Following the remarkable success of the inaugural Coop360° Innovations Award, The Uhuru Institute for Social Development has announced the launch of its second edition.
This initiative aims to honor innovative cooperatives throughout Uganda, highlighting their stories of creativity and inspiring others to harness the potential of innovative actions for positive societal change.
With strengthened collaborations from key industry players such as the Bank of Uganda, Busara Centre for Behavioral Economics, Goldstone Consulting, Nation Media Group, and Stanbic Bank, this year’s award is set to engage an even wider audience, providing a valuable platform for learning and transformation within the cooperative sector.
Jane Amuge Okello, Director of Operations at UHURU Institute, underscored the essential role cooperatives play in the nation’s development.
She noted that, in partnership with various stakeholders, their goal is to accelerate and support the innovative ideas of cooperatives, enabling them to grow, create more job opportunities especially for women and youth and ultimately contribute to community development and improved household incomes.
She highlighted that with adequate support for cooperatives, there is significant potential to enhance production and exports while addressing food security issues in the nation.
Amuge made these comments while launching the second edition of the Coop360 Innovation Awards 2025 at the Protea Hotel in Kololo, Kampala, today November 7, 2024.
This event is organized by the UHURU Institute for Social Development in partnership with the Bank of Uganda and the Busara Centre for Behavioral Economics, among others.
The award categories encompass: cooperative member service aimed at improving quality of life; climate-smart cooperative business models for development; and the application of science and technology to enhance business efficiency, competitiveness, and financial inclusion solutions.
“We are thrilled to officially launch the Coop360° Innovations Award 2025 series today. The Uhuru Institute for Social Development believes “this initiative highlights the transformative power of innovation and its ability to address some of the most urgent issues facing our world today. We are excited to partner with leading organizations and sponsors who share our vision for a better, more inclusive future,” she noted.
The Chief Executive Officer of the UHURU Institute, Leonard Okello, announced that the Coop360° Innovations Awards 2025 aims to recognize cooperative initiatives that exhibit outstanding creativity, leadership, and significant impact in fostering sustainable change within communities.
He highlighted the critical role of cooperatives in promoting inclusive development, noting that they serve as vital drivers of economic productivity and growth in the nation, thus warranting focused support.
James Junguru, Head of Saccos at Stanbic Bank, encouraged all cooperatives to participate and ensure their innovative ideas can be adopted by others within the cooperative sector.
He mentioned that in addition to the cash prizes awarded, Stanbic Bank will assist in accelerating the initiatives of the winning cooperatives.
Applications for the awards will open on Monday, November 15, 2024, with the Grand Finale scheduled for November 2025, anticipated to draw a national audience of thought leaders, social entrepreneurs, policymakers, philanthropists, and academics.
All participants must be fully registered with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, and should have an active operational board and leadership that upholds a high standard of integrity among others.
According to the road map of the innovations Award, applications will be accepted starting November 15, 2024. The selection of participants will take place from February 27 to April 24, 2025. Regional pitching events are scheduled between June and August 2025, culminating in the awarding ceremony in November 2025.
