Sally Hartley, Presentation at UK Co-operative College Conference, Tuesday 3rd July 2012

Livelihoods, learning and youth: The impact of

co-operatives on a new generation in countries in

Africa

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Background

Youth Bulge Revival of co-ops

Focus of research • Youth co-operatives in Lesotho and Uganda• Growing emphasis and engagement youth and co-

operatives• Primary co-ops – range in size and sector, generally

smaller (below 50 members) and in agriculture and savings and credit. Both community and school based

• Investigating impact of co-operatives on youth by using a learning lens

• Methodology – in-depth, qualitative, participatory and multiple methods

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Livelihood options for youth

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Co-operatives as a channel for youth livelihoods

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Findings:

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• Youth are attracted to co-ops as they want to make an income

• Recognise the benefit of working collectively– Share resources - skills, ideas and finance– Build stronger voice – negotiation of prices

• Do not always see co-operatives as relevant to them• Increases to income enable them to pay for basic

necessities• Sense of waiting for co-operatives to develop

Wider impacts of co-operative livelihoods for youth

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The Head Teacher at Mohale’s Hoek High School, Lesotho explains the broad range of areas of development: • “(How do you think the students change as a result of

being in the co-op?) Discipline; one could be aloof before, could be selfish and not having a sense of sharing. They develop a personal discipline to chat to each other and think of one another. They are competent; they believe in what they are and accept their situation. They find ways of helping each other and learn how to live with their problems.”

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Personal Development

confidence, collaborative decision making, leadership, public speaking, motivation

and commitment,, future focused, responsible, building relationships

Motivated and focussed

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Trust and peer support

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Community engagement

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Wider impacts of co-operatives

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• Increased agency and achieved functionings in areas of life that youth value (Sen 1999)– Improved business and increased income– Access to education and information– Agency and personal development– Motivated and focussed on development– Peer groups and networks = safety nets– Improved perceptions of youth, Increased youth

interest in the community = Participation in the community

Role of learning

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Learning Impact

Access to education and learning More informed and ‘developed’

Confidence Increased agency

Motivated and focussed Avoiding risky behaviours

Business know how Improved business & increased income

How to work with others, learn to trust each other

Peer support networks

Leadership skills and increased confidence

Increased community and civic participation

Role of learning & wider impacts

Implications of research

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• Evidence of co-operatives as a platform for youth livelihoods that provides both economic and social impacts on development

• Broadens notions of the impact of co-operatives • Emphasis on the role of learning in the broader impacts

that co-operatives can have