Dominican Republic

In the Dominican Republic, DGRV’s work focuses on strengthening cooperatives in the financial and agricultural sectors, particularly in rural areas in the north and south of the country. The objective is to improve the economic and financial inclusion of small-scale producers, women, youth, and other vulnerable groups.

The country is home to around 2,300 cooperatives, representing 2 million members. Most of these cooperatives are located in rural areas, and the sector is largely shaped by small-scale entrepreneurship.

In collaboration with five Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs), DGRV supports agricultural groups in developing sustainable organizational structures and viable business models. This includes technical advisory services, training in good agricultural practices, marketing, certifications, and strengthening regional networks among producer groups. Through the SACCOs, the project also works on integrating financial services tailored to the needs of rural producers.

In the financial sector, DGRV collaborates closely with the Association of Rural Savings and Credit Institutions (AIRAC) and its affiliated cooperatives to improve internal management and the resilience of the sector. Software developed by DGRV is implemented in areas such as financial planning, strategic planning, internal control, social balance, and credit risk management. These tools help increase operational efficiency, reduce credit delinquency, and strengthen governance.

At governmental level, DGRV works with key actors such as the Institute for Cooperative Development and Credit (IDECOOP). Together, they promote regulatory reforms and the implementation of modern supervision software to ensure a technically sound and proportionate regulation of the cooperative sector.