2012: United Nations International Year of Cooperatives
Cooperative dividend
The United Nations declared 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives. By doing so, they
stressed the importance of the cooperative as a business model for the world economy.
Rabobank was a partner of the UN International Year of Cooperatives. Cooperatives contribute
to the economic vitality of local communities. Rabobank took the opportunity of this special
year to showcase the added value of cooperatives by taking a large variety of initiatives at
national, international and local level, both for the public and for employees, including:
- The launch of the Chamber of Cooperatives (www.kamervancooperatie.nl/ - in Dutch),
a virtual platform designed to provide guidance to Dutch businesses considering adopting
the cooperative as a business model. Rabobank was one of the co-initiators of this platform,
together with PGGM and Achmea. Rabobank will be actively promoting the cooperative as
a business model for self-employed persons. This legal form offers self-employed persons
the opportunity to strengthen their position. Cooperative teamwork is the answer to the
need expressed by nearly all self-employed persons to maintain their independence.
A cooperative allows a self-employed person to stay independent while joining forces
with others in the cooperative to increase market opportunities and reduce risks so as to
improve their competitive position. The share of self-employed persons in the working
population is expected to continue to rise over the coming years because of the economic
crisis and greater flexibility in the labour market. Rabobank has developed information and
tools for self-employed persons, which were introduced on the Day of the Self-Employed.
- The publication of a study on inclusive food strategies (Kader voor een inclusieve
voedselstrategie) in the year under review. This study argues that it will be virtually
impossible to restore the current and future imbalance of the food supply without
harnessing the underutilised agricultural potential of existing small farms in developing
countries and emerging economies. Unlike large agricultural businesses, small farmers in
these areas usually have no access to affordable financial services, knowledge and
education, market information, land, water and fertilisers. Close cooperation between
stakeholders in the agricultural supply chain, such as authorities, the corporate sector,
multilateral institutions and public interest groups, will be needed to increase food
production. Cooperatives hold the key to this transformation.
- The first Rabobank Global Farmers Master Class in June. Having been invited by Rabobank,
50 farmers from 16 countries met to discuss the shared strategic challenges faced by the
agricultural and food-producing industries on a global scale.
- The publication of'Cooperatives and Rural Financial Development'and an English-language
book entitled Raiffeisen's Footprint, in which European experts on cooperatives expound
their views on the strength of cooperatives in times of economic crisis.
- The launch of the World Food Game (WFG) in September. This online game is designed to
educate young adults (aged 16 to 25) about global food issues. Gamers can grow virtual
crops and keep virtual livestock. The purpose of the game is to feed as many people as
possible while warding off threats and relying on clever teamwork. The game won the
international Co-Creation Award 2012 in the category'for profit marketing
communication'. World=U, another initiative that was developed in collaboration with the
Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), is a unique way to reach young adults and spur them
into action to create a more sustainable world.
- A conference on partnerships for creating international food stability (Samenwerken aan
internationale voedselstabiliteit) to close the Dutch International Year of Cooperatives.
Rabobank teamed up with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to organise a conference
for the Dutch corporate sector, which was held at the parliament buildings in The Hague.
One of the guest speakers was Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima, who spoke
passionately about microfinance to small farmers in developing countries.
The online version of the Annual Report describes four concrete projects undertaken in the
International Year of Cooperatives.
In addition to offering financial services, Rabobank is committed to investing in local
communities and in creating a more sustainable society. Rabobank has put a lot of effort
and money towards achieving this ambition year after year. Rabobank can do this because,
as a cooperative, Rabobank does not have any shareholders who demand the highest
possible profits and dividends. For this reason, Rabobank is in a position to pay'cooperative
dividend'to the community, both on a local and national scale via community investment
funds and of course via the local Rabobanks'cooperative funds. Members play a key role in
17 Cooperative and sustainability
