CUK 7TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2023

/CUK 7TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2023
Prof Isaac Nyamongo – DVC ACDRI

Professor Isaac Nyamongo – Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Co-operative Development, Research and Innovation (ACDRI).

Welcome to the 7th Annual Conference 2023 of The Co-operative University of Kenya which will be held on 3rd and 4th August 2023 in collaboration with Moshi Co-operative University. This year’s conference will be held physically, unlike the 2020, 2021, and 2022 series which were held virtually because of the effects of the COVID-19 disruptions. The conference brings together industry leaders, academia, researchers, policymakers, youth, and cooperative sector practitioners to share knowledge and experiences. It will provide a platform for knowledge exchange and help practitioners and researchers to chart a way forward under the unprecedented global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its recovery process. The theme of the conference is therefore “The Role of Social and Solidarity Economy in Sustainable Development, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation” The Conference will have six sub-themes:

  1. Social Finance and Climate Change Mitigation;
  2. Role of Entrepreneurship in the era of Climate Change;
  3. Role of ICTs in Climate Change, Mitigation, and Adaptation;
  4. The role of Cooperatives in Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation, and Sustainable Development;
  5. Sustainability, e-Commerce and Fintech; The future of Business; and
  6. Mainstreaming Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptations.

I call upon you to leverage the conference presentations, network, share experiences, and learn from the best in the cooperative sector.

Introduction

Sustainable development, Climate change, and human well-being are intricately connected and intertwined in different ways and through multiple pathways. Climate change transforms ecosystems hence disrupting natural environmental processes and hastening species decline, culminating in the loss of cultural heritage, vulnerability, and deterioration in livelihood. Raising awareness of these climate change impacts is expected to push the world toward more effective collaboration in order to implement ambitious mitigation and adaptation mechanisms. The fundamental questions that need to be answered include but are not limited to: (a) how can we expand environmental knowledge, and build capacity on climate change? (b) Which mitigation measures can we put in place in order to reduce pressures and help people better adapt? (c) What are the most effective community-based practical solutions to address the challenges in sustainable development? (d) What kind of natural and built infrastructure best reduces exposure to natural hazards and ensures sustainable development (e) Is climate change mitigation and adaptation a central priority in the government agenda? (f)  What role should Social and Solidarity Economy play in Sustainable Development, Climate Change Mitigating, and Adapting? From the backdrop of COP27 in Egypt 2022, Climate change is currently a topical global conversation. Some of the salient features discussed include a) Securing a secure energy future b) Producing enough for the world c) Business support needed for climate Adaptation and resilience d) Future of green technology e) sustainability of gender equity problems and f) Re-thinking food and Agriculture. We may not successfully tackle challenges around economic sustainability, Agricultural productivity, poverty eradication, and other critical areas of world economy, without addressing issues on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The 2023 Conference Theme and Sub-themes

The CUK Annual Conference – 2023: We seek to hold a conference to deliberate on the role that Social and Solidarity Economy need to play in sustainable development, climate change mitigation and adaptation. The proposed theme of the conference, therefore, is: “The Role of Social and Solidarity Economy in Sustainable Development, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation”. The key question we ask is this; what role could cooperatives and other SSE play?

Highlights and Description of Sub-themes

Six (6) sub-themes have been developed to drive the main theme, namely:

The first sub-theme (Social Finance and Climate Change Mitigation), recognizes that the financial sector is a key enabler of climate action and transition to a green economy provision of capital and risk-sharing mechanisms. As an intermediary of economic activities and risk transferring, the financial sector is pivotal to making sure that a response to climate change does not ignore social impacts and outcomes. This calls for a just transition to a green economy in a way that maximizes the social and economic opportunities of climate action, while minimizing and carefully managing any challenges. This sub theme delves into aspects of social finance and climate action.

Key Issues: The key issues around the sub-theme includes: Impact investing; climate insurance; Green, blue and sustainability or social bonds; and, Carbon credits.

 

The Second sub theme (Role of Entrepreneurship in the era of Climate Change) underscores that the Entrepreneurship which is the process of designing, launching and running a new business can be a powerful force against climate change. Entrepreneurship in its unique nature is innovative, and possesses ideas that foster development towards achieving a purpose. Entrepreneurs do this by bringing ideas into practice, introducing innovation, fulfilling consumer demand, creating demand for sustainability, and changing habits and cultures. Sustainable entrepreneurship integrates economic, environmental, and social factors into a firm and its goals, activities, and planning to create a long-term value for the firm, its stakeholders, and broader society.

Key Issues: Climate Smart entrepreneurial habit and culture; Innovation as a tool in the fight against climate change; environmentally sustainable business along the supply chain; sustainably focused operations and production; and, Green entrepreneurship

The third sub theme (Role of ICTs in Climate Change, Mitigation and Adaptation). Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) have the potential to enable other sectors of the economy to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. Through creation of smart grids with precision monitoring and control capabilities, it’s possible to realize high operational efficiencies, better energy efficiency and reduced losses. In mitigation of climate change effects, ICTs hold the promise of offering solutions that result in climate change resilience.

Key Issues: Smart Agriculture; water catchment and management systems; Green ICTs; ICTs in Climate Change; and, ICTs for adaptation to climate change.

The fourth sub theme (The Role of Cooperatives in Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation and Sustainable Development): Cooperative Organizations have critical roles to play in mitigating Climate Change, adaptation to the impact of climate change and sustainable development. Some of the areas involve: Worker /Service Cooperative Business Model: These are owned by the people who work for the company. They are a solution to the unemployment problem in Kenya and aligned to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number 8 on decent work and economic growth, Consumer Cooperative Business Model: These are owned by the customers who then purchase goods and services from the cooperatives. It is the best model for ensuring food security for the citizens aligned with the SDG number 2 on zero hunger, Producer Cooperative Business Model: These are owned by the producers of products who have joined together to better market their products or to streamline the production. It can be aligned with the SDG number 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

Key Issues: Worker / Service Cooperative Business Model; Consumer Cooperative Business Model; Producer Cooperative Business Model; Housing Cooperative Business Model.

The fifth sub theme (Sustainability, e-commerce and Fintech; The future of Business, accounts that the challenges and impact of climate change in our time cannot be over emphasized. Population growth, increase in production and consumption of goods across the globe has led to the depletion of natural resources thus severe damage to the environment. Effects of such damages include global warming, increased environmental pollution, flooding, heat waves, outbreak of multiple diseases etc. Sustainable Development can only be achieved if climate change mitigation measures and adaptation mechanisms become the center of Business conversation.

Key Issues: Green Finance; Strategies for business Sustainability; Emerging digital financial services and financial technologies; Socio-economic inclusion; and, New frontiers in tourism and hospitality.

The sixth sub theme (Mainstreaming climate change mitigation and adaptations. Agribusiness is central to the climate crisis: While essential to human survival, it contributes to greenhouse emissions that pose a threat to humanity’s future. Although climate change has reduced global agriculture production, food systems represent a third of total greenhouse gas emissions and are a major contributor to biodiversity loss. Management of resources has always been key to agriculture production. With fewer resources available, new technologies can support adaptation to climate change. Smallholder farmers often lack access to quality inputs and technical knowledge. In addition, they are often excluded from the formal financial system, which limits their ability to make upfront investments to reduce their vulnerability to climate change. Sustainable agricultural production is not restricted to small-scale farms; Large farm operations account for the majority of commodity crop production and can have large effects on environmental sustainability. After food supply disruptions caused by COVID-19 retailers expanded their stocks of locally grown produce from smallholder farms. Sourcing from local farms reduces distance thereby cutting carbon emissions from transport, strengthens overall food security thereby improving farmer livelihoods, and increases the nutritional value of produce. Recycling plastics can protect the biodiversity of waterways and the ocean by reducing plastic pollution. In livestock, biogas digesters not only capture methane but also generate energy. Wastes can also be upcycled into animal feed ingredients.

Key issues: Transportation and carbon emissions; Climate friendly Agribusiness; Overall Food Security; Natural Value of farm Produce; Biodiversity of Waterways; Recycling; Plastic Pollution; Clean Energy; and, Waste Management.

Important Conference Dates and Events

  • Conference announcements 1st February 2023
  • 1st Call for abstracts 1st February 2023
  • Early Bird Registration opens 15th February 2023 (20% discount)
  • 2nd Call for abstracts 14th March 2023
  • Last Date for Submission of Abstracts 21st May 2023
  • Last Date for FULL PAPERS Submission…19th June 2023
  • Late Registration 14th July, 2023
  • Conference 3rd – 4th August, 2023

Conference Charges:

  • 5,000 for the presenters of papers
  • Kshs 1,000 per person for other individual participants

Submit your Abstracts and Papers to: abstracts@cuk.ac.ke

Registration – To register follow the link: Registration form – The 7th CUK Annual Conference

Conference website:

 Authors guidelines – Abstract submission

The following should be included in the abstract: Title, name, contact, and affiliation of the author(s); brief background/contextual and conceptual aspects; research problem; objectives; theoretical anchorage/conceptual framework; methodology; results; conclusions; and Recommendations.

Other instructions: The Abstract should be submitted in English; with a maximum of 300 words in New Times Roman; 12-point font size; single spacing; with 3-5 keywords in bold at the bottom of the abstract.

Charges and Payment Details

Conference Charges: Kshs. 3,000 (USD.30) for the presenters of papers and Kshs 1,000 (USD 10) per person for other participants not presenting papers.

We are offering the following sponsorship packages to organizations. This provides an opportunity for organizations to raise brand awareness and contribute to the dissemination of knowledge necessary for resilient, climate change, and sustainable SSEOs. The packages are:

Platinum Sponsorship Package

Kshs 1,400,000.00

Gold Sponsorship Package

Kshs 800,000.00

Silver Sponsorship Package

Kshs 500,000

Bronze Sponsorship Package Kshs 300,000
Benefits

1.       Speaking opportunity at the event during the opening and closing ceremony.

2.       Opportunity to have 15 participants

3.       2 Roll-up banner

4.       4 Complementary teardrop banners.

5.       Branding rights at the venue of the conference and logo printed on promotional materials.

6.       Opportunity to give away merchandise to participants.

7.       Company logo is printed on the front (cover) page of the program booklet.

8.       Company logo printed on the program booklet

Benefits

1.       A speaking opportunity at the event during the closing ceremony.

2.       Opportunity to have 10 participants

3.        1 rollup banner

4.       3 Complimentary teardrop banners.

5.       Opportunity to give away merchandise to participants.

6.       Company logo is printed on the program booklet.

Benefits

1)      Opportunity to have 5 participants

2)      One Roll-up banner

3)      Two Complimentary teardrop banners.

4)      Opportunity to give away merchandise to participants.

5)      Company logo printed on the program booklet.

Benefits

1.       Opportunity to have 3 participants

2.       One Complimentary teardrop banner.

3.       Opportunity to give away merchandise to participants.

4.       Company logo printed on the program booklet.

 

Payment Bank Details

Bank: Co-operative Bank of Kenya | Account Name: The Co-operative University of Kenya | Branch: Karen Account No. 01120125033500 | Narration: Research Conference

Dear Author(s), Presenter(s), in the 7th CUK Annual Conference 2023,

On behalf of The Co-operative University of Kenya Annual Conference Organizing Committee, we congratulate you for writing a great paper, peer-reviewed and accepted for presentation at the CUK’s 7th Annual Conference 2023 to be held on August 3rd – 4th, 2023. Only papers presented during the Conference will be eligible for publication in the conference proceedings. By agreeing to provide your presentation material and registering for the conference, your work will be published in the conference proceedings and Book of Abstracts.

For planning purposes, your Paper Presentation needs to be developed and shared early enough so that technical support can be arranged in readiness for the actual conference date. Please note that you will need to be physically present for your presentation to be delivered and streamed online where necessary for other audiences. Your pre-recorded presentation can be a video of yourself speaking to the audience, a Voice PowerPoint, or just a standard PowerPoint presentation. Details on how to record your presentations are as below.

Presentation length:

Paper presentation: 13 minutes (15 minutes maximum)

It will be appreciated if you could SHARE YOUR PRESENTATION NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, JULY 19th 2023, by sending it via the email abstracts@cuk.ac.ke  

For any question (s), contact the Conference Organizing Committee Secretariat via the email: abstracts@cuk.ac.ke  

We highly encourage you to include an audio/video presentation of your work to allow you the opportunity to explain your work and get more exposure to the audience, as well as make the conference more informative, valuable, and engaging for the attendees. Your presentation material will only be made available to conference attendees (i.e. those who have registered for the virtual conference) for a limited period of time, beginning July 22nd, 2023.

 Registration Form

All participants and presenters are requested to register for the conference through the Registration Form here

Best Regards,

 Michael O. Ngala, Ph.D., 

Chairperson, Conference Organizing Committee

Keynote Speaker: Prof. Somo Seimu

Prof. Somo Seimu is the Associate Professor in the Department of Community Development and Gender at Moshi Co-operative University in Tanzania. He holds a Ph.D. in The History of Agricultural Marketing Cooperatives from the University of Central Lancashire in England. His areas of research include agrarian development in Tanzania, agricultural marketing cooperatives, the sociology of education, indigenous knowledge, climate change adaptation, and mitigation, as well as African political history.

Professor Seimu has extensively published his area of expertise and interest in various international journals. He has also authored books on agricultural marketing and co-operatives in Tanzania and contributed to several book chapters. He has also presented papers on agricultural marketing cooperatives, the sociology of education, indigenous knowledge, and climate change adaptation and mitigation at international conferences.

Currently, Professor Seimu is researching and writing on indigenous knowledge on climate change and mitigation, colonial agricultural marketing boards, the role of the colonial state in facilitating the spread and strengthening of Christianity in Tanzania, and the contribution of native authorities in financing the purchase of agricultural crops in Tanzania.

 

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jones T. Kaleshu

Dr. Jones T. Kaleshu is a Senior Lecturer in Banking, Finance, and Accounting -Moshi Co-operative University. Dr. Kaleshu holds a Ph.D. from the University of DSM, and an MBA (Finance) from the same university. He is also a Certified Public Accountant in Public Practice (CPA-PP). Dr. Kaleshu is an experienced lecturer, researcher, consultant, community intervenor, and institutional transformer. He also works as an Independent auditor and financial analyst. He has experience in cooperatives, and business management for more than 40 years as a member, trainer, researcher, and consultant.

Administratively, Dr. Kaleshu held different positions: Revenue Officer (Ministry of Finance and Planning) Chief Accountant (Tanzania Gemstone Industries), Head of Postgraduate Studies, and later Director of Studies at the then Cooperative College Moshi and Deputy Principal Academics of then Moshi University College of Cooperative and Business Studies (MUCCoBS).

His research and consultancies include advisory services and training in cooperative policy review and development, governance, and cooperative microfinance including financial cooperatives (savings and credit co-operatives, banks, social protection, and risk management), housing cooperatives, cooperative insurance, cooperative banking theory and practices, product development and operations. Other areas include but are not limited to Banking and Finance, linkage banking, non-cooperative microfinance, financial and agricultural Co-operatives management and practices, strategic planning, project management and evaluation, change management, and institutional transformations.

He has experience beyond Tanzania that include practicums, research, training, and consulting in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Eswatin, Lesotho, Canada, and Costa Rica.

Keynote Speaker: Mr. Harold Mate

Harold Mate is the Country Project Manager for Climate Resilient Agribusiness for Tomorrow Project at SNV Netherlands. Harold holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, a Master of Science in Agribusiness Management from Kenyatta University, and is currently a Ph.D Entrepreneurship candidate at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. He is a trainer in Smallholder Farmer Commercialization processes and has extensive knowledge and experience in Market Systems Development and Value Chain Analysis.

He has over 15 years of experience working with development organizations, designing, managing, and implementing different projects and programmes across Eastern Africa. He has working experience in Value Chain Analysis, market development, training, capacity buildings, social economic research and analysis, SME development, private sector linkages, and food systems.

Keynote Speaker: Mr. Sanjay Kumar Verma

Sanjay Kumar Verma is the Director of the National Cooperative Union of India (https://ncui.coop) who handles Publications and Public Relations Department. He has about 25 years of experience in the cooperative sector with a focus on developing effective communications and strategic change programs/interventions in the fields of Media and Public Relations, youth development, and international cooperative development.

He holds a natural talent in writing and communicating strategically in unexplored areas, where change is required in the cooperative sector. Also, Mr. Kumar has networks with the key people in both cooperative and non-cooperative organizations, both nationally and at the global level that enable him to build up effective collaborations and sustainably maintain reputable image of the the National Cooperative Union. His MPhil Degree in International Relations [JNU] and journalism background helped him a lot in this respect.  

With a passion for cooperatives, and possessing an academic background in international relations and journalism, he has been always on the lookout for opportunities and areas where cooperatives can make their presence felt in the socio-economic policies of India. Being a regular presenter at international conferences, Mr. Kumar is a natural communicator, which helps him generate innovative ideas for organizational development.

His experience in cooperative sector comprises working in organizations like the National Cooperative Union of India, International Cooperative Alliance Regional Office for Asia-Pacific, and New Harmony Press, UK [Publishers of erstwhile ‘International Journal of Cooperative Management’]. Further, he has experience working in the fields of both national and international cooperative development. 

Mr. Kumar is a dedicated change-maker in his professional domain since he has perpetually come up with new ideas related to his work delivery giving it a professional orientation. He is highly creative, always bristles with new ideas, and seeks applicable and technically professional ways for their implementation.

Keynote Speaker. FCPA Owen Koimburi Njenga

Mr. Koimburi is an auditor, author, consultant and researcher  of accounting and management issues. He has over 40 years of experience in audit, accounting, financial management, and capacity building to Private, Government and Public sectors. Owen is the founding partner of Koimburi & Associates Certified Public Accountants Kenya (now Mazars LLP Kenya). His areas of specialization are Business Restructuring, Company Administration , Consulting and Assurance. Before his entry into public accountancy practice and audit Mr. Koimburi was a senior lecturer of accounting, auditing  and taxation at the Kenya Leadership Centre, Kenya Institute of Management and the Extramural Department of the University of Nairobi and has also been an examiner of accounting courses for the Kenya Accounting and Secretaries National Examinations Board.  He has also been a tutor of the ACCA International Financial Reporting Standards Diploma at the KCA University Nairobi.

Mr. Koimburi is a past member as Kenya’s representative through ICPAK (the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya) to the International Federation of Accountants IFAC Developing Nations Committee. Mr. Koimburi also served as a member of the International Standards in Accounting and Reporting (ISAR)  of  United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Mr. Koimburi has also facilitated many courses both locally in Kenya and overseas for and on behalf of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya.

Koimburi has been a convenor of the Professional Standards Committee of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as well as the Practitioners Development committee of ICPAK. He has also been involved in several discussions and task forces for the ICPAK, the World Bank and Treasury with a view to changing the legal frameworks and laws of operations for accountancy and financial management regime in Kenya and was part of the thought process in the International Accounting Standards Board Improvements Project. Mr. Koimburi has been involved in major assignments on audit, financial management and due diligence with Bilateral and Multilateral Aid agencies like the World Bank, USAID, DFID, and the EU.

Mr. Koimburi is an accredited Governance Auditor duly certified by the Institute of Certified Secretaries and is also a member of the Institute of Directors Kenya.  Mr. Koimburi is also a licensed Insolvency Practitioner under the Official Registrar’s office of the Attorney General  in Kenya  Insolvency Act 2015.

Keynote Speaker: Mr. Otieno Steven

Mr. Otieno is a Social Enterprise Development specialist with more than 22 years of experience in the sustainability arenas, including 11 years in deploying market-led approaches to grow Kenya’s Agri-business sector and enhancing food security by creating sustainable livelihoods, helping communities to adapt climate change and inclusivity. He has vast experience in implementing market systems and facilitation approaches in the agriculture sector in which he has supported agro-processors to foster improved and more inclusive linkages with smallholder social solidarity economies and co-operatives most of which are women-based, leading to increased uptake of smallholder agricultural initiatives thereby increased nutrition and a healthy society.

He has good experience in designing and implementing pilot programs and business models and scaling up successful models. His networks extend along vertical integration of various value chains; from input providers, and buyers including corporate off-takers, government officials, research institutions, donor representatives, and other development partners. Mr. Otieno is an ILO certified ‘Start and Improve Your Business’ (SIYB) trainer.

He is passionate about holistic sustainable tourism practices and other environmental sustainable businesses to alleviate poverty, fight gender inequality, empower local communities and encourage the conservation of cultural and natural heritage. He has been responsible for and provided leadership in promoting the creation of women and youth-owned worker/service co-operatives across value chains using the market systems approach to create employment opportunities and enhance value addition.

Presently, he is the Advisor on Cooperative Development in the Executive Office of the President; President’s Economic Transformation Secretariat.

To be updated Soon.

Conference Cost: Kshs. 5,000 (USD.50) for the presenters of papers and Kshs 1,000 (USD. 10) per person for other participants

Registration Deadline – All participants and presenters are required to register for the conference by Friday, July 26, 2022, via the link shared below:

THE 7TH CUK ANNUAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM

The login link will be shared with all presenters after the close of the registration period via the email address provided on the registration form.

Membership of the Conference Organizing Committee (CoC)

  1. Dr. Michael Ngala – Chairman
  2. Dr. Lydia Mutua – Member
  3. Prof. Kennedy Waweru – Member
  4. Prof. Wycliffe Oboka – Member
  5. Dr. Monica Nderitu – Member
  6. Dr. Lucy Kiganane – Member
  7. Dr. Godfrey Joachim – Member- Moshi University
  8. Dr. George Matto  – Member- Moshi University
  9. Dr. Moses Gweyi – Member
  10. Dr. Shem Mbandu – Member
  11. Dr. Lucy Ngare – Member
  12. Mr. Victor Wambua – Member
  13. Miss. Mary Mbugua – Member
  14. Mr. James Njogu – Member
  15. Mr. Silas Maiyo – Secretariat
  16. Mr. David Mugambi – Secretariat

Official Conference Contact Information,

Dr. Lydia Mutua – Registrar, CDRI and Conference Organizing Committee Secretariat

Email: lmutua@cuk.ac.ke

Mr. Silas Maiyo – Coordinator, Secretariat – Conference Scientific Committee

Email: smaiyo@cuk.ac.ke

Submit Abstracts / Papers to Email: abstracts@cuk.ac.ke

Official University Contacts

P.O Box 24814-00502

Phone number: +254 724 311 606

Email: enquiries@cuk.ac.ke

Social Media Pages:

Facebook: The Co-operative University of Kenya
LinkedIn: The Co-operative University of Kenya
Twitter: @CoopVarsityKe
Instagram: COOP_UNIVERSITY

Conference Collaborators/Sponsors