Co-op News

Advancing from planning to implementation, co-operative cluster leaders participated in the Module 2 Training on Agro-Enterprise Clustering Approach (AECA) and Shared Leadership, held from different areas in Regions 9, 11 and 12. 

Organized by MASS-SPECC Cooperative Development Center under the Coop-PROPEL Project, with support from the SPADE Project co-funded by the European Union and the German Government (GIZ), the training aimed to enhance the capabilities of co-op leaders to manage their agro-enterprise clusters more effectively and independently.

Building on foundational concepts from the first module, Module 2 focused on practical application and sustainability. Participants explored Steps 5 to 8 of the AECA framework:

• Step 5: Finalizing marketing agreements
• Step 6: Testing and implementing the marketing plan
• Step 7: Reviewing marketing results and lessons learned
• Step 8: Developing a sustainability plan

With these steps, the training shifted from theory to real-world execution. Co-op leaders were encouraged to take greater ownership of cluster operations, strengthen internal systems, and craft forward-looking strategies for long-term viability.

Beyond technical topics, a key component of the training was shared leadership development, fostering teamwork, accountability, and active participation within cluster groups. Through interactive workshops, peer-sharing, and reflective activities, participants practiced self-management, assessed their group development stages, and reinforced their roles as co-operative leaders.

The program also emphasized the vital relationship between co-operatives and clusters in ensuring stable supply, coordinated marketing, and collective decision-making. Bonus sessions on leadership commitment and sustainability planning helped cluster leaders envision their growth trajectory beyond project support. 

A total of 374 participants representing MIEDECO, BCS MPC, Makilala MPC, Paglaum Consolidated MPC, Sta. Catalina MPC, MIFAMCO, Sindangan Community FACOMA, and TIMMULCO came together for the multi-day training. United by a shared vision, these co-operatives are working to develop profitable, farmer-led agro-enterprises that can compete and thrive in today’s marketplace.

As MASS-SPECC continues to provide technical assistance and mentoring, the AECA Module 2 training marks a pivotal transition toward self-reliant, market-driven co-operative enterprises — empowering smallholder farmers not just to participate, but to lead in agricultural value chains.