Fostering vibrant, sustainable cooperative ecosystems in Rwanda and Zambia

Agriculture plays a crucial role in both Rwanda and Zambia’s economies, with around 62 percent and 58 percent of their populations employed in the sector, respectively. Cooperatives play an equally critical role: They often underpin the ability of smallholder farmers — who may otherwise be operating independently — to scale up their businesses. The USAID Cooperative Resilience and Equity Activity (CORE) is working with cooperatives and other agricultural stakeholders in Zambia and Rwanda to foster vibrant, sustainable cooperative ecosystems. Across both countries, CORE will support over 160 dairy, horticulture, and oilseed cooperatives and 12,000 members in partnership with local market actors, which will result in an estimated 30 percent increase in cooperative sales. CORE takes a localized and market-responsive approach: engaging market actors, including women and youth, to tailor activities to their unique needs, while sustainably strengthening their capacity. CORE is funded by USAID's Cooperative Development Program (CDP). Venture37 is an implementer of USAID's global CDP, which strengthens cooperatives and credit unions globally to improve the social, economic, and environmental conditions of local communities.