The 11th Meeting of the Technical Committee of the African Ministerial Conference on Cooperation (TCAMCCO) recently concluded its proceedings in Essaouira, marking a pivotal moment for the future of cooperatives in Africa. Under the inspiring theme "Visibility of Cooperatives for a Better Africa," this event brought together key stakeholders from across the continent, including the High Atlas Foundation (HAF), represented by Larbi Didouqen.

HAF was honored to participate in these crucial discussions, which laid the technical and strategic groundwork for the upcoming ministerial summit. The 2025 International Year of Cooperatives, proclaimed by the UN under the eloquent slogan "Cooperatives build a better world," resonates more than ever with the ambitions of this gathering.

Rich Exchanges and Identified Challenges

The three days of discussions were marked by insightful interventions from representatives of various African countries (Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mauritius, Botswana, Kenya, South Sudan, Morocco, Liberia, Togo) and key players in the cooperative ecosystem. These exchanges highlighted the vital role of cooperatives, particularly in the agricultural sector, while also shedding light on persistent challenges: limited access to finance, management issues, lack of competitiveness, difficulties accessing markets, and the impact of climate change.

Essential themes such as women's empowerment, sustainable development, ecological agriculture, and job creation were also at the heart of the debates, demonstrating their interconnectedness with the dynamism of the cooperative sector. A major announcement was the upcoming activation of an exchange platform for all African cooperatives, emphasizing the need for an exhaustive database for better visibility and coordination.

HAF: A committed Partner for the Future

With over 25 years of experience in sustainable development, capacity building for cooperatives and associations, women's empowerment, agroecological plantations, and more recently, supporting farmers in selling carbon credits, the High Atlas Foundation is ready to contribute its expertise. HAF actively encourages and supports cooperatives in contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the objectives of the National Sustainable Development Strategy.

We are convinced that a collaboration between the Office for the Development of Cooperation and HAF will allow us to pool our strengths for concrete and sustainable solutions, thereby contributing to a more just and resilient economic and social development in Africa.

The High Atlas Foundation reaffirms its commitment to working hand in hand with all stakeholders so that cooperatives continue to "build a better world."