Rabobank Foundation

The Rabobank Foundation is committed to entering into relationships of equality with all of its partners. In concrete terms this means it prefers to loan than give money. In keeping with these principles, the Rabobank Foundation’s partners likewise always proactively contribute a great deal to the project. They not only contribute through financial contributions from the local community and the customers/members, but also make a vital contribution in the form of manpower, commitment and dedication. Rabobank Foundation employees are also deployed to provide on-site and hands-on assistance by tapping into the vast knowledge of the Rabobank Group in fields including food and agri, financing and co-operative formation.

The key question with regard to providing support is always: Will this support provide the prospect of financial self-sufficiency? This means that the support provided must pave the way for the involved co-operatives to ultimately continue providing services to their members without receiving external support. Mobilising the members’ own savings makes a major contribution towards achieving this aim at savings and credit co-operatives. In this way the support received from the Rabobank Foundation is leveraged as an empowering catalyst for development.

Another key role performed by the Rabobank Foundation entails guiding, advising and coaching co-operative organisations in developing countries. This provides organisations in developing countries with access to unique banking expertise and experience relating to business and private financing, internal organisation, co-operative management and administration, ICT systems and product development.