Inside GESTE

Cooperatives enable economic development and social participation for broad segments of the population. Through the projects of the Cooperative Foundation for Development Cooperation – GESTE, we support cooperatives in many countries worldwide, making an important contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Many cooperatives and their members in Baden-Württemberg have already supported GESTE. Join us too.

Inside GESTE:
Interview with Armin Hornung, Chairman of the GESTE Foundation Board

What drives you and Volksbank am Württemberg eG to support GESTE in its international development cooperation projects with cooperatives?

In this work, we can experience the power of the cooperative idea in its most "original" form. And: Our employees and customers are looking for ways to meaningfully help cooperatives and their members in weaker countries and are enthusiastic about our initiative.

Where do you see the added value of cooperation with cooperatives in the Global South for your regionally active cooperative bank, your employees, and your members/customers?

We can well imagine that partnerships will emerge in the future through GESTE's mediation. These will help where help is needed, but will also motivate and be enjoyable. The international work rounds out our sustainable profile very well. This gives us meaning, employee motivation, and image cultivation all in one.

GESTE goes from the LÄND to Germany

GESTE was presented to the managing directors of the auditing associations by Dr. Roman Glaser, President of BWGV and Chairman of the Board of GESTE, Dr. Eckhard Ott, Chairman of the Board of DGRV and Deputy Chairman of the GESTE Foundation Board, and Steffen Müller, Deputy Head of the International Relations Department at DGRV and Co-CEO of GESTE. Opportunities for participation were explored. Following this, an exchange about the foundation's work and potential added value for all cooperatives and their associations in Germany took place with colleagues from the Genossenschaftsverband Verband der Regionen in a video conference and with the Genossenschaftsverband Bayern in Munich.

GESTE worldwide:

Interview with Steffen Müller, Co-CEO of GESTE

Which projects are currently being funded and what impact is intended?

GESTE is currently funding 16 projects in eleven countries across three continents. The topics range from sustainable microfinance and ecological agriculture with cooperatives in Mexico, to the establishment of student cooperatives in Argentina, Paraguay, and Peru, the support of startups by young cooperative members in Kenya, the establishment of savings groups with small savers in Uganda, and the training of accountants and auditors in Vietnam—to name just a few.

How does cooperation with cooperative partners worldwide work?

The funded activities of GESTE primarily complement the international projects of DGRV, and cooperation with cooperative partners is generally coordinated through DGRV's 16 overseas offices around the world.