ILO ACCEL Africa Kenya Programmes Coordinator Hellen Lintari.
Dickson Mwiti
Coffee cooperative board directors from across Meru County have undergone a five-day intensive training programme aimed at strengthening cooperative governance and accelerating efforts to eliminate child labour in the coffee value chain.
The training, conducted under the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Accelerating Action for the Elimination of Child Labour in Supply Chains in Africa (ACCEL Africa Kenya) programme, brought together directors, cooperative officers, and managers to enhance their understanding of legal compliance, governance, and sustainable farming practices.
Speaking during the training, ACCEL Africa Kenya Programmes Coordinator Hellen Lintari said the initiative seeks to equip cooperative leaders with skills necessary to manage their organizations in line with international cooperative standards while addressing child labour challenges within farming communities.
”We have been training and certifying coffee cooperative directors through an ILO certification course known as Think Start My Coop. The programme enables cooperatives to manage themselves properly and in accordance with international cooperative regulations,” said Lintari.
She noted that the elimination of child labour remains a key objective of the programme, emphasizing that cooperatives play a critical role in supporting farmers and improving household livelihoods.
”Cooperatives have a mandate to bring farmers together, educate them, and support them in creating sustainable livelihoods. When families are economically empowered, they are able to take their children to school and provide them with the dignity they deserve as children. This significantly reduces child labour,” she said.
Lintari observed that child labour remains a major challenge not only in Kenya but across Sub-Saharan Africa, requiring coordinated efforts from governments, development partners, cooperatives, and communities.
Ms Hellen Lintari.and Meru County Deputy Governor Linda Kiome during a courtesy call ahead of the five-day training.
Meru County Director of Cooperatives Sandi Mugambi welcomed the initiative, saying it aligns with ongoing efforts to ensure ethical and lawful labour practices in the agricultural sector.
”We are developing a concept of eliminating child labour in our cooperative societies and farming activities so that those engaged in farm work are mature and legally eligible to work,” said Mugambi.
He added that compliance with labour laws and international standards would enhance the reputation of coffee produced by local farmers while promoting sustainable agricultural development.
Cooperative Officer Doreen Makena said the programme had strengthened the capacity of cooperative officers to support farmers more effectively.
”We embrace this programme because it has not only empowered us as cooperative officers but has also equipped us with knowledge that will help us train farmers better. Managers and directors will also be able to make more informed decisions for the benefit of their cooperatives,” she said.
The training is part of broader efforts by the ILO and its partners to address child labour in agricultural supply chains while promoting responsible governance, decent work, and sustainable livelihoods among farming communities in Kenya.
