FAO/SAMAP, in collaboration with ILO, launches new training for strengthening cooperatives in Suriname
The ILO will implement the programme based on its globally-recognized training approaches including My.Coop and Start.Coop.
2 June 2023
© Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries, Suriname
(2 June 2023 – Paramaribo) – An innovative training and coaching programme designed to enhance the capabilities of over 30 cooperatives in Suriname will soon be underway to further develop the agriculture sector and reduce key drivers of poverty in rural areas.
Led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Cooperative Capacity Building Programme will take place between June and September 2023 and feature international and local experts.
During a launch ceremony today in Paramaribo, representatives from both UN agencies as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Regional Development, gathered to highlight the overall benefits of the training programme for the country.
“Through the course, cooperatives serving the agriculture sector, including at least five that are women-led, will receive direct and tailored training for improving their skills in management, performance, governance and productivity. The training will also strengthen their role in helping their members overcome inequalities and improve their income generating opportunities,” said John Bliek, Sustainable Enterprise Development and Job Creation Specialist at the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean.
According to the ILO, “a cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise”. Worldwide, there is considerable evidence of cooperatives playing a key role in the wellbeing of national economies and integral to many economic sectors.
In Suriname, cooperatives have traditionally lacked pathways to reach their full potential. However, disparities between the capital Paramaribo and rural coastal and interior areas signal an opportunity for them to play a significant role in levelling the playing field so that rural often-indigenous farming communities can yield greater incomes from the sale of their crops.
This training is implemented under the Suriname Agriculture Market Access Project (SAMAP), which seeks to develop competitive value chains by strengthening collaboration, cooperation and coordination between farmers’ organizations, cooperatives and agribusinesses. The ILO will implement the programme based on its globally-recognized training approaches including My.Coop and Start.Coop. The process will also support the implementation of Suriname’s current Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP), which seeks to improve the resilience and productivity of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives to expand opportunities for decent work including among vulnerable groups such as women, youth and rural entrepreneurs.
“The FAO/SAMAP project is pleased to partner with the ILO under a ONE UN approach to bring the best expertise available to Suriname to strengthen the capacities of cooperatives that are increasingly playing a role in supporting small farmers to work together, scale up production and have better chances to participate in domestic and export markets. This initiative contributes to consolidate the functioning of the Value Chain Platforms established by SAMAP in the cassava sector, fruits and vegetables and non-timber forest products,” highlighted Erick J. Zeballos, Chief Technical Advisor of FAO in his remarks.
To ensure the sustainability of the skills development offered through the course, agricultural extension workers from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, as well as officials from the Ministry of Regional Development and Sports (ROS) and the Ministry of Labour will also be trained to effectively support institutional strengthening of agricultural cooperatives.
SAMAP is an initiative of the Government of Suriname led by the Ministry of LVV, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with funds from the European Union. The main aim is to promote the sustainable increase market access for vegetables, fruits, root & tuber crops and Non-Timber Forest Products development of agriculture through more competitive and safer production which will (NTFP).
More information on ILO’s programmes of support for cooperatives is available on the ILO COOP website.
Media Contact:
Shireen Cuthbert, [email protected]
Led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Cooperative Capacity Building Programme will take place between June and September 2023 and feature international and local experts.
During a launch ceremony today in Paramaribo, representatives from both UN agencies as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Regional Development, gathered to highlight the overall benefits of the training programme for the country.
“Through the course, cooperatives serving the agriculture sector, including at least five that are women-led, will receive direct and tailored training for improving their skills in management, performance, governance and productivity. The training will also strengthen their role in helping their members overcome inequalities and improve their income generating opportunities,” said John Bliek, Sustainable Enterprise Development and Job Creation Specialist at the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean.
According to the ILO, “a cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise”. Worldwide, there is considerable evidence of cooperatives playing a key role in the wellbeing of national economies and integral to many economic sectors.
In Suriname, cooperatives have traditionally lacked pathways to reach their full potential. However, disparities between the capital Paramaribo and rural coastal and interior areas signal an opportunity for them to play a significant role in levelling the playing field so that rural often-indigenous farming communities can yield greater incomes from the sale of their crops.
This training is implemented under the Suriname Agriculture Market Access Project (SAMAP), which seeks to develop competitive value chains by strengthening collaboration, cooperation and coordination between farmers’ organizations, cooperatives and agribusinesses. The ILO will implement the programme based on its globally-recognized training approaches including My.Coop and Start.Coop. The process will also support the implementation of Suriname’s current Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP), which seeks to improve the resilience and productivity of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives to expand opportunities for decent work including among vulnerable groups such as women, youth and rural entrepreneurs.
“The FAO/SAMAP project is pleased to partner with the ILO under a ONE UN approach to bring the best expertise available to Suriname to strengthen the capacities of cooperatives that are increasingly playing a role in supporting small farmers to work together, scale up production and have better chances to participate in domestic and export markets. This initiative contributes to consolidate the functioning of the Value Chain Platforms established by SAMAP in the cassava sector, fruits and vegetables and non-timber forest products,” highlighted Erick J. Zeballos, Chief Technical Advisor of FAO in his remarks.
To ensure the sustainability of the skills development offered through the course, agricultural extension workers from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, as well as officials from the Ministry of Regional Development and Sports (ROS) and the Ministry of Labour will also be trained to effectively support institutional strengthening of agricultural cooperatives.
SAMAP is an initiative of the Government of Suriname led by the Ministry of LVV, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with funds from the European Union. The main aim is to promote the sustainable increase market access for vegetables, fruits, root & tuber crops and Non-Timber Forest Products development of agriculture through more competitive and safer production which will (NTFP).
More information on ILO’s programmes of support for cooperatives is available on the ILO COOP website.
Media Contact:
Shireen Cuthbert, [email protected]