Reducing poverty the co-operative way: a look at Kenya Rowshan Hannan, PhD researcher University of Leeds Mainstreaming Co-operation conference 3-5 July 2012

Presentation outline Overview of PhD research Importance of the governance lens:  Rural institutions  Gender  Elites Link between co-operative governance and poverty reduction

Overview of research Case study research in Kenya Qualitative Secondary and primary data co-op poverty participationreduction governance women menpoor rich

The importance of the governance lens Role of rural institutions in poverty reduction Institutional form matters Opening the ‘black box’ of farmer organisations Efficiency vs equity: a new definition of ‘efficiency’

The importance of the governance lens Gender in co-operative governance Burdenshare Men’s importance in income generation and development Allowing women to access benefits from their own and men’s involvement

The importance of the governance lens Elite involvement The good The bad Elite capture Biased benefit distribution Better knowledge base Better access to markets Elites governance

What does coop governance have to do with poverty reduction? democratic decision-making participation in voting active participation in meetings general members board members staff members Control of coop & distribution of benefits Empowerment of women, men, poor poverty reduction at household and community levels good (coop) governance access to coop