Important Facts of the News
- Two activities held in Riyadh between September and October 2025 under the project Fostering Cooperative Development.
- A validation workshop on the institutional assessment of the Cooperative Societies Council (CSC) was conducted on 28 September 2025.
- 21 representatives from national ministries, federations, international organizations, and financial institutions participated in the workshop.
- The finalized assessment will support the development of a Strategic Plan aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the National Cooperative Strategy.
- A Training of Trainers (ToT) on Think.COOP and Start.COOP was organized from 29 September to 8 October 2025.
- 24 participants took part in the ToT, including 16 men and 8 women from universities, ministries, cooperatives, and development institutions.
- Successful participants will become ILO-certified trainers, establishing a national network capable of delivering cooperative education.
Assessing and Enhancing the Role of the Cooperative Societies Council
Saudi Arabia has been working to reinforce its cooperative ecosystem through institutional and capacity-building measures. Within this ongoing effort, an institutional assessment of the Cooperative Societies Council (CSC) was carried out to examine its role in representing cooperatives, guiding sectoral development, and providing services to members. The findings were discussed in a validation workshop held in Riyadh on 28 September 2025.
The workshop brought together 21 participants from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), the Social Development Bank, Cooperative Federations, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), the Agricultural Development Fund, and other sector stakeholders. Discussions focused on governance frameworks, cooperative identity, long-term financial sustainability, and opportunities for more effective partnerships.
The validated assessment will contribute to shaping CSC’s upcoming Strategic Plan. This roadmap aims to convert recommendations into practical steps that support the National Cooperative Strategy and the goals of Vision 2030, which emphasize socioeconomic diversification and community-driven enterprise development.
Strengthening Skills Through Think.COOP and Start.COOP Training
In addition to institutional development, a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme was conducted from 29 September to 8 October 2025. The training used Think.COOP and Start.COOP, two widely adopted learning tools that introduce cooperative models and support new cooperative formation.
The programme was hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Municipalities and carried out in collaboration with MHRSD and CSC. The 24 participants came from a diverse group of institutions, including universities, ministries, cooperatives, research centres, and social organizations. Through interactive exercises, they strengthened their facilitation skills, deepened their understanding of cooperative entrepreneurship, and prepared to guide cooperative start-ups in their own regions.
Next Steps
The newly trained facilitators will now conduct their own five-day training sessions for cooperatives either being formed or already operating. After evaluation under an ILO master trainer, they may qualify as certified trainers for Think.COOP and Start.COOP. This step aims to build a sustainable national network equipped to promote cooperative education, business planning, and participatory organizational development.