Coop Bank partners with ACCOSCA and SCCULT to back this year’s SACCA Congress 

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Cooperative Bank (Coop Bank) has announced a strategic partnership with the African Confederation of Cooperative Savings and Credit Associations (ACCOSCA) and the Tanzania Federation of Savings and Credit Cooperative Unions (SCCULT) to support the SACCA 2026 Congress, taking place in Dar es Salaam from October 11 to 16, 2026.

The conference is expected to bring together more than 300 participants from over 35 countries to discuss the development of Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOS), exchange experiences and develop strategies to strengthen the cooperative finance sector across Africa.

Speaking to media outlets, the  Coop Bank Managing Director, Godfrey Ng’urah, said the bank’s participation reflects its commitment to strengthening the cooperative economy by providing financial solutions that enable SACCOS to grow, improve operational efficiency and enhance services to their members.

He said the bank, which is 51 per cent owned by cooperative societies, continues to support the development of Tanzania’s cooperative sector through financial services tailored to the needs of cooperative members.

Ng’urah noted that SACCOS play a significant role in Tanzania’s cooperative economy, particularly in mobilising capital and strengthening members’ economic activities. He added that SACCOS make a substantial contribution to capital investment compared with some other categories of cooperatives, including agricultural produce and farming cooperatives.

At the conference, Coop Bank is expected to showcase a range of financial products and services designed to help cooperative members, customers and the wider public access capital, expand businesses and increase investment.

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The services also aim to support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and promote the development of agricultural value chains, creating additional economic opportunities for cooperative members.

On access to credit, Ng’urah said the bank prioritises affordable lending to cooperative societies, including loans offered at single-digit interest rates.

He explained that these rates are lower than the double-digit interest rates commonly found in the market. The initiative aims to reduce borrowing costs and enable cooperative members to access financing for expanding their economic activities.

Meanwhile, Tanzania SACCOS Union Chief Executive Officer, Hassani Nyone, said the conference provides an important platform for leaders, executives, SACCOS members, development partners and government representatives to discuss strategies for strengthening savings and credit cooperatives across Africa.

Nyone said Coop Bank’s participation as the conference’s official banking services partner would help strengthen relationships between the bank and SACCOS across Africa, facilitate knowledge-sharing and create new opportunities for financial cooperation.

He added that the development of SACCOS in Tanzania is critical to promoting inclusive economic growth and supporting the objectives of the Tanzania Development Vision 2050, particularly in expanding economic opportunities and improving citizens’ welfare.

According to Nyone, the conference is expected to serve as a platform for exchanging knowledge, building collaborative networks and developing strategies to address operational challenges facing SACCOS while enabling them to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the financial sector.

Through the conference, stakeholders are expected to strengthen financial and institutional partnerships, helping SACCOS improve the quality of services offered to their members and contribute to broader economic development within their communities.