Private Sector Seminar Series: The Value of Cooperative Banking in Supporting Smallholders


The managing director of Rabobank Foundation, Mr. Pierre van Hedel, visited FAO headquarters today and gave a seminar for FAO staff titled “The Value of Cooperative Banking in Supporting Smallholders” as part of the Private Sector Seminar Series.
 


20/09/2013 - 

20 September 2013, Rome – The managing director of Rabobank Foundation, Mr. Pierre van Hedel, visited FAO headquarters today and gave a seminar for FAO staff titled “The Value of Cooperative Banking in Supporting Smallholders” as part of the Private Sector Seminar Series.
 
Rabobank Foundation was created in 1973 by Rabobank Group, a Dutch multinational bank and global leader in Food and Agribusiness. Building upon Rabobank Group’s collaborative and sustainable banking strategies, Rabobank Foundation seeks to support smallholder farmers around the world through agricultural cooperatives and microfinance mechanisms.

Mr. Van Hedel explained that Rabobank Foundation believes in empowering smallholder farmers through financial, technical, and educational services which work to expand production volumes, improve livelihoods, and increase food security. Mr. Van Hedel, who has worked with Rabobank since 1978 and served as the managing director of the Rabobank Foundation since 2008, cited specific areas where smallholder farmers need assistance, including increased access to financial services, greater involvement in value chains, lower transaction costs, and better quality standards.

Rabobank Foundation’s mission to empower underprivileged populations is guided by a strong belief in collaboration. In his seminar, Van Hedel emphasized that working together is the key to delivering effective assistance to the 650 million smallholder farmers worldwide.
“The Rabobank Foundation believes in organizing these farmers into cooperatives together with knowledge and support of governments and the private sector,” he said.

With the power of collaboration in mind, FAO and Rabobank Foundation created a partnership that combines the financial and organizational competenices of Rabobank with the hunger eradication expertise of FAO. The partnership was signed today at FAO and identifies how the organizations will work together to support smallholder businesses in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania through the implementation of specific programs.

Several days ago, FAO also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Grameen Foundation, which includes goals to increase farming innovation exchange, strengthen smallholders’ access to agricultural and financial services, and increase rural access to competitive value chains.

About the Private Sector Seminar Series

The Private Sector Seminar Series offers FAO staff the first-hand opportunity to hear from the Private Sector; to learn about the contribution of the Private Sector to food security; and to consider concrete initiatives and projects with the Private Sector that align with FAO’s mandate and contribute to FAO’s Strategic Objectives.
 


Related Links: 

Watch video about FAO partnership with Rabobank Foundation