Africa SACCO conference 2025 kicks off in Ethiopia

The 2025 Africa SACCO Regulatory Round Table (RRT) conference kicked off on Tuesday, June 24, in Addis Ababa ,Ethiopia  under the theme “Strengthening SACCOS Regulation for Financial Stability.”

The high-level gathering has brought together SACCO regulators, industry experts, development partners, and cooperative leaders from across Africa and beyond to deliberate on enhancing regulatory frameworks for Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOS).

Kenya is represented by State Department of Cooperatives Principal Secretary Patrick Kilemi who was accompanied with David Mategwa , African Confederation of Cooperative Savings and Credit Associations (ACCOSCA) Board Member and National Chairperson of Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives

The conference was opened by Ethiopia Minister of Agriculture Data Dr. Sophia Kassa, who said that African savings and credit cooperatives are a source of financial supply to the communities that don’t have access to it.

The conference is cohosted by ACCOSCA and the Ethiopian Cooperative Commission.

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Key objectives of the RRT include addressing regulatory challenges, building a stable SACCO environment, exploring policy and legal frameworks, and promoting a comprehensive risk management approach.

Other agendas include regulatory Landscape in Ethiopia, The Role of SACCOs in Financial Inclusion Marlene Shiels (OBE, AADE, I-CUDE), Scotland Financial Analysis for Self-Compliance, Compliance Framework and Reporting Requirements, Cybersecurity and Al Risks for Compliance Officers -Africa Climate Action Plan.

The training which is organized  targets regulators, cooperative commissioners, central banks, SACCO associations, and regional government representatives, aiming to harmonize and elevate SACCO regulation across the continent.

ACCOSCA Executive Director George Ombado,and David Mategwa – ACCOSCA Board Member and National Chairperson of KUSCCO,  we had  a fruitful engagement with H.E Ambassador Shiferaw Shigute (PHD) – Commissioner, Ethiopian Cooperative Commission—on the sidelines of the 2025 Africa SACCO Regulatory Roundtable in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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The Cooperative leaders explored various avenues of deepening synergy between ACCOSCA and the Federal Government of Ethiopia, through the Ethiopian Cooperative Commission.

In the consultative session, Ambassador Shiferaw Shigute (PHD) applauded ACCOSCA’s efforts in strengthening the cooperative movement in Ethiopia as the most potent vehicle for grassroots transformation. On my part, i noted that the Kenya and Ethiopian Cooperative movements share a common vision of an inclusive growth trajectory of the two nations and Africa at large.

Other leaders in attendance included Berhanu Dufera – CEO, Financial Cooperative Development at the Ethiopia Cooperative Commission, among other leaders.

This comes ahead of the official opening of the 2025 Africa Regulatory Roundtable, cohosted by ACCOSCA and the Ethiopian Cooperative Commission, which is taking place this week at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa, Federal Republic of Ethiopia.

By Obegi Malack

obegimalack@gmail.com

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