Increasing member participation in output marketing <p>2017 <br></p>
<p>Throughout the years that Agriterra worked with Setit  it was learned that intervention a PC level is also required to make significant changes at the Union level. Thus  in the 2016 action plan a comprehensive assessment was conducted to evaluate the PCs to get an insight on the main challenges and gaps that exist at the lower level. Based on the assessment results and the intervention plan workshop conducted  different capacity building activities have been proposed  developed and executed. This action plan  which is a continuation of the previous one (2016)  emphasizes to transform the PCs to assure that individual farmer's economic and social benefit are maintained. For the capacity building activities of the PCs  the union has temporarily recruited 3 (capacity builders). These individuals are expected to be with the PCs at least 20 days per month  to coach guide and implement the capacity building initiatives and to follow other initiatives. <br>This action plan will be the final action plan inclusive of budget  and subsequent Agriterra support will only focus on advisory and guidance only. For this reason  to make sure that interventions are sustainable  the action plan will look for exit strategy by establishing a member affair department which can continue with the capacity building programs and other started initiatives.</p>
<p>2016</p>
<p>Setit has experienced significant development since Agriterra started providing capacity building services to the union in 2012. The union has increased its output marketing performance  has put in a place a professional management team  and has transformed the union from a loss making organization into a profitable one. in the 2016 Action Plan key intervention focus will be in particular on strengthening the member Primary Cooperatives (PCs) in general and creating a strong commercial linkage between the PCs and the Union in terms of output marketing. Throughout the years that Agriterra worked with Setit  is was learned that intervention on PC level is also required in order to make significant changes on the Union level. Therefore in the 2014/15 action plan a comprehensive assessment was conducted to evaluate the strength of PCs in order to get an insight on the main challenges and gaps that exist at the lower level. Based on the assessment results and workshops conducted  different capacity building activities have been proposed and developed. The main emphasis is to transform the PCs to assure that individual farmers whose economic and social benefit are maintained under each PC  are strengthened through increasing the benefits of organized output marketing by the cooperatives and the union. For the capacity building activities of the PCs  a leftover budget from CORDAID is to be used with cost sharing basis between CORDAID  Union  and PCs on certain activities. For capacitating PCs  the union will temporarily recruit 3 new support and monitoring professional staff  this team is expected to be with the PCs at least 20 days per month  to coach guide and monitor the capacity building activities. Other union based activities will be funded by Agriterra on a 50:50 cost sharing basis with the union. Whereas the CORDAID funded Action Plan will mainly focus on the union-PC relationship  the Agriterra funded Action Plan will mainly focus on the union in terms of strengthening the market modalities  and boosting the management profile of the union to accommodate upcoming projects. Output marketing target: 3500 MT sold on domestic or export markets.</p> <p>The objective is to improve the cooperative and union’s performance by cooperative leadership strengthening and through formalizing their activities  creating member participation and accountability. Improving the cooperative performance (better output marketing  enhanced membership services) leads to increased member participation and improved socio and economic empowerment.</p> <p>2017</p>
<p>While the major project plan remaining same as 2016  the current project plan will also emphesize on: <br></p>
<p>- Strengthen transaction between union and member PCs and trade 25 000 quintals of Sesame and 10 000 quintals of sorghum  and reach 600 unique farmers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br></p>
<p>2016<br></p>
<p>The proposal of this project is focussing on a couple of main elements indicated below. In order to improve the overall performance of Setit  the 2016 Agriterra action plan will focus on:<br>- Training on proper documentation and record keeping systems.<br>- Introduce member ID cards  and produce a “fact sheet” which outlines the cooperative objectives and the benefits to the farmer on being a member and promoting participation on output marketing activities.<br>- Training on preparing cooperative organizational and business plan.<br>- Training on introducing and developing policy and procedure manuals at PC level. Manuals include HR  purchasing  marketing  credit  finance  and input distribution. Manuals will be developed to regulate procedures for internal use.<br>- Assist the PC’s in implementing the procedure manuals.<br>- Training provided for PC financial staff on accounting and financial management systems with emphasis on internal control mechanisms.<br>- Lobby government support to increase auditing services to cooperatives.<br>- Training on appropriate mechanisms to provide demand driven products for members  including household consumables.<br>- Implementing and implementing quality control mechanisms for the purchase of member commodities.<br>- Increase youth participation  and align with government initiatives to provide land for the youth.<br>- Cooperative governance training to the board members.<br>- Cooperative governance to board members on internal control mechanisms.<br>- Assist the PC in staff recruitment  including storekeeper  accountant/manager for selected PC’s on cost sharing basis.<br>- Collaborate with SBN to promote radio announcements to reach PC members on important current news.</p>