Rural co-operative resilience: The case of Malawi

Co-authors: Alexander Borda-Rodriguez

Abstract

Underexplored and barely known, the Malawian co-operative movement has experienced serious challenges since its inception in 1946. Rural co-operatives in the country have endured crises and yet they are thriving in adverse circumstances. In this article we asked to what extent and in what ways rural Malawian co-operatives are resilient social and economic organisations? In the absence of a consolidated body of literature on ‘co-operative resilience’ we address this question by (1) reviewing the existing literature on co-operatives and identifying key factors that appear to be conducive to resilience and (2) by analysing extensive field data on four of the biggest co-operatives Unions in Malawi and establishing how they have coped with challenges. The field-based data and our literature findings shed new insights into the nature of resilience. Co-operative resilience is a long term processes, one based on reflexivity and interactions between members, leaders and national and international organisations. Resilient strategies developed by rural Malawian co-operatives are also outlined and explored.

Available in English

Latest publications

Cooperative Bene Comune

Cooperative Bene Comune

2020
Climate change Community wealth Platform cooperatives Youth
Investing responsibly in agriculture through smallholder cooperatives: insights from Uganda

Investing responsibly in agriculture through smallholder cooperatives: insights from Uganda

2020
Agricultural cooperatives Responsible investments
Tana Libera Tutte!

Tana Libera Tutte!

2019
Resilience Women empowerment
Rural civil society and the role of social mobilisation in poverty reduction and sustainable rural development

Rural civil society and the role of social mobilisation in poverty reduction and sustainable rural development

2019
Agricultural cooperatives Human development
Parole chiave per l’impresa cooperativa del futuro

Parole chiave per l’impresa cooperativa del futuro

2019
Human development Resilience Women empowerment
The co-operative firm. Keywords

The co-operative firm. Keywords

2016
Human development Resilience Women empowerment

Authors

Interested in our work?

This website or third-party tools used by Aroundtheworld.coop use the cookies necessary for operation and useful for the objectives illustrated in the Privacy and Cookie policy. If you want to know more or refuse consent to all or some of the cookies, please consult the Cookie policy.

By closing this banner, scrolling the pace, clicking on a link or continuing browsing in any other way, you will agree to use the cookies.