Cooperative dividend
Community sponsorship
Rabobank Foundation
considering and determining how the available money is spent. But our cooperative dividend
is also about volunteering, the provision of tools and resources, media and the Rabobank
network. In 2012, EUR 67.9 (60.2) million was made available in the way of cooperative dividend.
in millions of euros
2012
2011
2010
Cooperative funds (local Rabobanks)
42.8
37.0
28.3
Donations by Rabobank Nederland and other group entities
4.6
5.2
4.2
Rabobank Foundation (in and outside the Netherlands)
19.8
15.7
21.7
Project fund
0.0
1.1
0.9
Award money Herman Wijffels Innovation Award
0.1
0.1
0.1
Share4more
0.6
1.1
0.7
Total community funds and donations
67.9
60.2
55.9
in millions of euros
2012
2011
2010
Rabobank Nederland, Communications Department
30.3
25.1
24.1
Rabobank International and other group entities
11.0
9.7
11.8
Local Rabobanks
27.4
27.0
24.1
Total community sponsorship
68.7
61.8
60.0
The Triple-P monitor is one example of how Rabobank spends its cooperative dividend.
Local Rabobanks, their customers and other stakeholders use this monitor to work on
developing a sustainable economic perspective in the local area. The Knowledge and
Economic Research Department of Rabobank Nederland is called in to map out the social,
economic and ecological strengths and weaknesses of the area. The purpose is to take
concrete steps to aid in the further sustainable development of the area. Six Triple-P reviews
were conducted in 2012.
A good example of the concrete follow-up to a Triple-P review was Food Vision 2012, an
initiative of Rabobank Uden Veghel. After the study by the Knowledge and Economic
Research Department, which showed the importance of strengthening the area's identity as
a food, health and pharmaceutical hub, Rabobank Uden Veghel initiated talks with leading
food players in the local area. This culminated in Food Vision, a four-day conference organised
by these food businesses and related organisations. There was great interest in Food Vision,
which was held at De Koekbouw in Veghel from 26 to 29 June. Over 1,000 players across the
food chain met for four days to discuss food and health issues.
For 40 years already, Rabobank Foundation has supported the social and economic
development of underprivileged groups worldwide. In keeping with Rabobank's cooperative
principles, the Foundation helps to build financially self-sufficient member and other
organisations, while relying on the financial support and the network of Rabobank Group, its
customers/members and its employees. Poor farmers in developing countries are given the
opportunity to improve their economic and social position by organising them in cooperatives
and offering them access to finance, knowledge and new sales markets. These projects are
meant to improve the income position of the farmers. The social impact follows on from the
improvement in their economic circumstances. Rabobank Foundation projects outside the
Netherlands also contribute to food security. By organising themselves in cooperatives, micro-
farmers have a chance to improve their situation thanks to access to finance, knowledge and
markets; this also helps to improve product quality and productivity. Rabobank Foundation
also supports specific projects that let farmers produce key crops and products (such as rice,
vegetables and milk) for local consumption. Communities will gain access to better and more
food if their local farmers produce better and more products. In the Netherlands, the
Foundation supports various projects and organisations by donating money and knowledge
with a view to increasing the participation of underprivileged and vulnerable groups, i.e.
people who, despite being socially or economically challenged, want to be fully fledged
members of society.
18 Annual Report 2012 Rabobank Group
