Aotearoa Development Cooperative

Abstract

Andrew Colgan and Geoff Cooper founded the Aotearoa Development Cooperative (ADC) in 2008 with the goal of 'relieving poverty by establishing development schemes in economically disadvantaged countries'. Their first project was a microfinance institution in Myanmar (Burma) dispensing small loans to poor Burmese excluded from mainstream financial services. This case describes Andrew and Geoff's motivations, the challenges they faced working in Myanmar and the decisions they faced as they considered changing the cooperative membership structure and searching for new ways of fundraising. The purpose of this case, designed for a post graduate class, is to explore potential business models and examine the tensions between the business model and the wider goals and ethos of a small not-for-profit organisation