How Cooperative Are Savings and Credit Cooperatives in Developing Countries?: An Analysis of Datasets From Uganda

Abstract

Building successful savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs) that actually embody the cooperative principles is a challenge to development agencies. Although SACCOs form the majority of microfinance providers in many developing countries, the most recent literature on microfinance governance and performance has given little reference to the longstanding body of relevant cooperative literature. SACCO representation in microfinance datasets is biased. Drawing on so-far unexploited datasets of Ugandan SACCOs and savings groups, this paper empirically analyses policy debate regarding SACCO-and savings group regulation. The findings point to the relevance of practically implementing the principle of 'cooperation between cooperatives' to ensure effective governance at SACCO level. Moreover, the paper introduces two new measures, based on members' savings and shares, which could become useful tools to track the application of cooperative principles in developing countries, and hence improve evidence-based policy-making for SACCOs.

Mapping the literature on credit unions: a bibliometric investigation grounded in Scopus and Web of Science

“…Four topics emerge from seven articles centred on economics and performance. Four articles (Guerrero et al 2017;Schmidt 2017;Yamori et al 2017), indicate a gap in new internal and external determinants of credit unions' efficiency. Determinants proposed are regulation, governance, and impacts of financial crisis, although new determinants do not need to be restricted to these topics.…”

“…Corporate governance also helps shape corporate structure and efficiency (Yamori et al 2017). Collaboration between cooperatives through regional, national and international structures is viewed as a promising topic (Schmidt 2017). Such corporate governance topics are also related to economic performance through common articles (see Fig.…”

“…The third line of research, accounting and disclosure, includes new measurement methods, auditing, accounting practices, and social and environmental disclosure. Schmidt (2017) proposes investigating new measures to track applications of cooperative principles centred on value creation for members. Schmidt's proposal links with new estimates of efficiency, from more of an accounting and membership view.…”

“…Mathuva, et al 2017Bressan, et al 2017Brun, et al 2017Souza, 2017Bussler, et al 2017Silva, et al 2017Yamori, et al 2017Guerrero, et al 2017 Martínez, et al 2017Joo, et al 2017Schmidt, 2017Van Dalsem, 2017Dal Magro, et al 2017 …”

La auditoría interna basada en riesgos y las decisiones financieras de las cooperativas de ahorro y crédito en Ambato, Ecuador

“…Los miembros principales o representantes eligen el directorio quienes representan sus intereses en la toma de decisiones estratégicas. Estos directorios contratan los gerentes que tienen poderes discrecionales en su gestión diaria (Schmidt, 2017).…”