CUNA wrote to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations and Related Programs on Monday that it strongly supports the $17 million funding level for the Cooperative Development Program (CDP) in fiscal year 2021.

The CDP is a global initiative that focuses on building capacity of cooperative businesses and cooperative systems for self-reliance, local ownership, and sustainability.

During the life of the CDP, activities have supported more than 500 cooperatives and credit unions with a combined savings of $495 million. During this time period, the program has also:

• Provided health insurance and services to more than 42,000 people in Uganda
• Leveraged more than $95 million of investments for cattle cooperatives in South Africa
• Increased member equity among cacao cooperatives in Ecuador, Peru, and the Dominican Republic by more than $4 million
• Reformed cooperative law and regulation in Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya