COOP Agency: “The Cooperatives Investment & Development Agency or Wakaaladda Maalgashiga & Horumarinta Iskaashatooyinka (in Somali)” is a PPP Agency that enjoys full collaboration with 8-line ministries which support the COOP Agency’s strategic mission to enhance the agri-food sector of “the agricultural, livestock and fishery cooperatives” to take the lead in making the country food self-sufficient and agri-food supply chain.
The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) acknowledged the cooperatives’ vital strategic role in Somali Long-term Economic Development and Food Self-Sufficiency, therefore on 18 February 2016 the Council of Ministries adopted the modernized Somali Cooperative Law, submitted by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry FGS. The Council of Ministries’ decision Ref. SHGW.00.57.02.16, and the Prime Minister’s
Decree No 927 was published in THE OFFICIAL BULLETIN on 10 June 2016)
The Council of Ministries also agreed with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, FGS to activate the COOP Agency. The Agency’s main collaborative objectives are to support the development of agri-food cooperative enterprises, from production to processing and commercialization to integrate all stages of the supply chain, and capacity development, and also to support the business marketing of their processed products. Therefore, as agreed, the Minister of Commerce & Industry, FGS launched on 12/07/2016 the COOP Agency with Ministerial Decree No 004, Ref.:00899/WGW/16, which was included in the official completion of Laws and was later published IN THE OFFICIAL BULLETIN on 10 June 2017)
COOP Agency has received all required Ministerial Letters of Cooperation from 8 relevant federal Ministries including the Ministry of Agriculture & Irrigation, the Ministry of Livestock, and the Ministry of Fisheries. In that connection, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) has recently circulated an additional Ministerial Decree to kindly ask respectable regional and international donors, INGOs, UNIDO, FAO, WFP, and other UN Agencies to collaborate with COOP Agency in the development of agri-food cooperatives, from production purchasing to processing and commercialization and also in leading the capacity building programs for Somali Cooperatives.
COOP in order to achieve its mission has entered into a cooperation agreement with an Australian Organization (GOG) which allows COOP to provide training and promotion skills to Cooperatives. Also, COOP has already received from the Ministry of Education a letter of recognition and cooperation from the Minister who asked the country's Universities of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries to work with COOP. The Ministry has welcomed the idea of COOP to establish the Institute of Cooperative Management, which will be the only PPP Production Management Institution in the country.
On the other hand, COOP is currently signing a cooperation agreement with the international company "Self Globe" owned by an Italian group of experts, who specialize in providing services and ideas to meet the needs of enterprises and institutions believing in sustainable rural development and in the creation of agri-food chains. The main goal of Self Globe is the development of independent farms thanks to the integration of all steps of the agri-food chain: from production to processing and commercialization.
Self Globe offers training and tutoring programs with the aim of making the management of the agricultural, livestock, and fishery cooperative enterprises autonomous in every area of its activity. Self Globe network is able to provide equipment and plants for different sectors - zootechnics, slaughtering, meat, milk, fruit, and vegetable- sizing them in compliance with the project measure and objectives