Essaouira holds the The 11th Technical Committee of the African Ministerial Conference on Cooperation
Essaouira holds The 11th Technical Committee of the African Ministerial Conference on Cooperation (TCAMCCO)
The State Secretary in charge of Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy, and the Office of Cooperation Development (ODCO), in partnership with the International Cooperative Alliance – Africa (ICA-Africa), organized the 11th Meeting of the Technical Committee of the African Ministerial Cooperative Conference (TCAMCCO) from May 20 to 22, 2025, in Essaouira, under the theme: “Visibility of Cooperatives for a Better Africa,” as part of the 2025 International Year of Cooperatives proclaimed by the United Nations.
This major continental event, dedicated to strengthening cooperative ecosystems in Africa, brought together over 30 speakers and 300 participants from around fifteen countries — including Morocco, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, South Africa, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Liberia, Togo, and the United Kingdom.
The Technical Committee of the African Ministerial Cooperative Conference (TCAMCCO) is the technical body of the AMCCO (Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference), responsible for preparing, guiding, and monitoring ministerial decisions related to cooperative development in Africa. It brings together government representatives, experts, and sector partners to promote dialogue, policy development, and coordination around key topics such as governance, financing, gender equality, youth inclusion, and digital transition.
As a true bridge between policymakers and cooperatives, TCAMCCO works to fully integrate the cooperative model into the continent’s development strategies.
The agenda of this 11th TCAMCCO began with an opening ceremony highlighted by the address of Mr. Hassan Chouikh, General Secretary of the State Secretary in charge of Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy (SEAESS), who emphasized Morocco’s commitment, under the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, to making the social and solidarity economy a central lever for inclusive territorial development.
The work carried out in Essaouira aims to lay the technical and strategic foundations for this major political gathering by defining the priorities, recommendations, and areas of collaboration that will be submitted for approval by African ministers in charge of cooperatives.
On this occasion, Mrs. Aicha Errifaai, General Director of the Office of Cooperation Development, emphasized: ” “Morocco today has a rapidly growing cooperative network, with nearly 61,000 cooperatives and more than 764,000 members. This dynamism reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to making the social and solidarity economy a true lever for inclusive and sustainable development. The preparation of the upcoming AMCCO in Kenya, through this 11th Technical Committee, is a strategic opportunity to strengthen South-South cooperation, share best practices, and jointly promote a strong African vision for the cooperative model.”
For his part, Mr. Ayeola Oriyomi, President of ICA-Africa, emphasized the importance of enhancing the visibility of the cooperative model across the African continent, which he presented as a relevant response to the challenges of unemployment, precariousness, social exclusion, and economic disparities.
Ms. Aicha Errifaai once again emphasized the leading role of the cooperative movement and the national initiatives aimed at supporting it, particularly within the framework of the 2025 International Year of Cooperatives. She highlighted the implementation of coherent public policies and the creation of integrated support systems, training programs, and mechanisms for integration into both local and international value chains.
The conference opened with a first panel titled “Cooperative Visibility: A Lever for Africa’s Future,” moderated by Mr. Aziz Boucetta. This session was enriched by insightful contributions from Ms. Aicha Errifaai, Ms. Bouchra Rahmouni (Director of the Social Lab at UM6P), Mr. David Obonyo (cooperative development specialist), and Mr. George Musembi (Chief Officer of Cooperatives at Nairobi City County, Kenya).
The event brought together cooperatives, cooperative unions, public institutions, technical partners, and high-level experts. The discussions continued through May 22, with field visits to cooperatives and thematic sessions focused on digital innovation, access to finance, youth engagement, and the promotion of gender equality.
