The Co-operative Bank of South Sudan (CBSS) hosted 41 Cooperatives Societies based in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State (NBG) for a capacity-building forum to deepen the impact of the cooperative model in the farming and business communities in the State and across South Sudan.
The state forum, hosted in partnership with Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Co-operatives Union and the NBG State Government, is part of the commitment by the Co-op Bank of South Sudan to build and replicate the successful cooperative banking model in South Sudan.
Government and Cooperative Leaders Chart Economic Recovery Strategies
The Forum was officially opened by the State Minister of Land & Housing, Mr Dominic Kang, who represented the Governor of NBG State, accompanied by the State Minister of Co-operatives & Rural Development, Hon. Ayak Zacharia Ngor and the Chairman of Co-op Bank South Sudan, Eng. William Wol. The key agenda of the forum was to discuss and formulate approaches that cooperatives can adopt towards rejuvenating the South Sudan economy through food security, market access, and employment creation.
READ Project Beneficiaries Highlight Impact of Rural Finance
Out of the primary cooperatives participating in the forum, 11 are beneficiaries of the Rural Enterprise & Agriculture Development (READ) Project, a seven-year IFAD-funded initiative in which CBSS is participating as an implementation partner alongside UNDP and the Government of South Sudan through the Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security. The role of Co-op Bank in this project is the provision of rural financial services to beneficiaries based in six counties of South Sudan, including Aweil Centre in NBG State.
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Growing Cooperative Network Drives Local Development
Northern Bahr el Ghazal State has over 300 cooperative societies located across five counties, drawing their membership from agricultural and business communities. Primary cooperatives came together and formed the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Cooperative Union in September 2025 to serve as the umbrella organization representing all cooperatives outside the State, while also helping to pool resources and strengthen advocacy efforts. The NBG State Cooperative Union is also one of the founding unions of the South Sudan Co-operative Alliance, which was launched in May 2026.
Strategic Partnerships Expand the Reach of Cooperative Banking
Co-operative Bank of South Sudan continues to invest in partnerships with key stakeholders, including the national and state governments, development partners, NGOs, and the private sector, to enhance the adoption of the successful cooperative banking model across South Sudan.
