Regional Project for Promoting Cooperative Self-help Organisations in Asia

DGRV follows a multi-level approach: The individual cooperative – i.e. at the micro-level – needs a consistent business orientation, adequate internal organization and well-trained managers and staff. In addition, the cooperative must be part of an integrated subsidiarity-based network at the meso-level in order for it to benefit from services provided by specialized central enterprises and associations, such as for training and auditing. At the macro-level, the government must create an adequate legal and regulatory framework for cooperative activities.

The Regional Project for Promoting Cooperative Self-help Organizations in Asia ​consists of project activities in 7 countries: Cambodia (DGRV country office), Myanmar (DGRV country office), Laos (DGRV country office), Vietnam (DGRV country office), Thailand, Philippines and India (partnering with APMAS).

Fields of activity in Lao P.D.R. are: - Support of the reform of the cooperatives in agricultural sector; - Work with pilot cooperatives - Training schemes on the topics: role of cooperatives in market economies, function of cooperative federations, transformation of cooperative, cooperative audit, relevance of savings and credit cooperatives - Consultancy to agricultural cooperatives, federations, for the set-up of business an investment plans and at local level for the set-up of a system of cooperative credit banks, audit, training - Promotion of agricultural commodity cooperatives - Support of legal and regulatory framework (Cooperative Decree).

The project is financed by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).