The Cooperative Development Agency (CDA) and the British aid agency, OXFAM Wednesday, March 4  signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Monrovia.  The alliance is aimed at building cooperation and capacity, creating awareness on ownership and participation. It also includes the reactivation of the pre-war cooperative societies, training Board of Directors, Management and general membership in cooperative relevance to individual and community development.

Key to the MOU is the relevance in cooperative approach in the utilization of community resources for individual, community and national development. The MOU also stresses that focus will be placed individuals and community members engaged in agriculture and other livelihood income generation activities and on increasing the conflict prevention capacity and effectiveness of communities.

Speaking during the signing ceremony at the Sinkor offices of the CDA, the Registrar General of the agency, Mr. Gibson Momoh Tulay, who signed on behalf of his institution, described OXFAM as a genuine partner in the rebuilding process of Liberia especially in standing firm by the country towards achieving the deliverables as enshrined within the Poverty Reduction Strategy, (PRS). OXFAM, Mr. Tulay said, has done tremendously well in Liberia over the past years but not much has been captured by the media.

According to the CDA boss, the partnership will specifically focus on three counties in Liberia, to include Margibi, Grand Gedeh and Montserrado. Even prior to signing the MOU yesterday, Mr. Tulay said OXFAM has been doing quite well in strengthening the capacities of cooperatives in the three counties.
He said CDA and OXFAM have both been working closely in many areas, noting that the MOU was a matter of solidifying the partnership. “Signing a direct MOU for the capacity building of cooperatives in these three countries is quite a useful exercise.” The CDA boss maintained.

For his part, the Country Representative of OXFAM, Mr. Charls Wontewe, who signed for his institution, said he was happy to forge alliance with an agency like the CDA. Wontewe said Oxfam acknowledges the mandate of CDA in helping to group individuals together primarily for their own survival.

The Oxfam boss said his institution does not compete with the locals but rather it identifies people and agencies that are engaged in ventures similar to their objective and empower them. By doing so, he believes there would be no duplication of functions. “We do not compete with local organizations but we strengthen their capacities.” He said.

Mr. Wontewe agreed that Oxfam was doing quite well in assisting the Liberian Government and its people in the capacity building endeavor. He was however quick to note that his organization does not believe in much publicity. “We prefer to get down to the people who are most affected. Our job is result oriented.” He averred.