Publication:

The Synergy Between the Cooperative Movement and Devolved Units in the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in Kenya

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emanated from the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio. It aimed at producing universal objectives that met the environmental, political and economic challenges facing the world. This paper focuses on the role that devolved units at the county level play in achieving sustainable development goals in Kenya, through cooperatives and saving societies. For the SDGs to be effectively implemented there is need for active participation of citizens in their individual and collective capacities. Cooperatives provide a platform to achieve this as they aim at pooling together resources from individuals who participate in similar economic activities and have common goals. Considering that the cooperatives are organized structures established, as efficient channels through which SDGs can be implemented at the grass-root level. The paper focused on analyzing SDG 1. No poverty 2, decent work and economic growth and 12 on responsible consumption and production. The cooperative principles promote self-sustainability, inclusive management and good governance. The paper observes that SDGs can be achieved through devolved units (counties) in Kenya. However, the question to be addressed remains: - To what extent are the counties using Co- operatives and saving societies toward achieving SDG’s No 1, 8 and 12? The study endeavored to establish the extent to which Counties promote Cooperative financial inclusion and knowledge management in their activities, as they seek to achieve SDGs No 1, 8, and 12 in Kenya. An assessment was carried out by examining the County Integrated Development plans(CIDP)-2018-2022 in order to establish the extent to which the Counties have inculcated Cooperatives in the achievement of SDG’s 1,8, and 12 in Kenya. The study utilized a Desk Review approach with a focus on the CIDP of all the forty- seven (47) counties in Kenya to assess whether the County units strengthen the SDG’S Number 1, 8 and 12 economic pillars. The study concluded that whereas most counties mention cooperatives in their CIDP, they have not clearly aligned them with the SDGs number 1, 8 and 12. Hence the need for training county executives on SDGs on the important role of Cooperatives in the devolved units. County governments in Kenya should link cooperative societies with all 17 sustainable development goals as well as formulate policies and regulation on development of cooperative societies anchored on SDGs