to encourage US presidential
candidates to back the sector.
With the 2020 presidential election
approaching, the apex body published
an open letter asking those running to
recognise the co-operative business model
as a tool for the economic success and
self-determination of their constituents.
Arguing that “co-ops should be on
the policy platform of every presidential
candidate,” the letter says the co-op
model empowers people to champion
their own successes by working together.
“And while the member-owners of
co-operatives are the drivers of this
success, a policy framework that supports
the robust development of co-operatives
is imperative.”
The letter, signed by NCBA-Clusa
president and CEO Doug O’Brien, suggests
co-ops should be an essential part of
the solution to growing challenges for
workers in the gig economy. And they
play important roles in sectors such as
homecare, rural broadband, finance,
energy, housing, food and childcare.
It also calls on presidential candidates to
engage the co-op community and discuss
ways to incorporate policy solutions into
their platforms.
NCBA-Clusa says policy solutions
should encourage co-operative
businesses through increasing access to
capital for start-ups, and for expansion
and innovation. There is also need for
technical assistance, interagency
coordination at the federal and state
levels, and increased investment in
research and development.
As part of the #CoopsFor2020 campaign,
NCBA is encouraging co-operators to write
to their local newspapers, asking them to
publish its open letter. Those wishing to
take part can use the sample letter and
social media posts available on NCBA-
Clusa’s website, ncbaclusa.coop
14 | AUGUST 2019