Building unity, one cooperative at a time
Cooperatives are fostering peace and economic empowerment.
- Cooperatives offer an alternative to violence.
- They promote democratic governance at a local level.
- Cooperatives enhance economic growth and development.
- These groups address food insecurity and climate shocks.
Cooperatives are voluntary economic organizations where members share risks, work, and income, but **how do cooperatives contribute to South Sudan’s stability?** They offer economic opportunities and a sense of unity, reducing the incentive for violence.
A Path to Peace
South Sudan has faced many challenges since its independence in 2011. A civil war, which ended in 2018 with a peace agreement, left the nation fragile. Looting, intercommunal violence, food insecurity, and climate shocks continue to plague communities.
But cooperatives offer a ray of hope in this challenging context.
“Cooperatives are one of the avenues that can bring peace and stability to South Sudan,” said Louis Bagare, project manager of cooperatives at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Deng William Achiek, director for rural producers in South Sudan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, noted that cooperatives have “really changed the mindset of our people and brought stability to the country.”
Voluntary and Democratic
Cooperatives operate as voluntary economic organizations. Members share the risks, work, and resulting income.
Oneil Yosia Damia, the Director-General for Cooperative Development in South Sudan, stated, “A cooperative is a democratic, social association of people who, as individuals, cannot improve their status of living and social status… But once they come together in a cooperative, then, they can raise the standard of their living.”
Bagare believes that the democratic nature of cooperatives will encourage a more widespread adoption of democratic governance across South Sudan.
Income, Not Guns
Cooperatives promote economic growth and development. They provide communities, especially young people, with an alternative to looting.
“When, especially the youth, are engaged in productive activities that generate income, they will not have the interest to pick a gun to go and fight or to rob and loot,” said Bagare.
Communities forming cooperatives often lack the individual resources to sustain livelihoods, pushing youth toward violent looting.
“When [community members] work together, when they bring ideas together, when they bring resources together, it is much easier for them to overcome their livelihood challenges,” Bagare added.
Bagare also mentioned that banks are more willing to invest in cooperatives, and organizations like FAO are more likely to provide support. The ultimate aim is self-sufficiency.
“The focus is on building their capacity so that they can be able to create lives,” Bagare stated.
A Historic Structure
South Sudan hosts a diverse range of cooperatives. Most are agricultural, but some produce soap, bread, and textiles. This type of work has deep roots in South Sudanese culture.
“Cooperatives are not something which has come from nowhere. It has been part of the culture of South Sudan,” Bagare explained.
Daima referenced a “golden era” of cooperatives before the civil war in 2011, and his office is working to restore that era.
“I want our cooperatives to be as busy as bees. This is the spirit of oneness, of unity,” Daima said.
Bagare envisions a future where cooperatives thrive in every economic sector, not just agriculture.
“If we are able to work together, we can become better people tomorrow. But the moment that we continue to only fight with each other, we will continue to destroy ourselves.”
