Organization and Management of Rural Cooperatives for Poverty Alleviation Programmes

Objectives:
• Understand the role of rural cooperatives in poverty alleviation.
• Learn key principles and practices for organizing rural cooperatives.
• Explore effective management strategies for sustainable cooperative operations.
• Gain insights into the challenges faced by rural cooperatives and strategies for overcoming them.

Introduction to Rural Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation
• Definition and concept of rural cooperatives.
• The role of cooperatives in community development and poverty reduction.
• Key characteristics of successful rural cooperatives.
• Overview of global and local examples of cooperative success in poverty alleviation.
• Importance of member participation and ownership in cooperative models.

Organizing Rural Cooperatives
• Steps in forming a rural cooperative.
• Legal frameworks and regulations governing cooperatives.
• Identifying and mobilizing cooperative members.
• Roles and responsibilities of cooperative leaders and members.
• Developing a cooperative constitution and bylaws.
• Strategies for initial funding and resource mobilization.

Management Strategies for Rural Cooperatives
• Principles of cooperative management: transparency, accountability, and democracy.
• Setting clear objectives and goals for the cooperative.
• Financial management and record-keeping.
• Human resource management within cooperatives.
• Building capacity and skills among cooperative members.
• Leadership development and succession planning.

Challenges and Sustainability of Rural Cooperatives
• Common challenges faced by rural cooperatives (e.g., financial instability, lack of skilled management).
• Strategies for overcoming these challenges.
• The importance of networking and partnerships with other cooperatives, government agencies, and NGOs.
• Monitoring and evaluating the performance of rural cooperatives.
• Ensuring long-term sustainability through effective governance and financial practices.

DATE:
1ST BATCH: 14th – 17th Apr, 2025
2ND BATCH: 29th July – 1st Aug 2025
3RD BATCH: 25th- 28th Nov, 2025