ILO launches third call for proposals to promote cooperatives in Africa

The International Labour Organization (ILO) today announced the launch of a third call for proposals to promote cooperatives through the Cooperative Facility for Africa programme

Press release | 13 April 2009

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) today announced the launch of a third call for proposals to promote cooperatives through the Cooperative Facility for Africa programme.

CoopAFRICA is a partnership programme implemented by the ILO and funded by the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) to support the development and promotion of cooperatives in Africa. Partners include the International Co-operative Alliance, the UK Co-operative College, the International Trade Union Confederation, the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives, and the African Union.

The programme provides assistance, through a competitive bidding process, under three “Challenge Funds” categories, including cooperative support services, cooperative innovations, and cooperative training.

The CoopAFRICA Challenge Funds support projects up to US$ 50,000. Funding requests in the range from US$ 20,000 to US$ 50,000 are collected twice a year though calls for proposals. Funding requests below US$ 20,000 can be submitted at any time during the year under the CoopAFRICA “Small Grants” procedure.

Calls for proposals are open to 9 African countries under a high competitive bidding. Two calls have been organised so far: the first in June 2008 and the second in November 2008. 30 organizations have already benefited from CoopAFRICA grants, for a total funding of approximately US$ 1,400,000.

Proposals for the following Challenge Funds may be submitted by qualified organisations or institutions:

  • Challenge Fund for Services: institutions that demonstrate significant technical expertise in cooperative development, and provide technical support to cooperative organisations (e.g. guidance on market information, financial services, business planning, legal issues, etc.)
  • Challenge Fund for Innovation: members, leaders and promoters of non-traditional types of cooperatives (e.g. shared service cooperatives, social service cooperatives, burial societies, etc.)
  • Challenge Fund for Training: institutions such as cooperative colleges, cooperative apex bodies, public authorities, social partners, NGO, etc.) that demonstrate significant capacity building expertise for the development of cooperatives (e.g. provision of updated cooperative curricula, staff training, development of training material, etc.)

It is highly recommended applicants enter into a formal partnership with an organisation (e.g. apex, college or business service provider) that has the proven capacity to support the implementation of the project.

The ILO invites applications for the three above-mentioned challenge funds. For more information about application form, guidelines, and selection process, please visit the website COOPAfrica

The deadline for the third call for proposals above US$ 20,000 is 17 May 2009. The next call will be in September 2009. To obtain a Word version copy of documents, please send an email to coopafrica@ilo.org or visit COOPAfrica.