CA is a civil society initiative to encourage and support cooperatives in Africa and its diaspora.

It is a public company Limited by Guarantee, it is not a business nor a charity, and is not a cooperative, partly because its members are located in many different nations. CA is a transnational organization.

In Ghana. CA is a transnational movement with bases wherever it has members mobilising to support cooperatives be it in Africa or its Diaspora.

Because most of those who started it are based in Ghana.

The discussions leading to the establishment of CA started in May 2020. CA was registered in Ghana in March 2022.

The inaugural meeting of the 54 people that started CA took place in May 2022.

• CA has a membership of individuals and organisations.
• It has an executive council of 15 individual members, but this is expected to change over time to include representatives from country level organisations and also representatives from member organisations.
• It has two co-chairs.
• The executive council is currently organised into the following working groups
  • Admin
  • Fundraising and finance
  • IT
  • Membership and Marketing
  • Programmes

• Continentally CA will be an association of individuals, organisations, financing bodies.
• Nationally members will form national implementation committees until they have set up as cooperative financing bodies. (Details currently being developed).

• It was registered with 54 members.
• It is now calling for new members to join.

• To pursue the development of democratically controlled cooperatives in Africa and its diaspora to realise the socio-economic liberation of African people by recognising their interests and aspirations.

• To conduct all its business in accordance with the core values of integrity and openness and respects the equality of all African peoples.

• To affirm the right of all African people to be treated without discrimination.

• The very low level of average wealth alongside very high levels of inequality among people in Africa and its Diaspora.
  • The high levels of unemployment and under employment especially of women and youth in Africa.
  • The difficulties faced by African businesses, especially those involved in local production as they try to compete with the interests of foreign multinationals.
• The apparent inability to industrialise African economies in a manner that addresses the needs of the majority.

• Cooperatives help people to create collective wealth equitably. They:
  • Help more African businesses to produce more efficiently to meet the needs of the majority.
  • Enable people to set up democratically managed businesses that provide them with good quality livelihoods.
  • Help individuals and businesspeople to borrow more cheaply from cooperative sources from credit unions.
  • Enable small scale producers to buy inputs at lower prices through procurement cooperatives.
  • Allow small scale producers to sell produce at higher prices through marketing cooperatives.
  • Help people to secure housing more cheaply through housing associations.
• Help to reduce the inequalities in society since ownership of businesses has been extended to include those who work in the business.

• Grow its individual membership at country level.
• Mobilise its country level members to resource and establish cooperative financing bodies.
• Ensure that the cooperative financing bodies finance cooperatives of all kinds.

• Conduct research into the enabling and inhibiting factors affecting cooperative formation and share the results so that they can be acted upon.
• Set up cooperative financing bodies at country level.
• Provide information and training to help people to run successful cooperative businesses.

By asking members to subscribe to the capital, either through regular monthly contributions or one-off payments.

No, only people setting up cooperatives.

• There is sufficient evidence to show that lending to cooperatives is less risky than lending to individual businesspeople.
• There is also evidence from Bangladesh (the Grameen Bank) that lending even without collateral, to people who are part of a group, but not directly to the group, is also less risky than lending to individual businesspeople.

• No, They cannot be sold. This is to ensure that the shares are held by people who support cooperative development.
• For the same reason they cannot be inherited, instead their value will be paid to the heirs of the holders.

• Because women historically do not get the opportunities that they deserve.
• Because the youth population is exploding and many youths today are under or unemployed.

• They operate under 7 principles which make them share wealth, income, and power.
• They are therefore fairer and more democratic.

• People in Africa and its Diaspora will own more of their wealth collectively and manage it democratically.
• People will learn to be more collaborative and less individualistic and competitive.

• Sometimes cooperatives have been formed by governments through cooperative development agencies, and sometimes because of civil society initiatives.
• In the Emilia Romagna region of Italy, which has the highest concentration of cooperatives anywhere in the world, two civil society organisations have led the way in forming and supporting cooperatives: Legacoop – the Communist Party of Italy and Confcooperative – the Catholic Church!
• In The UK Cooperative Development Agencies were set up during the 1970s at local government level often because of civil society initiatives. These efforts led to an increase in the number of cooperatives. After the election of Margaret Thatcher in 1979, CDAs became less numerous and active. Since 2011, The local government in the English town of Preston has spearheaded an initiative to promote cooperatives, leading to a wide range of cooperatives being formed. One of its objectives is to retain wealth within Preston instead of having it exported out of the city by foreign multi-nationals.
• Kerala State, India, cooperatives have been largely supported by the local government and by well organised strong civil groups. As a result, it has around 14,000 cooperatives.
• In Buenos Aires, Argentina a cooperative building initiative took off in 2004 when many businesses were abandoned by their owners. The workers took the businesses over, turned them into cooperatives, and are successfully running them.

CA is for both individuals and organisations.

No, it is an annual membership fee, renewable on the anniversary of joining.

• No, a message will be sent out (4 weeks) before membership is to expire.
• You will need to confirm that you wish to continue to be a member.

• Participate in CA’s programmes.
• Participate in the Annual General meetings.
• Abide by CA’s principles.

• $20 or equivalent for individuals
• Not for profit organisations – from $200 to $800, subject to revenue.
• For profit organisations from $400 to $1,000, subject to revenue.

All people who are willing to promote cooperative formation in Africa and its Diaspora and are prepared to abide by CA’s principles.

• While individuals can accomplish a lot on their own, collectives can accomplish much more.
• The history of cooperatives attests to this, there is power in collectives that does not exist in individuals.

• The most important is that, if you wish to see more cooperatives in Africa and its Diaspora, then you will be able to fulfil your dream by working with others to bring about such a change.
• You will get a chance to subscribe to the cooperative financing body in the country in which you live, and receive the benefits of being a subscriber to such a body.
  • You will be able to participate in CA’s planned activities by: Participating in the research that CA will conduct, or in disseminating the findings.
  • Helping to raise funds for CA’s activities by subscribing.
  • Attending and or speaking at one of CA’s cooperative awareness raising events, such as webinars, book clubs, film screenings etc.
  • Attending or speaking at one of CA’s cooperative education or business training events.
  • Setting up a cooperative with others I any sector of the economy to deliver a product or service to the community.
• Help to run CA by serving on the Executive Council

• Go to the CA website and go to the membership page, complete the membership form, and pay the membership fee.
• Once you have completed the membership process (filled out the form and paid the dues) you will see a message informing you that you have successfully completed the process., and that you will be sent an email message.
• You will also be asked to check that you have received it.

1. Navigate to the Membership Tab:
   • Visit cooperationafrica.org.
   • Locate and click on the "Membership" tab in the main navigation menu.
2. Select For-Profit or Not-for-Profit:
   • Choose the appropriate category for your organization (For Profit Organizations or Not-for-Profit Organizations).
3. Complete the Application Form:
   • Fill out the required information in the application form. This includes details about your organization, contact information, and any other necessary fields.
4. Click "Accept" to Pay Membership Fee:
   • Once the application form is complete, there is an option to accept the terms and conditions. Tick yes and proceed to pay the membership fee.
5. Navigate to the Appropriate Turnover:
   • Select the turnover category that corresponds to your organization's financial status.
6. Click "Pay Now":
   • Look for a "Pay Now" button associated with the selected turnover category.
7. Provide Personal Information:
   • On the payment page, enter your first name, last name, email address, and phone number. Ensure that this information is accurate.
8. Display of Amount in USD and Ghana Cedis:
   • The website will display the membership fee amount in Ghana Cedis.
9. Click "Pay Now" Again:
   • Confirm the payment details and click the "Pay Now" button to proceed to the payment gateway.
10. Receive Payment Confirmation:
    • After the payment is processed successfully, you should see a confirmation message on the website. Additionally, you will receive an email confirmation with the transaction details.

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