Rural Supply and Marketing Cooperatives in China: Historical Development, Problems, and Reform
The historical development and performance of rural supply and marketing cooperatives (SMCs) in China are examined and linked to various reform periods. SMCs suffered a loss of focus on members as well as member control during several periods of reform and experienced declining financial performance during the most recent reform period. A number of factors related to this decline are presented, including ineffective reforms, lack of accountability and transparency, limited focus on member needs, a negative image for cooperatives, and poor understanding of contemporary cooperative management and governance practices.
Establishing cooperatives for effective community development in rural China
The article presents the results of participatory monitoring and evaluation of projects which aimed to aid the establishment and development of 24 modern rural cooperatives in Shandan County, Gansu Province, China. The evaluation was designed to assess the economic and community development outcomes of the cooperatives after three years of operation. The data were collected from four cooperatives using surveys, group work, and semi-structured interviews of stakeholders. The evaluations showed that within two years of inception cooperatives were improving social and economic outcomes for members and communities. Improvements for establishing and sustainably operating rural cooperatives are suggested. Établissement de coopératives en vue d'un développement efficace des communautés en Chine rurale Cet article présente les résultats du suivi et de l'évaluation participatifs de projets dont le but était de favoriser l'établissement et le développement de 24 coopératives rurales modernes dans le Comté de Shandan, province de Gansu, en Chine. Cet exercice a été conçu pour évaluer les résultats en matière de développement économique et communautaire des coopératives au bout de trois ans de fonctionnement. Les données ont été recueillies auprès de quatre coopératives à l'aide d'enquêtes, de travail en groupes et d'entretiens semi-structurés de parties prenantes. Les évaluations ont montré que, moins de deux ans après leur lancement, les coopératives avaient déjà amélioré les résultats sociaux et économiques pour leurs membres et les communautés. Des améliorations sont suggérées pour établir et assurer le fonctionnement durable de coopératives rurales. Estabelecendo cooperativas para um desenvolvimento comunitário efetivo na zona rural da China Este artigo apresenta os resultados do monitoramento e avaliação participativos de projetos que visaram auxiliar a criação e desenvolvimento de 24 cooperativas rurais modernas em Shandan County, na Província de Gansu, na China. A avaliação foi destinada a examinar os resultados do desenvolvimento econômico e da comunidade em decorrência das cooperativas após três anos de operação. Os dados foram coletados de quatro cooperativas utilizando pesquisas, trabalho em grupo e entrevistas semi-estruturadas com as partes envolvidas. As avaliações mostraram que após dois anos do início das operações, as cooperativas estavam melhorando os resultados sociais e econômicos para seus membros e comunidades. Avanços para a criação e atuação sustentável de cooperativas rurais são sugeridos. Cooperativas para un desarrollo comunitario efectivo en zonas rurales de China Este ensayo presenta los resultados del monitoreo y la evaluación participativa de varios proyectos cuyo objetivo era ayudar a crear y desarrollar 24 cooperativas modernas en el área rural del condado de Shandan, provincia de Gansu, en China. La evaluación fue concebida para analizar los resultados, tanto económicos como de desarrollo comunitario, tras tres años de funcionamiento de las cooperativas. Los datos de cuatro cooperativas se recopilaron mediante encuestas, trabajo en equipo y entrevistas semiestructuradas a los actores locales. Las evaluaciones mostraron que, a dos años de su formación, las cooperativas habían mejorado la situación social y económica tanto de los socios como de las comunidades. El ensayo propone métodos para mejorar la formación y la operación sostenible de las cooperativas rurales.
An assessment of the Impact of Devolution on Women Empowerment in Nakuru County
-Women have been grossly marginalized in organs of decision-making and governance structures. The Constitution of Kenya has sought to bridge this gap by providing both women and men the right to equal treatment, including the right to equal opportunities in political, economic, cultural and social spheres. However, gender equality has not been achieved and women are still lagging in terms of decision making processes. The main objective of the study was to detemine the impact of devolution on women empowerment in Nakuru County. The study found that substantive women representation, development of programs and accessibility of services had a positive effect on the women empowerment in Nakuru County. The study also found out that increased accessibility of Services by women influenced women empowerment, this study also concludes that the introduction of development programs had the greatest impact on women empowerment in Nakuru County. The study recommends that more programs targeting women should be introduced as these have the greatest impact on women empowerment. The findings may be used to make conclusions and recommendations.