Empower leadership and shape the future of women-led cooperatives

The Vietnam Cooperative Alliance is hosting the leadership meeting of the International Cooperative Alliance Asia-Pacific region and the Asia-Pacific Women Cooperative Leaders Summit from July 29 to 31, 2024, in Hanoi. These events feature 100 participants, including about 70 delegates from Asia-Pacific countries, 30 delegates from international organisations in Vietnam, and representatives from various ministries and departments...

According to Mrs Cao Xuan Thu Van, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, the conference is an opportunity to recognise the contributions of cooperatives in general and female cooperative leaders in particular towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Additionally, it provides a platform to share and exchange good practices and effective models to enhance women's participation in cooperative management and leadership.

In Vietnam, specifically in the agricultural sector, although there is no comprehensive data, at least 10% of women are in management positions among the 18,340 cooperatives. The One Commune One Product (OCOP) program is currently one of the levers driving rural economic development and contributing to building new rural areas. Among the entities participating in OCOP, 39% are women.

The Government's program for the development of the collective economy and cooperatives for the period 2021-2025 emphasizes the need to "continue to establish cooperatives and cooperative unions led by youth, women, veterans, and ethnic minorities." The National Strategy on Gender Equality for the period 2021-2030 sets a target that "the percentage of female directors/owners of enterprises and cooperatives will reach at least 27% by 2025 and 30% by 2030." In January 2023, the Government approved a project to "Support cooperatives managed by women, creating jobs for female workers by 2030."

However, there is still a gender equality gap in this sector. The proportion of women participating in leadership and management positions accounts for only about 25% of the total cooperative leadership, and most hold positions from the deputy level down. The capacity of cooperative leadership teams, especially women, is still limited in knowledge, financial management skills, business organization, technology application, and trade promotion...

Therefore, promoting women's participation in cooperatives is an important requirement, contributing to the dynamic, efficient, and sustainable development of the collective economy and socio-economic development in general. The conference is an opportunity to continue affirming the positive role of women in cooperatives at national and regional levels. The Vietnam Cooperative Alliance demonstrates the determination and commitment to continue activities and initiatives to promote the role, positive participation, and benefits of women in the collective economy and cooperative economy.