Cooperative League of the United States of America

THE SAFE AGRICULTURE/FOOD EXPORT (SAFE) PROJECT (KNOWN LOCALLY AS PROGANA) WAS AWARDED TO THE NATIONAL COOPERATIVE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION CLUSA INTERNATIONAL (NCBA CLUSA) TO LEAD THE CONSORTIUM OF THE DOMINICAN AGRIBUSINESS BOARD (JAD), TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY'S BORLAUG INSTITUTE (TAMU), FUNDACION RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (REDDOM) AND GENEX COOPERATIVE. SAFE IS A SEVEN-YEAR PROJECT BEING IMPLEMENTED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FROM SEPTEMBER 2015 TO DECEMBER 2023 TO STRENGTHEN THE DOMINICAN BEEF AND DAIRY VALUE CHAINS. SAFE SUPPORTS THE DOMINICAN LIVESTOCK SECTOR BY STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF PRODUCERS, PRODUCER ORGANIZATIONS, PROCESSORS, AND GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS IN 11 PROVINCES TO INCREASE THE USE OF GOOD FARMING PRACTICES, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES, ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY, BEST MANUFACTURING PRACTICES, MARKETING, AND ACCESS TO MARKETS, AMONG OTHER ACTIVITIES. THE PROJECT HAS THE FOLLOWING TWO OBJECTIVES: IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY IN THE LIVESTOCK (BEEF AND DAIRY) VALUE CHAIN AND EXPAND TRADE OF BEEF AND DAIRY PRODUCTS. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, NCBA HAS PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO COMPLY WITH USDA FSIS EQUIVALENCE STANDARDS FOR THE EXPORT OF RAW BEEF PRODUCTS TO U.S. MARKETS. NCBA HAS BOLSTERED THE CAPACITY OF BEEF PRODUCERS AND PROCESSORS TO COMPLY WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS.NCBA HAS IMPLEMENTED TRAININGS TO INCREASE THE APPLICATION OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES; ANIMAL HEALTH; NUTRITION AND HUSBANDRY PRACTICES; HACCP; BPM; SPS; AND INDUSTRY FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS.

NCBA CLUSA'S 5-YEAR (2018-2023) CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR COOPERATIVE EXPANSION (CECE) PROJECT, FUNDED BY USAID'S COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (CDP), OPERATES IN GUATEMALA, PERU, KENYA, MADAGASCAR, TANZANIA, AND ECUADOR TO ACHIEVE 3 MAIN GOALS: 1) IMPROVING ENABLING ENVIRONMENTS, 2) ENHANCING SUPPORT TO COOPERATIVES, AND 3) IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF COOPERATIVES. TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, ACTIVITIES FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR COOPERATIVES, BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL SUPPORT INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE QUALITY COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND PROVIDING TARGETED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO MORE THAN 60 COOPERATIVES THROUGH TAILORED COACHING PLANS. TO DATE, COOPERATIVE LAW REFORM PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND SUBMITTED IN ALL 6 COUNTRIES THROUGH MULTISECTORAL AND PARTICIPATORY STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, WITH THE BILL IN ECUADOR GETTING PASSED IN 2023. 64 AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES AND SAVINGS AND CREDIT COOPERATIVES REPRESENTING NEARLY 180,000 MEMBERS HAVE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN COACHING ACTIVITIES, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON WOMEN'S INCLUSION, EMPOWERMENT, AND LEADERSHIP. FROM 2020-2022, IMPROVED CO-OP GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RESULTED IN $40M NET REVENUES; $8.3M INCREASE IN MEMBER EQUITY; AND OVER $12.6M IN LOANS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CECE PROJECT PARTNERS WITH MORE THAN 30 LOCAL COOPERATIVE SUPPORTIVE ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS TO ENHANCE SERVICES TO COOPERATIVES.