Capabilities of government co-operative supporting organizations in dissemination of innovations to primary cooperative societies in Tanzania

Abstract

Globally, innovative governments are cognisant of their roles in facilitating designing, nurturing, promoting and dissemination of innovations. They set innovation policies and regulations, finance innovative researches, provide provisions for property rights and train innovation intellects, among others. In recognition of such multiple roles, some governments have formed several strategic and sectorial organisations to facilitate some of their innovation mandates. Amongst such organisations in Tanzania are the government’s co-operative supporting organisations (GCSOs). The GCSOs enjoy government support in terms of resources to facilitate, among other mandates, the innovation chain activities. Despite such support, few innovations have been disseminated from GCSOs to PCSos rendering the possibility that GCSOs have limited capabilities in disseminating innovations. In order to appraise the GCSOs in delivering their entrusted mandates, research on them become an imperative undertaking. This study assessed the capabilities of GCSOs in dissemination of innovations to primary cooperative societies (PCSos) in Tanzania. Specifically, it investigated the resources capability of GCSOs for innovations dissemination to PCSos in Tanzania, established the innovation value chain status of the GCSOs and analysed the innovations dissemination approaches among GCSOs. The study employed a qualitative approach whereby case study design using multiple case studies (MCS) was used. Primary data were collected using key informant (KI) interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), documentary review and direct observation. Data were analysed using content analysis. The Atlas.ti computer software facilitated analysis of data from KIs and FGDs. During the analysis, the outputs of the coded transcripts were generated followed by its interpretation while guided by the study research questions and theories. The study revealed that most of the GCSOs had important resources but which were not adequately utilised for innovation activities. There was also lack of incentives to support innovation activities amongst GCSOs executives and personnel, lack of formal and comprehensive systems to reward innovation activities and undue influencing external factors including inadequate government resources commitment. Moreover, the study found weak innovations progression from lower nodes of innovation chains i.e. ideas generation to dissemination. This was coupled with neither institutionalised nor user oriented approaches regarding innovations dissemination among studied GCSOs. The study concludes that most GCSOs were not prioritising resources for innovations dissemination to PCSos, and their innovation value chains were poorly linked towards innovations dissemination to PCSos. It further concludes that there were neither deliberate efforts among studied GCSOs regarding formal organising, resources commitment and implementation of innovation dissemination activities nor inclusive efforts on PCSos engagement on the same. The study recommends that GCSOs executives and personnel should work to mobilise more internal resources e.g. by designing and implementing innovation projects, establishing special innovation fund/budget and establishing innovation awards to enable more innovations dissemination activities. Moreover, they should establish and implement clear incentive systems regarding innovation activities and striving to miinimise the subsequent effects resulting from influence of external factors. GCSOs should also work to strengthen their innovation value chains by ensuring resources commitment and work to ensure deliberate inclusive efforts in engaging innovations users (PCSos) at all stages of the innovation chain activities. Inclusive PCSos engagement along the innovation chain activities may be possible through deliberate commitment of resources for joint innovation activities design and implementation.