The Administration Section deals with the following on a daily basis:

• Policy formulation and reviews for the Department

• Human Resource Management for staff welfare and support services

• Financial Management of the Department funds

• Administration of the Audit and Supervision Fund

• General administration of Co-operatives Societies and Friendly Societies issues such as:

- RegistrationTransfer of Engagement

- Settlement of Disputes

- Suspension of Registration

- Dissolution of Societies

This Section derives its authority from Sections 38 and 39 of the Co-operative Societies Act, and Section 23 of the Friendly Societies Act, whereby the Registrar shall audit or cause to be audited all registered Societies annually. In order to effect this action, the Audit and Investigations Section undertakes the auditing of the accounts of all Co-operatives and Friendly Societies. Audit exercises are carried out by the staff of the Department or by assignment of some audit to external auditors who are appointed by the Registrar of Co-operative Societies and Friendly Societies.

The Section undertakes its mandates through the following activities:

• Ensuring that Societies maintain an effective system of control and the reliability of accounts;

• Ensuring compliance with the Co-operative and Friendly Societies Acts and Regulations, Rules and approved accounting procedures via constant monitoring;

• Investigating and verifying suspected incidences of fraud, misappropriation, embezzlement and gross mismanagement;

• Reporting to the Registrar of Co-operative Societies and Friendly Societies all inadequacies and improprieties observed in the financial operations and transactions of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies and recommended corrective action;

• Attendance at Committee and Annual General Meetings of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies to facilitate explanation of audit reports and to answer questions relating to the audit and financial standing of the Society.

The Development Section’s principal responsibility is for the training, promotion, development, policy and research activities for the Movements.

Hence the section seeks to satisfy the following:

• To facilitate the registration of viable economic entities under the Co-operative Societies Act; Friendly Societies Act; Industrial and Provident Societies Act; Charities Act; and the Agricultural Loan Societies and Approved Organizations Act and their respective Regulations;

• To liaise with government and non-government agencies in designing and implementing programmes aimed at poverty alleviation and economic empowerment;

• To facilitate the setting up of income generating projects particularly for women and youths;

• Institutional Strengthening and Development of Groups and Societies.

The Inspectorate Section is the regulatory arm of the Department. Its mandate is contained in Section 39 of the Co-operative Societies Act of 1950 and within Sections 53 and 54 of the Friendly Societies Act of 1966; this authorizes the Registrar or his agents to inspect the affairs of Co-operatives, and Friendly Societies with a view to ensuring compliance with these Acts, Regulations and Rules and also sound business practices. This is a critically important activity, which has a bearing on the very survival of the entities and its membership.

In order for the Section to undertake its function efficiently, the following strategies are usually effected:

• Provision of technical support to Boards, Committees and staff in relation to policy formulation and legal procedures;

• Conducting full and partial inspection of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies system and operations;

• Reviewing the status of Societies that are in breach of the Act and recommending and facilitating the process for holding of inquires and liquidation.