WASHINGTON – The World Council of Credit Unions is one of eight cooperative organizations which could benefit if an additional $10 million for a program in the U.S. Agency For International Development makes it through this year's federal budgeting process. The money would go to boost the efforts of the cooperative development program, an effort to further differentiate cooperative attempts to solve problems overseas though cooperative organizations. In addition to WOCCU, the National Cooperative Business Association along with electric and other cooperatives compete for the funds.
According to Molly Schar, spokesman for WOCCU, the money in the past has been used for things like pilot projects in which Kenyan CUs with members in heavily HIV infected areas can learn how to serve their members and sustain themselves in face of the epidemic.
Katie Herberger, a legislative affairs manager with CUNA, said that a coalition of cooperative organizations has managed to get $10 million earmarked in the Foreign Operations appropriations bill that passed the House on June 9. The Senate still has to hold hearings on its version of the bill, Herberger said.
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"Last year all we could do was get an earmark for the funds in the Senate bill," she said. "This year, we have an earmark for the funds in the House bill as well as report language reflecting the desire of the legislators to see this program move forward so we hope that will help make sure USAID fully funds the effort."
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