In late June, Dr. Judith Hermanson, OCDC Research Group director, presented on four of OCDC’s ongoing research projects and chaired a workshop on agriculture and cooperatives at the International Co-operative Alliance Global Research Conference. The research projects she discussed were:

• Processes and Policies Conducive to Cooperative Development in Four Sub-Saharan African Countries. This collaborative research initiative with EURICSE includes a desk review of cooperatives and co-op policies in Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Senegal. Dr. Hermanson’s co-presenter was with Cecilia Navarra.
• Assessing Cooperative Governance Training Needs in Developing Countries.  The presentation addressed design and methodology of OCDC’s multi-country governance research currently being conducted by OCDC member cooperative-development organizations.
• A Comparative Study of Cooperatives and Economic and Social Change: Pilot Study in Poland. Hermanson presented the design, country context study and research methodology of this pilot study for a multi-year, multi-country, and cross-sectoral research study on the impact of cooperatives on social and economic development.
• Side Selling by Agricultural Cooperatives in Ethiopia: Research Analysis and Program Implications. This research collaboration with Self-Help Africa studies the prevalence, causes and implications of side selling in Ethiopia. The presentation also includes recommendations for cooperative development organizations (CDOs) and cooperatives for reducing side-selling. Dr. Hermanson co-presented this research with Julie Dwyer of Self-Help Africa.

In addition, Hermanson met with current collaborators, networked with future research partners, and continued to build interest in OCDC, the Research Group and the Cooperative Development Program. The Research Group is eager to engage with partners to address the importance of international cooperative development.