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OCP Foundation Champions Rural Cooperatives Across Africa
Mrirt — The OCP Foundation is celebrating International Cooperatives Day today by reflecting on its decade-long mission to empower rural communities through cooperative development.
The Moroccan organization works across 12 regions in Morocco and nine countries in the Global South, supporting farmers and artisans who unite to build stronger local economies.
Building stronger communities
The Foundation takes a hands-on approach to cooperative development. It listens to local communities and creates programs that match their specific needs.
Over the past ten years, the organization has supported 932 cooperatives in Morocco alone, reaching more than 9,000 cooperative members — 75% of whom are women.
“We express our sincere thanks to all the trainers who worked tirelessly to strengthen our capabilities,” said Omar Joud, President of the Grand Atlas Cooperatives Union in Ouarzazate.
Programs that make a difference
The Foundation runs several key programs. The “BootCoop” program provides intensive educational training to help new cooperatives get started, through mentoring, and expert guidance to build strong foundations.
Meanwhile, “CoopStore” creates a network that helps cooperatives sell their products.
The program started with 10 founding cooperatives and now includes 60 members. It connects rural producers directly to markets and ensures fair prices for their goods.
The Foundation also trains trainers. Working with the International Labour Organization, it has certified 22 trainers from Morocco, Guinea, Cape Verde, and Ivory Coast. These trainers now teach cooperative management skills across their respective regions.
Reaching beyond Morocco
The Foundation’s impact extends far beyond Morocco’s borders. In Malawi, it helped create two women’s cooperatives focused on pigeon pea processing, training 80 women in transformation and marketing techniques.
In Ivory Coast, women’s groups have planted 145 hectares of cassava with the Foundation’s support. Zimbabwe’s project focuses on tamarind processing, benefiting 350 people across seven groups.
Senegal sees some of the Foundation’s largest projects. Along the Great Green Wall, 700 women benefit from two Integrated Community Agricultural Farms. In Joal Fadiouth, 600 women participate in mangrove restoration efforts.
“We express our deep gratitude to the OCP Foundation for its invaluable support,” said Ndiyae Khadidiatou, Deputy Mayor of Joal Fadiouth in Senegal in a statement.
Looking forward
The Foundation continues to evolve its approach. It focuses on social innovation, experience sharing, and partnerships that align with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The organization believes that cooperatives create more just, human, and resilient economies.
Through programs like Mourafaka, which has provided 2,681 coaching sessions to 197 cooperatives, the Foundation proves that communities working together can transform rural economies – reinventing solidarity economies one village at time.
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