completed· Governance

Improving financial management and services to members

LDMPCUL is a Union of primary Dairy cooperatives in Lalitpur district. After the organisational assesment in March 2016, the organisation is accepted as a potential client of Agriterra. The BHAG of the organisation is to have its own, succesfull processing factory. This is a long term dream and there are several steps to be taken before that. The mission team recommends to focus the proposed cooperation on: - Identifying and framing the future direction of the federation based on few very clear strategic objectives and goals, by preparing a strategic plan- Organisational strengthening of the union and its member cooperatives in terms of planning and control; financial management and governance. - Improved and financially sustainable services for the members in order to be well prepared for the next (long term) step: starting a processing factory. Access to funds is not the main challenge, but rather to upgrade the milk production, member commitment and strong governance; and improved managerial and financial management skills. Concrete proposed joint activities for the second half of 2016 are:1. Participation in the financial management training organised by Agriterra (August 2016)2. Prepare an action plan in this workshop and execute this plan, with the aim to further improve the financial management of the union but also to role out the knowledge to primary coops. 3. Prepare a strategic (3-5 years) and 1 year operational plan of the Union, with the option to work out the details of providing (financially) sustainable services to member. This is a process and requires the active input of Board and staff members, and validation with the members.4. Based on the strategic plan, a concrete action plan can be prepared for cooperation with Agriterra. null Goal for 2016: - improve financial management of LDMPCU - SMART strategic business plan for coming 2 years available in September 2016 and approved by BoD in October 2016- Strengthen LDMPCUL and primary cooperatives capacity in managing agricultural cooperatives- Sustainable services system aiming at improved production in place to be made operational in 2017