WFC Empowers 66 Farmer Group Leaders in Yei with Cooperative Management Skills.
In a continued effort to strengthen community-based food security systems, Women for Change (WFC), in consortium with OFAO, PAC, SSAPU, and YTTC under the National Coalition on Food Security (NACOFS), successfully concluded a five-day training for farmer group leaders on cooperative governance and management.
The training, funded by the Norwegian Embassy through the Stromme Foundation, was held at Youths Garden in Yei from 8th to 15th October 2025.
The project aimed to equip farmer group leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to transform farmer groups into sustainable and well-governed cooperatives. Participants gained a deeper understanding of cooperative formation and principles, governance structures, leadership, resource mobilization, marketing, procurement management, and conflict resolution. They also studied the South Sudan Cooperative Act to align their work with national cooperative policies.
The National Coalition on Food Security (NACOFS) project, funded by the Norwegian Embassy through the Stromme Foundation, is implemented by WFC in partnership with OFAO, PAC, SSAPU, and YTTC. The project seeks to enhance food security and improve livelihoods through sustainable agriculture, cooperative development, and community empowerment initiatives across Yei River County and beyond.
A total of 66 farmer group leaders, representing 17 farmer groups from Gimunu and Rwonyi Bomas of Yei Town Payam, took part in the training. The initiative is expected to boost leadership capacity, improve post-harvest handling, and enhance market access, ultimately increasing household incomes and promoting food security within the county.
The training was conducted in collaboration with the County Department of Cooperatives and Rural Development and the County Agriculture Department, ensuring government involvement and alignment with local development priorities.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, Mr. Bosco Lumori, the County Director of Cooperatives and Rural Development for Yei River County, commended WFC and its consortium partners for supporting the government’s efforts to strengthen local cooperatives.
“WFC’s support to the government through such trainings is invaluable,” said Mr. Lumori. “Cooperatives play a key role in improving food security, creating employment, reducing conflicts in the community, and building social cohesion. We urge partners to continue investing in the development of cooperatives across the county.”
Participants shared their appreciation and reflections on the knowledge gained from the training. Ms. Edina Sitima, one of the participants, expressed excitement about the new skills she acquired, saying:
“This training has opened our eyes to the importance of working collectively through cooperatives. It is the first of its kind for our groups, and we are very grateful to WFC and its partners,” she said. “I will use the knowledge I’ve gained to improve our cooperative’s governance and productivity.
We also hope for more exchange visits to other parts of the country to learn from well-established cooperatives.” She added
Another participant, Mr. John Ladu, echoed her sentiments, noting that the training had strengthened their understanding of cooperative leadership.
“We now understand that good leadership and transparency are essential for the growth of our cooperatives,” he said. “This training has given us confidence to lead our groups more effectively and to work together for our shared goals.”
WFC reaffirmed its commitment to empowering local farmers through skills development, collective action, and the promotion of cooperative models that support food security, sustainable livelihoods, and economic resilience in Yei River County.
