These Regulations define the procedure for organizing and conducting an accelerator program aimed at improving the quality and sustainability of consumer cooperatives in the Republic of Kazakhstan by strengthening their international ties and expanding the range of services they provide.

1. General Provisions

1.1. The Accelerator Program (hereafter, the Program) is carried out by the National Association of Cooperatives and Other Forms of Economic Communities of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereafter, the NAC).
1.2. The goal of the Program is to prepare elite personnel for the development of the cooperative movement in Kazakhstan. These individuals will be able to make cooperatives a leading force in developing and strengthening the stability of the economy, fulfilling the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and improving the well-being of the population. The Program also aims to expand the influence of the Kazakhstani cooperative movement at the international and regional levels.

This is achieved by:

• Comprehensive training and education for chairpersons and key representatives of cooperatives.
• Providing cooperatives that have undergone special training with the necessary tools and international connections.
• Ensuring the possibility of supplying goods directly to the Kazakhstani market from suppliers.
• Significantly reducing the financial burden on members through income from the cooperative's business activities.
• Improving the overall development level of cooperatives, bringing them up to international standards.
• Assisting in establishing direct partnerships with cooperative associations and producers from the People's Republic of China (through the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives) and other countries.
• Strengthening members' sense of belonging and involvement in cooperative activities.

2. Principles of the Acceleration Program

2.1. Openness and Transparency: Information about the Program and its results is accessible to all interested consumer cooperatives.
2.2. Mutual Benefit: Participation in the Program should bring tangible benefits to individual cooperatives and their members, reducing their financial burden in achieving the cooperative's statutory goals and objectives.
2.3. Cooperation and Collaboration: The Program stimulates the development of partnerships and the exchange of experience between Kazakhstani and foreign cooperatives.
2.4. Results-Oriented: The main focus is on achieving specific economic effects for participating cooperatives, including securing at least 5 contracts with product suppliers from China and India.

3. Program Participants

3.1. Organizer: The National Association of Cooperatives and Other Forms of Economic Communities of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
3.2. Partners:

• The All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.
• Cooperative associations and organizations from other countries.

3.3. Beneficiary Participants: Registered consumer cooperatives of the Republic of Kazakhstan that have submitted an application and meet the following selection criteria:

• Have signed the Declaration of Transparent Cooperatives.
• Are in the process of preparing documents to join the National Association of Cooperatives and Other Forms of Economic Communities of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
• Meet other selection criteria established by the relevant orders of the NAC President.

4. Areas of Activity within the Program

4.1. Training Seminars and Webinars:

• Training will be conducted in an online format.
• Training events will be held on the following areas of cooperation with foreign cooperatives and suppliers:

• Course 1: The Work of the SRO ALE "National Association of Cooperatives and Other Forms of Economic Communities" of the Republic of Kazakhstan:
• Functions and rights of the Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) of the National Association of Cooperatives and Other Forms of Economic Communities of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
• The role and significance of cooperative business accelerators.
• The role and significance of cooperative agents.
• The training will also cover general issues of foreign economic activity, logistics, procurement management, marketing, financial management, as well as the effective sale of goods to reduce the burden on members.
• The fight against financial pyramids disguised as consumer cooperatives.

• Course 2: Cooperation with Cooperatives and Suppliers from the People's Republic of China. This will include the involvement of experts from the Chinese Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives and other international cooperative organizations.
• Course 3: Cooperation with Cooperatives and Suppliers from India.

• Course 4: Master classes on cooperation with housing cooperatives.

• Course 5: Cooperation with credit cooperatives or mutual finance societies.
• Upon completion of the training, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion for a joint international educational program from foreign cooperative federations. This will help expand the worldview of cooperative chairpersons and provide a complete understanding of the opportunities offered by the cooperative movement worldwide and by international cooperative organizations.
• The content of the courses may change depending on the requests of the participants or the composition of participants from foreign cooperative organizations in a specific acceleration group.

4.2. Establishing International Partnerships and Securing Contracts:

• Assistance in organizing direct contacts between Kazakhstani consumer cooperatives and foreign producers/suppliers through partner organizations (the Chinese Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, and other international associations).
• Organizing business missions and meetings with potential foreign partners.
• Securing for each participating cooperative at least 5 (five) active contracts with reliable product suppliers at the most favorable prices, which will allow them to supply goods to the Kazakhstani market at the most competitive prices.
• Assistance in concluding mutually beneficial agreements for the supply of products.

4.3. Consulting Support:

• Providing individual consultations on import issues, customs clearance, product certification, and optimizing trade operations to increase the cooperative's income.
• Legal support on issues of international cooperation with foreign cooperatives.

4.4. Information Support:

• Creating a database of potential foreign suppliers and their products.
• Disseminating up-to-date information on market trends and procurement opportunities.

5. Program Implementation Mechanism

• 5.1. The cost of participation in the acceleration program will be determined in an agreement between the cooperative and the NAC for participation.
• 5.2. Application Submission: Consumer cooperatives wishing to participate in the Program submit applications to the NAC in the prescribed form.
• 5.3. Participant Selection: The NAC selects cooperatives based on transparent criteria, including their potential for development, readiness for international cooperation, active involvement in their activities, and fulfillment of the requirements specified in section 3.3.
• 5.4. Group Formation: Program participants may be divided into groups based on their needs and specialization.
• 5.5. Certification and Qualification: After completing the training, participating cooperatives, based on the lists submitted and approved in coordination with the NAC, receive Certificates of Completion for a joint international educational program. Subsequently, these individuals have the opportunity to take exams to receive a certificate from the NAC as a "Cooperative Agent," "Cooperative Business Accelerator," or "Cooperative Chairperson."
• 5.6. Monitoring and Evaluation: The NAC conducts continuous monitoring of the Program's progress and evaluates its effectiveness based on the results achieved (volume of purchases, expansion of product range, reduction of financial burden on members, number of contracts signed, and member feedback).

6. Expected Results

• 6.1. The preparation of elite personnel for the development of the cooperative movement in Kazakhstan, capable of making cooperatives a leading force in developing and strengthening the stability of the economy, fulfilling the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and improving the well-being of the population.
• 6.2. The expansion of the pool of elite personnel for their promotion in international cooperative organizations, as well as for work in working groups with government agencies to advocate for and develop the cooperative movement in Kazakhstan.
• 6.3. The training of personnel to organize missions for the development of the cooperative movement in other Central Asian republics.
• 6.4. The issuance of Certificates of Completion for a joint international educational program from foreign cooperative federations, which will provide cooperative chairpersons with a broader worldview and a complete understanding of the opportunities of the cooperative movement worldwide and of international cooperative organizations.
• 6.5. A significant increase in the income of consumer cooperatives through access to goods at the most favorable prices and their sale at competitive prices on the domestic market.
• 6.6. A substantial reduction in the financial burden on members to achieve the cooperatives' statutory goals and objectives, which will make cooperatives more attractive.
• 6.7. The expansion of the product range and improvement of the quality of goods available to members of consumer cooperatives through direct procurement at favorable prices.
• 6.8. The strengthening of the financial stability and attractiveness of consumer cooperatives.
• 6.9. An increase in the number of active members and their loyalty to cooperatives.
• 6.10. Securing for each participating cooperative at least 5 (five) active contracts with reliable product suppliers.
• 6.11. The formation of a sustainable network of international partnerships for Kazakhstani cooperatives.
• 6.12. The strengthening of the NAC's role as a coordinator and leader of the cooperative movement in Kazakhstan.

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