2022 ICRG Annual Learning Event
January 19 – 20, 2022
Overview
The ICRG invited partners and collaborators from Cooperative Development Organizations and non-profit experts to discuss how CDP participants can address Climate Policy concerns. The ICRG invited technical experts in energy, agriculture, and trade to share their expertise with the attendees on concrete steps cooperatives are uniquely equipped to contribute.
Event Videos
OCDC’s Collaborative Group members as participants; TechChange and ICRG staff as facilitators, Wangeci Gitata-Kiriga as moderator, joined by climate change professionals/experts as special guests.
OCDC’s annual cooperative learning event with member organizations’ HQ staff.
January 19th-20th 2022. Virtual, held on Zoom.
Collaboratively! Through a mix of information discussion and mutual learning, drawing upon adult learning principles, informed by expert input and field-based learning. Facilitated sessions with the skilled technical support of TechChange.
Strengthen OCDC’s community of practice by creating opportunities for collaborative learning on key issues affecting cooperative development. This year the topic is climate change prioritized by a number of CDOs and by our donor USAID.
Event-Specific Goals
- Provide information and interaction around the global, USAID and project level imperatives driving climate change responses. Climate-related issues will drive development programming during the next decade and beyond.
- Develop shared understanding of USAID’s draft climate strategy and increase awareness of how it could impact future CDP activities and project cycles.
- Create a roadmap for incorporating climate change considerations into present and future CDP programming.
- Develop preliminary input into a draft document designed to articulate why cooperatives and their members, supported by USAID and CDOs, are both important strategic partners and front-line drivers of changed policy and practice.
Event Agenda
Day One
9:30am-12:00pm
Welcome
Paul Hazen | Executive Director, OCDC
Dr. Judith Hermanson | Director, ICRG
Emily Varga | USAID
Wangeci Gitata-Kiriga | Moderator
Setting the Stage
To share global perspective of climate action (or inaction) and US commitments to climate
Patricia Espinosa (Recorded) | United Nations
Peg Willingham | CEO, Fairtrade America
David Taylor Policy Manager, Fairtrade UK
USAID’s Strategy and Implications for Cooperative Development and CDOs
Joint Analysis of USAID’s Draft Climate Strategy 2022-2030
Plenary and small group activity
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Locating Cooperative Development within Climate Change Programming
What are the opportunities and challenges for CDOs and their cooperative clients? Are there unique strengths that cooperatives bring, such as scaling or local leadership? Small group activity
Day Two
9:30am – 11:00am
Welcome and Feedback on Day 1
Wangeci Gitata-Kiriga | Moderator
Focusing on the Practicalities for Cooperatives
Drawing from experience, opportunities, challenges, and the unique advantages that cooperatives have to offer.
Frank Bergh, P.E. | Senior Engineer, NRECA International
Marciano “Jun” Virola | Agriterra
Daan Vreeburg | Agriterra
11:00am – 1:15pm
Towards a Joint Statement on the Role of Cooperatives in Addressing Climate Challenges
In small groups, share ideas and vision of how cooperatives can contribute and assist USAID moving forward; how they can operationalize climate response actions under current and future CDP
2:15pm – 2:55pm
Bringing all themes Together: What have we learned?
Report out: Each group share their outcomes.
2:55pm – 3:00pm
Closing Remarks
Paul Hazen | Executive Director, OCDC
