Based on Rabobank's current vision, we work simultaneously at various levels, occasionally even in the same country: bottom up and top down. Rabo Development and Rabobank Foundation are the two Rabobank Group entities that have been designated to take up this challenge.
Rabobank Foundation supports the process whereby small savers join hands in setting up savings and loans systems, focusing on the poorest of customers in particular. This is how local savings are made available to local enterprises and affordable (micro)credits can be offered. After some time, the regional economy starts to grow and the competitive edge of the small enterprises improves as a result.
Ultimately, this leads to innovation initiatives and a higher standard of living. Rabo Development, which is comprised of Rabo Financial Institutions Development BV and Rabo International Advisory Services BV, is our vehicle for developing banks that preferably have a nation-wide network of branches. These partner banks are provided with capital, in which process Rabo Development becomes a minority shareholder. At management level, we use Rabobank expertise to map the strategic course. A team of local managers and Rabobank managers forms the executive committee. In addition, we ask a host of banking specialists to help local managers find solutions that are best suited to the local environment. In time, these partner banks will develop into divisions of our standard banking operations.
Rabo Development is well placed to offer support throughout the agricultural chain in the countries where it is active. Rabobank Foundation helps farmers' cooperatives on their way by issuing crop loans. If they show steady growth, cooperatives can, in time, be transferred to a partner bank in a developing country. This local bank will receive support from Rabo Development and Rabobank International. We plan to give more practical expression to this complementarity over the next few years.
Information on the Rabobank Foundation
Information on Rabo Development