The Role of Members' Participation in Enhancing Sustainability of Ambo Town Saving and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCOS), Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Active members` participation is crucial for the sustainability of cooperative societies. However, there is no systematic study that reveals the role of members’ participation in enhancing sustainability of cooperative in the study area. This study was conducted to assess the role of members’ participation in provision of resources, in the process of decision-making, and in sharing of benefits to sustain their saving and credit cooperative society. Cross-sectional survey type was used for data collection using questionnaire, Focus Group Discussion, Key Informant Interview and observation; and was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result of the study reveals that there was no active members’ participation: in provision of resources, in the decision-making processes and in the share benefits. This passive and inconsistent participation of members had a negative impact for the sustainability of cooperative societies. Hence, the cooperative organization needs to strongly work on the improvement of the member participation in all activities and at all levels of cooperatives in order to sustain cooperative societies.