Economic Opportunity
How Policy Innovations Can Strengthen Cooperative Businesses in Kenya
By Maureen Gitau, USAID/CLEAR Program Registration of cooperative businesses is a challenging issue for policymakers and stakeholders in the cooperative sector. Under Schedule Four of …
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How Village Savings & Loans Groups Saved $7,000 in Only Four Months
By David Mbulula Garamba National Park lies in the Haut-Uélé province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), along the border with South Sudan. …
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Up to Youth Program Supports Sweet Entrepreneurship in Kosovo
By Lizzie Hickman Do you remember what it was like to be a teenager, to have the entire world of possibilities open for you to …
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USAID CLEAR Program in Kenya Launches a Series of Worker Cooperative Videos
Kenya has a vibrant and dynamic cooperative movement. The worker cooperative model, while new to the Kenyan Cooperative sector, is gaining attention and recognition as …
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Supporting Economic Resilience through Increased Livelihoods in Sri Lanka
By Nagarajah Sathyaruban and Amila Jayamaha In Sri Lanka’s Mullaitivu district, a lack of job opportunities and career guidance avenues has contributed to a high youth …
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Using the New Digital Savings Group Hub to Eliminate Paper, Inspire SavingsÂ
Digitization can feel overwhelming — and even risky when considering inherent equity and access issues. Yet, with the right resources, organizations can go paper-free, or …
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Expanding Possibilities for Women Entrepreneurs in Guatemala
By Jessica Ayala Just over a year ago, Sucely Rocsana Reyes Molina never would have imagined that she would own a flourishing formal dairy business …
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USAID’s Zahabu Safi (Clean Gold) Project Launches Refiners Community of Practice to Help Set Up Responsible Gold Supply Chain from Eastern DRC
By Rachel Brass – Director, Market Linkages and Investment, USAID’s Zahabu Safi (Clean Gold) Project Gold refiners Heimerle + Meule, IGR, Italpreziosi, L’Orfebre, MKS PAMP, …
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Building Demand for Responsibly-Sourced Gold from Eastern Congo
Many communities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) rely on artisanal and small-scale mining as a primary livelihood. While a significant drive of …
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Indispensable: Recognizing & Rebranding the Work of Brazil’s Trash Recyclers
By Roseli Bianchi and Lizzie Hickman In Brazil, some low-income families make ends meet through recycling. However, the process is not as simple as sorting …
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Addressing Housing Challenges through Cooperatives
By Ashley Holst One of the global victims of rising inequality and climate change is access to decent housing. Housing costs are increasing, while the …
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Local Solution to Improved Transparency in Responsible Minerals Trade in Congo’s Ituri Province
How USAID’s Zahabu Safi (Clean Gold) Project is strengthening local civil society to carry out due diligence through a new information management platform By Kevin …
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Lessons from Kenya on Empowering Women in Housing Cooperatives
By Fredrick Nyagah and Tindi Sitati According to data from the International Cooperative Research Group, women represent only 30 percent of cooperative membership in Kenya. …
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USAID’s Zahabu Safi (Clean Gold) Project Facilitates Landmark Agreement in Congo’s Ituri Province
By Kevin Eze The banks of the Ituri River are teeming with men and women searching for gold. For many of these individuals, artisanal mining …
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A Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Eastern Congo
USAID’S Zahabu Safi (Clean Gold) Project brokers a business deal to prevent communal violence and increase incomes for artisanal miners in Maniema province By Kevin …
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Vision 4 Housing: A Kenya Case Study
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Cooperative Development Program – Cooperative Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy & Research (CLEAR) Vision 4 Housing Cooperative got off to a …
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Chipukizi Voice of Drama: A Kenya Case Study
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Cooperative Development Program – Cooperative Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy & Research (CLEAR) Youth employment is not a laughing matter – …
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Improving Working Conditions and Security at Artisanal Gold Mine Sites in Eastern Congo
By Kevin Eze Even as a landowner, Diel’s* income falls short. Profits have not been enough to feed and care for his wife, six children …
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