12/06/2026
The Foundation is delighted to welcome Zeleke Yibetele, Head of SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperatives) Regulation at the Ethiopian Cooperatives Commission (ECC), to Ireland. The visit offers an opportunity to share knowledge and experience, as the ECC is working on reforms to strengthen cooperative societies as actors in Ethiopia’s domestic economy, including improvements in organisation, governance, market competitiveness, financial capacity, and regulatory oversight.
During Zeleke’s time in Ireland, he met with the Foundation team, attended an IFAD event, and met with the Central Bank. He also travelled to meet with Julie Galliagan from Cavan Credit Union Ltd and Michael Cunningham from St. Declan’s Ashbourne Credit Union, who shared their credit union's history and community impact. Whilst in Cavan, Zeleke also met with Niamh Kieran from Collaborative Finance CLG to hear more about Cultivate.
Thank you to everyone in Cavan Credit Union and St. Declan’s Ashbourne Credit Union for your warm welcome and to everyone who took the time to meet with Zeleke Yibetele. It was a fantastic opportunity to see cooperation among cooperatives in action. By strengthening the credit union movement, we are one step closer to achieving financial inclusion for all.