Thirty new trainers trained in My.COOP, in Haiti

The ‘Professional Training for Rural Development’ (Formation professionnelle pour le développement rural - FOPRODER) project, funded by the Norwegian government and implemented by ILO-Haiti, aims to support the governance, economic and institutional capacity building of agricultural associations and cooperatives in the regions of southern Haiti and Grand’ Anse in Haiti. On behalf of the ILO (International Labour Organization), Agriterra evaluates, promotes and strengthens the organisations and cooperative associations involved in the FOPRODER project in Haiti.

Participants during group work at My.Coop training, Haiti

During the first assignment, in February 2017, Agriterra assessed the needs and potential of Haitian cooperatives and associations in the project departments. In the second assignment, July 2017, the governance training was provided, as well as advice and support for associations and cooperatives. During this delegation, the formalisation of the relationship between the ILO and the National Council of Cooperatives (CNC) was launched.

The first training was conducted by Agriterra, in May 2018, and 37 representatives of Haitian cooperatives and associations got familiar with the basics of management and governance of agricultural cooperatives (the first module of My.Coop).

In the week of August 19-24, 2019, Marine Umukunzi and Alex Danissen, Agriterra business advisors and trainers from Rwanda and the Netherlands respectively, facilitated the My.Coop training bringing together thirty trainers. This time, the focus of the training was on the last three My.Coop modules (module 2: needs of members and provision of services for members; module 3: procurement and supply of inputs; and module 4: marketing of members’ produce).

Participants during the My.Coop training, Haiti

Cooperatives, associations and CNC: all equal!

The thirty participants were chairpersons or managers of associations and cooperatives of farmers, breeders and fishermen from the departments of South and Grand'Anse, as well as representatives from the National Council of Cooperatives (CNC) that registers, advises and supervises cooperatives in Haiti. If in 2018 the representatives of the associations and cooperatives were still hesitant to speak frankly in front of the representatives of the CNC, who are agents of the state, during this training, the cooperatives and the associations were much more active, and the transparency was unmitigated. The atmosphere of mutual respect and sharing of experience was established from the very beginning of the training for the benefit of all participants, even the shyest. As is the case with good Haitian customs, lively debates were not lacking, but humour and respect came first and made this training very pleasant and highly useful for all, as evidenced by the daily assessments and the final evaluation.

The 'Sandwich' feedback

Although the first coop basics My.Coop Module was delivered more than a year ago, participants were able to recall key points and lessons learnt. The My.Coop apprentice-trainers during this training went on to explore why and how to identify members' needs and develop relevant and profitable services (Module 2). Using a variety of participatory methods and exchange of experience, future trainers reflected on the provision of agricultural inputs (Module 3) and the five "P's" of marketing (Module 4). The whole week participants were facilitating and received the so-called sandwich feedback from their peers on their moderation techniques. 'Sandwich' is a constructive way of giving feedback, employed by Agriterra, in which peers offer feedback starting with a compliment (positive), followed by an element to improve (negative) and ending with a second positive compliment. All participants were positively influenced and reassured by adopting this constructive approach. The training boosted future trainers’ confidence; participants felt more comfortable with moderation and became more innovative, looking for compliments.

Participants visiting the CAPOPAD savings and credit union, Thorbeck, Haiti

Study visit, action plan and need for further support

The one-week assignment concluded with a study visit to the CAPOPAD savings and credit union in Thorbeck, in Haiti. The participants acquired firsthand knowledge on the efforts of CAPOPAD leaders to establish and manage the cooperative as well as on the relevant services provided to its two-hundred-members. At the final phase of the training, the My.Coop aspiring trainers developed individual and cooperative action plans to strengthen their organisations by applying their newly acquired knowledge and skills and received their certificates. Agriterra is convinced that the majority of the new My.Coop Haitian trainers are very eager and able to facilitate My.Coop training in organisations. Since the financial capacity of most of them does not allow them to organise trainings, Agriterra would strongly advise ILO to further assist them in coaching and financing so that these action plans are actually realised and the two regions of Haiti can greatly benefit.

Group photo of participants and facilitators

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Written by Alex Danissen & Marine Umukunzi, Agriterra business advisors and trainers from Rwanda and the Netherlands

Read also the article by ILO: available in English and in French  

Agriterra is an agri-agency founded by the Dutch agricultural sector. Its mission is to strengthen agricultural organisations around the world, in particular, to professionalise agricultural cooperatives so that they are autonomous and at the service of their members.

My.Coop is a training package and programme on the management of agricultural cooperatives, developed through a partnership of several organisations including the ILO, the FAO, the International Training Centre of the ILO, Agriterra, the Royal Tropical Institute and the Wageningen University and Research Centre. As of 2018, at least 64 countries and 154 organisations from around the world have participated in a My.Coop training of trainers (ToT) or made use of the materials.