CENTRAL DATABASE. Currently there are institutions, stakeholders and programmes that support co‐operatives in eThekwini Municipality. Unfortunately, not all co‐operatives are benefiting the support from those institutions, stakeholders, and programmes. One of the reasons is that the municipality does not have a centralised co‐operative database from which they might coordinate and closely monitor the sector’s performance, thereby strategically planning for its improvement. It is important to capture established and emerging co‐operatives records into a structured format such as a database. This will ensure the monitoring and evaluation of the performance and contribution of the co‐operatives to the GDP and will facilitate to co‐operatives an easy access to municipal tenders, programmes and other supports. However, the business Support and Market Unit’s central database is a municipal–wide and an inclusive one; therefore it does not stop other departments to have their own databases. Key tasks of the central database include: Keep record of co‐operatives Assisting and provision of support services to co‐operatives Tracing co‐operatives through: The verification of a number of tenders awarded, The verification of a number of training accessed, The verification of a number of other resources and support benefited from the programme and stakeholders, The verification of self‐sustainable co‐operatives.
