Cooperatives and livelihood improvement for members in Lesotho

Abstract

The primary purpose of the study is to investigate the contribution of cooperatives to the livelihoods of cooperative members in communities in Lesotho. The study was guided by three objectives to achieve the main purpose. One is to investigate the nature of training cooperative members receive for them to utilize cooperatives and eventually improve their livelihoods. Another is to gather the strategies and interventions employed by cooperative members inside cooperatives in an attempt to foster success of their cooperatives so that they can improve their income streams and eventually improve their living standards. The last is to explore the challenges that face cooperatives and cooperative members inside cooperatives in their efforts to operate cooperatives and improve their living standards and livelihoods. The study employed a qualitative approach to its methodology. It used a case study to investigate the phenomenon. Focus group guides and interview guides were used to collect data from a sample of 14 participants. The findings of the study revealed that training of cooperatives and its members is unsatisfactory, and therefore it is somewhat not effective as assumed. The study findings also reveal that this is due to the poor implementation of strategies and interventions that are employed to mitigate the challenges encountered. The study concluded that cooperatives seemed to be not contributing effectively but rather barely to the improvement and sustainability of livelihoods of cooperative members. The study recommends that the government create comprehensive, conducive and up-to-date conditions and environment that stimulates the development and growth of cooperatives through all levels in Lesotho becausemost challenges of cooperatives are structural and systemati