Working together to end poverty and injustice

MCE-A helps coffee growers in East Timor through cooperatives and training.

Our partner: MCE-A

• Headquarters: Dili
• Founding date: 1999
• Mission: Make the activities of farmers become effective in order to increase their income.

Movimento Cooperativo Economico - Agricola (MCE-A) is an agriculture cooperative movement specialising in rural economic development and sustainable development for women and men.

MCE-A has four years' experience working with Oxfam New Zealand, and six years' experience in working with farmers in rural economic development, renewable energy and disaster risk reduction (DRR). MCE-A’s agricultural programme has been recognised by East Timor's Prime Minister, President and Minister of Agriculture. They have a MOU with the Miniistry of Energy for development of small scale bio-gas in remote rural villages and an annual contract to supply the Government with a minimum of 200 tonnes of rice. They have approximately 3200 members across 35 cooperatives.

MCE-A's roles

MCE-A organises and manages agricultural cooperatives in eight districts for more than 3,000 coffee, rice and mixed cropping farmers. Experienced field staff are equipped with skills in participatory rural development, bio-gas engineering, permaculture, SRI (rice intensification) and monitoring and evaluation.

Effective office administration systems ensure MCE-A has accurate financial management and administration of the cooperatives, and they have established micro-finance procedures to administer loans.

Extensive networks with government ministries and civil society groups, and a sound philosophy supportive of the constitution of Timor-Leste ensure the organisation remains politically aware.

MCE-A in action

• See how MCE-A is improving livelihoods in East Timor