Abstract:
The Government of Rwanda supports Co-operative sector. The main concern is to address the
growth of country's economy and to increase the income of Rwandans. Among these Rwandans are
grouped in cooperatives that operate in mining sector. Therefore, this research intended to assess the
role of mining co-operatives and its effects on the memberships' livelihood. The data used in this
study were collected from target population using data collection instruments and documentary
information. The data was analyzed from the contents of interviews and questionnaires. After data
analysis the data was organized and classified according to the research objectives and later presented
using tables.The evidences from findings shown that; co-operative members were enabled to satisfy
to some basic needs. The basic needs satisfied by the income from mining co-operative include
education, health needs, and improvement of quality of food. The members were also able to allocate
the income from co-operative in acquiring lands, in livestock especially domestic's animals and
purchasing home equipment. However, some co-operative members shown that income from
cooperative still low and the mining activities do not lift up them from poverty. Thus, strategies to
accelerate the members' development were suggested such as provision education and trainings
programmes that cover aspects of entrepreneurship, marketing, project initiation and management as
well as business plan; which will indirectly contribute to increasing the members' incomes.
