Ethiopia: Cooperative Societies Proclamation No. 147/1998

This document presents a comprehensive legislation for the organization and management of co-operative societies. It is divided into the following parts.

Part I:

• Defines various terms and types of societies;
• Lists their objectives and describes their guiding principles.

Part II describes the process of formation and registration of co-operative societies, including:

• Their types;
• Judicial personality and responsibility;
• The by-laws that govern societies;
• The amalgamation and division of societies.

Part III lists the rights and duties of the members of a society, including:

• The necessary requirements for membership;
• Reasons for a member to leave/be dismissed from a society;
• The payment of shares;
• Voting rights;
• Transfer of share or benefit.

Part IV describes the powers and duties of the management bodies of the society that include:

• The general assembly;
• The management committee;
• The control committee.

The remaining parts discuss:

• Special privileges of a society;
• Assets and funds of societies;
• Rules for audit and inspection of societies;
• Procedure to be followed for the dissolution of societies;
• Settlement of disputes;
• Miscellaneous provisions.