Four cooperative societies (SCOOPs) in the Niayes region have been selected to receive technical support and access to a revolving fund as part of a project led by CRADESC. This initiative aims to sustainably strengthen the inclusion of women and young people in the agricultural solidarity economy.
A selection based on rigorous criteria
Four SCOOPs from the Niayes region were selected following a thorough evaluation process to receive technical and financial support. These are the Gandiol Development Cooperative, the Cooperative Society for Support to Production, Processing, and Marketing (SCAPTC), and the Agricultural Cooperative for Inclusive Development in Niayes (COOPADIN).
Four organizations were identified as having the strongest organizational and management capabilities, in line with the project’s requirements, particularly with regard to the effective administration of a revolving fund.
A transparent and participatory process
The selection was finalized on April 2 in Thiès during a workshop to present the findings of organizational assessments, which brought together ten SCOOPs as well as members of the Niayes Consultation and Development Framework (CCDN). The workshop provided an opportunity to share the results of the assessments, clarify the selection criteria, and identify the cooperatives eligible for the pilot phase, in a spirit of transparency and accountability.
Support tailored to performance levels
The assessment also made it possible to categorize SCOOPs based on their performance level:
· The three highest-performing SCOOPs will immediately begin rolling out the revolving fund;
· Four intermediate SCOOPs will receive targeted structural support prior to their gradual integration;
· Three low-performing SCOOPs will undergo an intensive capacity-building program focused on governance and management.
This phased approach ensures optimal use of resources and the sustainable strengthening of organizations.
A catalyst for economic inclusion in the Niayes
A total of 43 producer organizations, spread across 10 SCOOPs, were assessed in the southern, central, and northern regions of Niayes. The project to revitalize producer organizations and promote the inclusion of women and young farmers in the development of the social economy in Niayes is being implemented by CRADESC in partnership with the Robert Bosch Foundation.
It includes a digital component designed to improve the management of SCOOPs and the traceability of funding through tailored digital tools, with the aim of enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the deployment of the revolving fund. It also helps to strengthen producer organizations and improve their access to appropriate financing mechanisms, with a particular focus on women and young people.
