Civil Society by ICCO

Civil society crucial link in international cooperation

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COLOPhOn Civil soCiety, CruCial link in international Cooperation the iCCo alliance outlines in this note its vision on civil society, thereby contributing to the discussion in the netherlands about the value and effectiveness of private development organizations for international cooperation.

Member of the

the iCCo alliance was established in 2006 and consists of edukans, iCCo, kerk in actie, oikocredit, prisma, share people, yente and the Zeister Zendingsgenootschap. oikos is observer.

1. tHe (Counter)ForCe oF Civil soCiety

2. ConneCtions witH soCiety

3. tHe worlD CHanGes, DevelopMent Cooperation renews

4. tHe playinG FielD anD tHe players

5. CHanGe Has alreaDy starteD!

6. an appropriate response?

Note to the reader utreCht, June 2012 text: Jonathan Huseman, Machteld ooijens and piet posthuma Final editing: Jaap â&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Gilde layout: reprovinci, schoonhoven iCCo allianCe per iCCo address: po Box 8190 3503 rD utrecht t 030 692 78 11 info@icco.nl www.icco.nl www.icco-international.com Coverphoto iCCo

Obsolete terms We are fully aware that geographic areas in this note are indicated in antiquated terms. Used generic terms as the developing countries or the developed countries are outdated. The contradiction North and South is also no longer up to date. Traditional demarcation lines between poor and rich countries are rapidly fading. These have become caricatures of reality. Greece (rich?) is located in the North and Brazil (poor?) in the South. Contradictions within countries are sometimes greater than between countries. Each country finds itself in a specific phase or situation of wellbeing and development. Nonetheless, we cannot escape categorization. In this note we therefore write for convenience until there is a better conceptual framework available still about the North (the western, post-industrial countries) and the South (other countries).

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1. The (counter) force of civil society

2. Connections with society

Compassion, justice and stewardship are the

The ICCO Alliance cooperates worldwide with civil

The ICCO Alliance is part of the Dutch civil

where people can live in well-being and dignity

Prisma , Oikocredit, Share People, Yente and

core values in the mission of the ICCO Alliance. The ICCO Alliance finds it intolerable and unacceptable that people live in extreme poverty. Economic and political relations determine the opportunities that people have to live a good life. However, people are also resilient and take responsibility for the situation they face. Citizens and organizations established by citizens play a vital role in society. Together they form the so-called civil society, which occupies its

own position between private domain, the state

and the market. It consists of non-governmental

organizations, trade unions, think tanks, churches, religious organizations, community organizations and social movements. They shape and voice the

interests and values of different groups in society on the micro, meso and macro level.

society, governments and companies with whom we

society. The Alliance was formed in 2006 and is

and justice is done to every man and woman.

the Zeister Zendingsgenootschap.2 Jointly the

energy underline the necessity of organized social

of churches and private organizations from

share our values and commit themselves to a world Crises, both the financial and economic crises, as

members have vast experience in cooperating

the crises in the area of food, water, climate and

with social movements, development projects

society.

with a vanguard of businesses and government

part of the social capital in society. Organizations

The ICCO Alliance has joined forces with like-

economic and political problems. Civil society is

disadvantaged groups. Members. Some members

involvement in establishing and developing a

Each civil society organization represents a crucial contribute individually and collectively to social cohesion and to innovative solutions for social, an important force which counterbalances the

power concentration of the state and the market. A cohesive society benefits from a politically independent civil society, which consists of

organizations that derive their legitimacy from the same society.

Civil society is an important countervailing force to the power concentration of the state and the market.

a partnership of ICCO, Kerk in Actie, Edukans,

Civil society is not homogeneous unity. Both

progressive and conservative forces play their role. In our work and in this note we mainly focus on

people and organizations that want to contribute to a fairer world without poverty.

civil society overseas, but also an increasingly organizations.

minded organizations worldwide. Together we give a voice to the voiceless and stand up for

of the Alliance are also strongly connected to

social development processes in The Netherlands. ICCO, the namesake of the Alliance, unites Dutch citizens with citizens in other countries through its international organizational structure.

Moreover, ICCO fosters links between governments, businesses and citizens. This international

structure inspires the other Alliance partners.

The ICCO Alliance operates with its own funds

and funding from the co-financing system (MFS) of the Dutch government, focusing on structural 1

poverty alleviation in developing countries. The

ICCO Alliance contributes in an autonomous but

complementary manner through the MFS to the development policy of the Dutch government.

In recent decades through the MFS (+MFP) civil

society organizations and the Dutch government

have become increasingly closer and at the same time there was a relative loosening of ties with

civil society and our organizational constituencies. This is now increasingly seen as an undesirable

development by both civil society organizations

and by the government. This too tight relationship between state and civil society organizations, and the current tendency of government to modify existing relations unilaterally at an accelerated pace are not without risk. Organizations established by citizens for development

cooperation are increasingly less recognized

and acknowledged by the citizens themselves.

The need for an independent and complementary role of civil society organizations is however according to our opinion rather increasing then decreasing.

14 members of Prisma have established the sister organization Co-Prisma. They participate in MFS through the ICCO Alliance. Additionally, there is a close cooperation with OIKOS, which is not a member, but an observer.

The ownership of the organizations has often

become multifaceted, distant and diffuse, partly

due to increasingly operating in a governmental environment, leaving many organizations with their backs turned on society.3

The need for an independent and complementary role of civil society organizations is however,

according to our opinion, rather increasing then

decreasing. This is demonstrated by the inability

of governments and the market to respond to the

recent financial and economic crises. The need for

a joint approach of governments, market players

and citizens and their civil society organizations to cope with the challenges of today is evident. This situation is not only characteristic for

development organizations . A plethora of other

established Dutch civil society organizations have reached the point that their legitimacy should

be reconfirmed. This relates to rootedness and

constituency, the place those organizations occupy in the versatile moral landscape and their ability to mobilize people and funds.

3. The world changes, development cooperation renews The national and the international context in which the members of the ICCO Alliance operate, has changed significantly since the beginning of the international development cooperation. Traditional North-South relations have broken down. The economic emergence of Brazil, Russia, South Africa, India and China (BRICS) and other countries, coined by the Goldman Sachs investment bank as ‘NEXT 11’, change the international power relations. Moreover, the power of transnational corporations is still growing, with annual budgets that are

a multiple of the government budget of some countries. Governments and multilateral

institutions find it hard to control them. The

growing global power of the financial markets is apparent from the fear of the governments

for the ‘rating’ of their solvency. New actors are

increasingly in control of the global control panel.

The demography of poverty has also changed. Most poor people currently live in middle

income countries, in so-called islands of poverty. Poverty alleviation is no longer a matter of rich, developed countries that solve the problems of

poor, underdeveloped countries. Social exclusion,

Increasing globalization is on the one hand

embraced by the established orders that have

benefitted considerably from this process until

now. On the other hand it offers opportunities for

global citizens. The rise of social media and mobile

communication accompanies and accelerates these

developments, as could be seen in the development of the citizen movements which triggered the Arab Spring in 2011. Social media connect people and

organizations in quick and new ways, broaden the access to knowledge, organize opinion formation and know how to rapidly mobilize people and

funds. Free access to these media is then a valuable asset to fight for globally.

Existing institutions and organizations can of course be called slow in relation to these fast

media and are often focused on self-preservation, what also might give cause to criticism on these

institutions. At the same time there is a growing awareness that rapid mobilization alone is not

sufficient and that in order to consolidate desired changes reliable, well-functioning and service-

oriented organizations and institutions play an

essential role. They can prevent that the old powers re-occupy the power gaps that may arise in times

of rapid social and political change, and help the

new social movements to establish an institutional power base.

Finally, civil society organizations in developing countries have grown stronger over time. This creates new and challenging opportunities for cooperation in developing a new style.

The ICCO Alliance finds itself in the middle of these changes and finds itself supported by a strong global network of civil society organizations,

based on years of experience; organizations with a positive vision and a strong confidence in the

possibilities of a fairer society; organizations that effectively contribute to poverty alleviation and

social improvements. And organizations believe

in the power of cooperation, often also in new and challenging relationships.

Poverty alleviation is no longer a matter of rich, developed countries that solve the problems of poor, underdeveloped countries.

poverty and wealth occur in all societies. Problems such as climate change, the treasure hunt for

resources, terrorism and crime and especially scarcity of water, food, energy and land are transboundary issues.

Another important development is that increasingly

more citizens develop their own initiatives to express their commitment to international issues of social justice. Therefore they search for new initiatives, skeptical as they are about existing institutions.

Companies doing business with corporate social responsibility are also new players that become active in the area of creating social value.4

This development can also be described using the partnership paradox, formulated by Willem Elbers, in which dominant management thinking has obstructed the mission, vision and values of development organizations (Elbers 2012: “The Partnership Paradox: Principles and Practices in North-South NGO Relations”. PhD thesis) 4 Alliance partner Share People connects social entrepreneurs from developing countries with European corporate professionals that want to play a positive role in strengthening economic initiatives in these countries.

4. The playing field and the players Because of its position and setup the ICCO Alliance forms in many countries a unique link between Dutch, multinational and global governments, companies and civil society organizations, including churches. Of which we give the following overview .

I Civil society organizations in the ‘South’ Civil organizations in the ‘South’ play a major

role in constructing and strengthening just and

resilient societies. Firstly, they fulfill an important

watchdog function with respect to their own

governments and the market, both on national

and local level. Human rights, accountability and budget monitoring are examples of important themes.

Secondly, civil society organizations provide public

capable of working time and again in ever new

Except that they fill the gaps in government’s

starts locally inspires people and organizations

services, such as education or healthcare, which is actually the responsibility of the government. service delivery, there is a deep and permanent

felt interest in society for these themes, voiced by these civil society organizations.

Successful lobbying for training of healthcare personnel

ways towards social and economic development, human rights and strengthening of society. What to duplicate and scale up these experiences for broader impact. Thus, renewal finds its way

through a bottom-up approach in cooperation

training these ‘community health workers’. The government has opted for training nurses and physicians in order to reduce the shortage of

Thanks to close contacts with the population, the

personnel in the healthcare sector. The admission

diocese of Wau has secured the training of healthcare

requirements for these courses are however too

staff.

high for many Sudanese because they do not have the proper training.

There is an enormous shortage of qualified

compensation for victims of the armed conflict

An independent, impartial and professional

at the time of Sendero Luminoso. APRODEH

watchdog function on human rights has led to

also supports indigenous communities

confidence in supporters and opponents. The voice

which are confronted with mining on their

of human rights organizations counts.

territory. Recently the NGO denounced the

Furthermore, it works towards structural

organizations of Prisma, has not given up

health workers’ in rural areas. They give

the fight. Due to the great importance of the

information, provide basic medicines and form a

‘community health workers’, the organization

bridge function with the conventional healthcare

has striven for continuing the training. Thanks to

sector. These healthcare workers come from

good contacts, the Ministry has agreed to this.

the area itself and they are closely linked to the

It was also agreed that the training is a stepping

population. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Public

stone to meet the qualifications for admission to

Health of Southern Sudan has recently prohibited

the School for Nurses.

Moreover, civil society organizations can (and

relations with governments, companies and

The quality and strength of these organizations

extremely capable of determining their own

strengthening of human rights in Peru, such as

criminalization of employees of civil society ICCO’s partner organization ‘Association for

The diocese of Wau, partner of four member

organizations there train so-called ‘community

organizations.

the Human rights’ (APRODEH) is one of the most important NGOs in this field in Peru.

APRODEH has over the years coached many

APRODEH is a member of the ‘National Human

human rights lawyers, trained judges and

Rights Coordination’ (CNDDHH) and has good

magistrates, supported defenders of human

international contacts, for example with the

rights and has observed the development

‘Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’,

of the democracy in the country critically

APRODEH and CNDDHH played a key role in

and constructively. Thanks to its good name

the Truth Commission with the reconstruction

and independent position, APRODEH is an

of the country in 2000.

interlocutor of the government. The organization derives its power from its professionalism, its

APRODEH immediately comes into action if

networks in society and its connections with the

the rights of individuals are being violated.

government and businesses.

should) mobilize the government, citizens and

companies in their own country for social change. ensures that they are heard, as is apparent from the example regarding healthcare in Southern Sudan.

Thirdly, private organizations often play an

important role in fragile states in enhancing the social cohesion. Furthermore, they form

the foundation for restoring the trust between different parties by means of dialogue processes.

Local civil society organizations that are

confronted with poverty and injustice often display an unparalleled resilience and are

Photo: ICCO/ Rosan Smits

Photo: ICCO

Critically and constructively working on human rights

healthcare personnel in Southern Sudan. Various

knowledge organizations.

Southern civil society organizations are

role and priorities. They know what is needed for the development of societies and for

themselves. The role of the ICCO Alliance is often an additional and condition creating role. We

finance, but increasingly we make contacts and connections (‘brokering’) worldwide and we

facilitate partnerships, aimed at increasing the impact and stimulating innovation.

Informal, mutual assistance within local communities is an important social value.

The power of the often invisible, , often informal,

II Development organizations in the North

is often laid at this level for democratization

function as watchdog and/or critical partner

social connections that remain under the radar should not be underestimated. The first basis

Development organizations in the North also

local communities is an important social value.

others that affect development processes.

processes. Informal, mutual assistance within

with regard to governments, businesses and

It is also here that mutual trust, the cement of a

resilient society, takes shape. Women play a very

Photo: ICCO

important role here.

The ICCO Alliance strengthens these ‘grass roots’ initiatives. Generally, faith-based organizations, including churches and other civil society

From victim to driving force for reconstruction

to the national policy. The local civil society

Organizations of and for women work in the

cooperates are an indispensible link in the

chain able to connect the most modest initiative organizations are deeper embedded in the

Democratic Republic of Congo with confidence

more capable of signaling positive changes and

SARCAF is a coalition of 37 women’s

social fabric of a society than big institutional

on new perspectives after the war.

innovations, but also negative tendencies.5

organizations in South Kivu, Congo. During

donors and governments. Moreover, they are

important task. Poverty, injustice and exclusion

are political issues that can be solved by human action. Courage is required for structural social

change in order to break through the status quo

the Dutch support for education in developing

Civil society organizations in the South refer

violence. Although the war has ended,

with growing emphasis to the responsibilities of

countries.

sexual violence is still commonplace. The

Good education for everybody benefits from good

In 2011 GCE- The Netherlands took the initiative

the rich countries: effective poverty alleviation

victims are often excluded from their

cooperation and coordination between all parties

to organize a conference where more than one

requires a change of the consumption and

communities and even from their families.

involved, both in developing countries as in The

hundred representatives of government, great and

production patterns of the wealthier citizens and

SARCAF fights with women against sexual

Netherlands.

small non-governmental organizations, schools

requires a coherent foreign policy, where the left

violence and stigmatization. Additionally,

hand does not take what the right hand gives.

SARCAF stimulates female leadership

Edukans is a member of the ‘Global Campaign for

tackle the educational agenda for 2015. GCE-

Development organizations in the North will

and supports economic activities, where

Education’ (GCE) –. GCE- The Netherlands is a

The Netherlands wants to see whether different

become increasingly less necessary as donor; but

women organize themselves in producer

strong network of organizations for development

organizations want to join forces. The conference

more as equal partner with a specific objective

unions. This leads to more income and food

cooperation and teachers’ unions that strive

is a first step towards more and better cooperation

in The Netherlands and Europe. Together with

security and more appreciation within their

for good education for everybody. GCE-The

between the mentioned parties in a programmatic

NGOs in the South they fight for a fair share of

communities. Women are becoming the

Netherlands focuses the attention mainly on

approach, in communication and in lobbying.

global public goods, breaking down barriers

driving force behind the reconstruction of

to development and defending human rights.

their communities. procurement, fight corruption, hold

in power relations. Civil society organizations

jointly in time and money and taking shared responsibility for successes and failures.

and universities, trade unions and businesses

governments and companies accountable for complying with human rights. They support organizations that, provide public services

such as education or healthcare in particular in

Alliance partner Zeister Zendingsgenootschap strongly focuses on the development work of these local civil society organizations and knows how to rouse the Dutch ecclesial societies’ interest in this work.

are capable of increasing the political pressure that is required for this purpose.

Civil society in the North has proven its ability

countries with a dysfunctional government.

to present original alternatives for solving

service provider, the social involvement in global

South. Civil society is capable of taking risks

Regardless of the functions of watchdog and

within countries and in our own society is an

Joining forces for good education in developing countries

the war, SARCAF helped victims of sexual

This implies: making plans together, investing

sustainable fair trade and growing inequality

Photo: ICCO/ Okke Jager

organizations with which the ICCO Alliance

They follow for example critically government

issues such as climate change, human rights,

social, economic and political problems and

support those of partner organizations in the

and experimenting, even though it is not

such as climate change, human rights and

operate in national associations where poverty

have already elaborated what this means for

the FairClimateFund established by ICCO and

process of sharing and using ideas as

positioned to provide a suitable response to

of citizens that organize themselves, but

immediately clear how projects will turn out in the end. An example from the ICCO Alliance is

Kerk in Actie. This is a social enterprise which sets up climate projects with poor families in

developing countries. The CO2 rights from these

Courage is required for structural social change in order to break through the status quo in power relations.

The relation between poverty and exclusion is

and the good contacts with civil society

increasingly established both here and there.

organizations in developing countries put the ICCO Alliance in a good position to enhance

III Government

Furthermore, developing organizations such

creates conditions, contributes to an enabling

global citizenship.

A good government serves society, to which it is accountable for its performance. A government

as the members of the ICCO Alliance and Oikos

environment, enforces legislation and

have a duty in The Netherlands and Europe

for the construction and the maintenance of

guarantees basic facilities and human rights for citizens, companies, churches and civil society

organizations. A strong civil society that offers

both solutions as well as a countervailing power is a prerequisite for an effective government

and resilient society. This applies worldwide.

An additional effect is an increase in employment

Photo: ICCO/ Jaap ‘t Gilde

in India embarks on trading emission rights to fight

the installations. Households can sell CO2

poverty. ICCO and Kerk in Actie support this program

credits from the CO2 savings. After repaying

and connect parties in North and South to invest and

the investment of the installation the remaining

sell emission rights.

revenue goes directly to the families.

The partner organization ‘Agricultural

ICCO and Kerk in Actie draw the attention in The

Development and Training Society’ (ADATS)

Netherlands to climate change and the project

constructs 18.000 biogas installations for poor

in India. Individuals, churches and companies

families in the Chickballapur district in India. The

can become climate-friendly by reducing their

installations produce natural gas for every day

energy consumption, by shifting to renewable

cooking. The families do not even pay a single

energy sources and by compensating the CO2

penny. The cow dung, which would otherwise

surplus by buying CO2 credits from for example

be disposed of, is now inserted in the installation

India. Thanks to the network of ICCO and Kerk

together with organic waste. The methane gas

in Actie in the south and their supporters in

gives three times as much heat as firewood. The

The Netherlands, partner organizations and

immediate profit is less CO2 emissions, reduced

companies can contribute to the solution of two

fuel costs, healthier living conditions, less disposal

global problems: global warming and poverty.

projects are traded at a fair price according to

to give constructive and sometimes critical

and a better health.

and businesses, so that marginalized groups

citizens and companies in international issues

the new demography and geography of poverty.

Here also the vast international network

An experienced and respected local organization

Civil society organizations involve inspired

addressed. Therefore, the ICCO Alliance is well

inspiration. This improves global citizenship.

processing costs and an enormous timesaving.

This means more income for families locally

and exclusion in The Netherlands are also

opportunities. Moreover, it is a reciprocal

Climate change: global problem, local solutions

the most reliable standards for climate projects.

sustainable fair trade and equal economic

A good government keeps a strong, social and

democratic society actively alive. A government which deliberately weakens civil society or

undermines its playing field eventually will also weakens itself. .

The Dutch government spends part of its

budget on development cooperation by Dutch private organizations. The so-called MFS is a

unique system. The participating organizations contribute to the objectives of organizations

in the South by ‘financing, engaging in critical dialogue, knowledge exchange, capacity

development and promotion of contacts and

networks’. The supported organizations in the

too much of a ‘one-size fits all’ model

that tries to put organizations with very

different objectives and structures into one system. More and more the organizations

have started executing government policy

as some type of subcontractors. Above we

Alliance members, in particular Kerk in Actie,

responsibility and innovation of organizations. Moreover, an increasingly directive and

regulating pressure hinders that innovation.

A more flexible system is needed in order for the relation between government and civil

society organizations to remain effective. As civil society organizations are developing

in different directions (from humanitarian

organization to social enterprise) this space for innovation is even more required.. In this way, the original objectives of the system that are still relevant can be met.

Reassessment also applies, as stated earlier, to

the relation between civil society organizations and the government. During the innovations that make the system more in line with the reality of the 21th century, it is imperative

to safeguard its founding spirit, namely : the

recognition of the specific role that government and development organizations play in their dynamic, trust-based cooperation.

In the ICCO Alliance organizations work together which have different attitudes

towards this challenge. Some members recognize the outlined issues firsthand,

others like Kerk in Actie and Co-Prisma6 are

Alliance are thus capable of making their own

MFS is under great pressure. It has become

at least not harmed by it. Furthermore ICCO

more pliability, often at the expense of the

society organizations and non-governmental networks: of civil society in short .

in developing countries benefit from it and are

demands in its role as financer increasingly

especially characterized by a vivid relation

government recognizes the importance of civil

of governments, international organizations

The government recognizes the importance

South work on structural improvements in

their own country. Through the MFS the Dutch

contributions to the policy and implementation

the social position of these organizations.

with the communities from which they have

emerged. Collectively, the members of the ICCO contribution to the necessary discussion about the innovation of the system.

The relation between the Dutch government and civil society benefits from equality and mutual recognition that each plays its own important role.

Co-Prisma is the sister organization of Prisma which unites the Prisma members that participate in MFS2 through the ICCO

However, the new architecture for the system of

IV Companies

society. It mainly concerns the new agenda for

the relations between civil society organizations

development cooperation does not only address

In addition to these changes in the relations of

fair and sustainable development worldwide. A

and companies are also evolving. While

the relation between the government and civil comprehensive, coherent global agenda based

on new forms of international cooperation and a corresponding funding framework.

Civil society organizations in the South deserve special attention in this new system. A new system should offer participation to these

organizations and give as little bureaucracy as

possible. The precarious position in which local

civil society organizations often find themselves should also be taken into account. The power of

local organizations is to work towards sufficient participation of all citizens and broadening the

democratic space. Governments often cannot (and do not want) to provide this space. There lies an important task for the local and international civil society. A strong social involvement is of

major importance regarding sensitive issues as

democratization, conflict transformation, human rights and extractive industries, where local

organizations are often limited by their own

government in their scope for action. International civil society organizations can more easily support this work than governments and embassies which have to take the allegations of foreign interference into account. Here the complementarity between Dutch civil society organizations and the Dutch government is apparent.

The relation between the Dutch government and civil society benefits from equality and mutual recognition that each plays its own important role. Thereby cooperation remains desirable,

but not always obvious. The government should accept the possible consequences of its desired autonomous role of civil society organizations, even if this implies a more critical treatment.

The Dutch government can finance the Dutch

civil society as long as there is no sub-contractor ship. The organizations then make the strategic consideration when cooperation is appropriate

or not and accept that funding is not self-evident.

civil society organizations with the government, enterprises increasingly acknowledge the value of sustainability concepts including social

aspects, civil society organizations discover the added value of the enterprises in development cooperation and anticipate well to this.

Due to this cooperation between companies

and development organizations is growing with mutual respect for each other’s contribution in

development processes. Companies are decisive, possess capital and focus on innovation. Civil

society organizations know how to link these

characteristics to social objectives, networks of creative organizations and innovative ‘grass-

roots processes’. Thus, together they create social value. Cooperation with companies connects and also improves the relation between producers in

the South and consumers in the North. Producers increasingly gain access to international markets and can scale up their revenue. Consumers get a

larger supply of sustainably produced Fair trade products and can give a concrete interpretation to global citizenship.

Within the ICCO Alliance, mainly ICCO is active in the area of cooperation with companies

that opt for corporate social responsibility and

strengthening the social value of their activities.

ICCO’s attitude is proactive, whereby it continues

the importance of small producers. ICCO focuses

ICCO has gained a lot of experience in the past

so that small producers can generate a better

in the emergence of 42 partnerships with local

here on access to chains, fair trade conditions,

sustainable production and improving quality, income. Support varies per situation. Support

may imply enhancing the organization of small producers or strengthening the supportive institutional field such as strengthening

microcredit organizations and other service

providing organizations, often in cooperation with Oikocredit. Furthermore, ICCO offers guarantees, loans and participations and

it experiments with new forms of strategic

financing. ICCO works locally on strengthening the local markets and internationally

on preserving different ‘value chains’ of

international operating companies such as Albert Heijn and H&M.

In The Netherlands ICCO participates in

networks as IDH (Sustainable Trade Initiative), BoP Innovation Center and AIM (Amsterdam Initiative against Malnutrition) linking with companies and establishing the relation

between economic and social development.. Moreover, ICCO also invests in one on one

relationships with entrepreneurs who see

opportunities with entrepreneurs in developing countries. This takes shape in concepts as

‘Co-Creation’ or ‘Co-investment’, where new

products or services are developed that solve a social problem.

twenty years in more than twenty countries in

the area of fair economic development, resulting and international companies.

Yente, another ICCO Alliance member, works specifically on strengthening the position

of female entrepreneurs who often play an

important role for positive changes in their

communities and their countries. Yente connects female entrepreneurs worldwide in innovative networks aimed at mutual strengthening.

Years of experience have strengthened the ICCO Alliance in the conviction that development

cooperation should not operate in a vacuum, but should reach out towards other sectors.

Different stakeholders, having different interests may come together to work on one shared goal. The improvement of human rights in economic processes and the development of models for sustainable production with respect for the environment are two important examples

showing the importance of civil society for the businesses.

Development cooperation should not operate in a vacuum, but should reach out towards other sectors.

to critically observe possible negative effects of

the company performance what most companies often appreciate. Thus, ICCO addresses human

rights in value chains and helps companies where needed to safeguard the human rights situation in these chains. ICCO is actively involved in

translating the Ruggie principles in the business

practice and helps strengthening knowledge and awareness about the relation between human rights and businesses.

ICCO and Co-Prisma members opt for sustainable ‘inclusive value chains’ from the perspective and

5. Change has already started! A lot of poverty and injustice has been battled successfully by the members of the ICCO Alliance in the past five decades. However, over one billion people worldwide still live below the poverty line. The ICCO Alliance therefore continues unabated to fulfill its mission. Photo: ICCO/ Rieneke de Man

More perspective for small products

Together, the members in the cooperative have

ICCO connects local farmers, producers and buyers

that it does not have to make agreements with

in a sustainable chain in order to strengthen the

all farmers individually. In a cooperative, certain

social and economic position of small producers.

things can proceed more efficient, such as water

ICCO unites stakeholders and develops new funding

transport and irrigation. Moreover, expenses are

models.

saved which can be reinvested in the plantation.

Africa Juice is a Dutch company that produces

ICCO believes that entrepreneurship is the

passion fruit juice for the Middle East and

driving force behind the development of

Germany. It produces 50% on its own plantation

countries and people. In order to battle poverty

and another 50% is produced by local farmers.

among local farmers, they need access to markets

Currently there are 500 farmers, but this number

and a fair price for their products. Therefore,

should grow towards 1300 in 2015. Africa Juice

ICCO decided to invest in Africa Juice. Together

also hopes to obtain the Fair trade certificate in

with the Rabobank (50/50) ICCO gave a

2012 in addition to a fair price.

contribution of 300.000USD to this program.

a stronger voice. For Africa Juice it is efficient

The ICCO PLC ‘Fair & Sustainable Participations’

ICCO has supported Africa Juice in establishing

owns 5% of the shares of Africa Juice on behalf of

the farmer cooperative and the training program.

the farmers, totaling a value of 505.000USD.

The ICCO Alliance innovates and updates within

The Netherlands its position in the field between citizens, government and market and we are

working in The Netherlands and internationally on

innovative models of cooperation. We have renewed our approach methodologically and we have also

focused our programs thematically in the belief that the results will improve.

The ICCO Alliance sees for itself two main pillars with added value:

• -Inclusive economic development:

disadvantaged groups benefit from sustainable product chains.

• Strengthening excluded and disadvantaged

groups in societies so that they can assert their rights.

and cohesion, together with all stakeholders.

This offers the best opportunity for broad-based sustainable social and economic improvements.

Consequently, the roles that the ICCO Alliance plays also change. The ICCO Alliance continues financing programs using various instruments that bring

about social change, but more emphasis is put on other roles:

• Innovating: developing new models, methods

and insights that lead to structural change in a society.

• Connecting: inviting civil society organizations,

companies, knowledge institutes, governments, and national, regional and international

organizations to work programmatically on a common goal. The ICCO Alliance helps local Southern organizations to give vulnerable

people a voice, and to strengthen their position towards other parties.

• Strengthening the capacity of partner

organizations in making common analyses and solutions as well as increasing quality, professionalism and sustainability.

Our strength lies in the interconnectedness of those

These roles strengthen worldwide the power of

even more than in the past with a social objective

processes. The ICCO Alliance also strengthens

two pillars. No (sustainable) agricultural industry can

arise without fair land right deals. We shall enterprise and involve businesses, governments and citizens

in it. We opt methodologically for a programmatic

approach with a system approach, where problems

and challenges are addressed in their broad context

civil society. Organizations in the South are brought into contact with other actors in developing

forums at the national and local level, where experiences are exchanged and civil society

organizations join forces in their fight against poverty and injustice.

6. An appropriate response? Members of the ICCO Alliance have always fully anticipated social developments in order to keep the international cooperation as effective as possible. The profound reorganization and reorientation

of ICCO in 2005 can serve as an example. Due to the increasing professionalism and experience of civil society in developing countries, more responsibility for developing processes is recognized for the developing countries

themselves. The responsibility for ICCO’s policy lies thus in The Netherlands and in the regions where ICCO operates (‘co-responsibility’). The executive work is moved to offices in seven regions, staffed with regional personnel, as a result of which we

can cooperate more easily with local organizations and are better informed about the regional

context (decentralization). ICCO has established international and regional advisory councils for

an independent voice that provide strategic advice on key regional developments and the envisaged policy choices.

The step of sharing responsibility and embarking on a genuine partnership is set in time. It is

now important to firmly strengthen the ties

again with our social base and work towards a

further enhancement of our social legitimacy. The joint investment in developing countries with

businesses, governments and citizens worldwide is

process – shared responsibility and participation,

In the course of years, various ICCO Alliance

and broadens the commitment in international

thereby the indicated instrument.

members have become increasingly more involved

in this process. In the region of Central and Eastern Africa a pilot is currently being developed in

which the ICCO Regional Office develops itself

increasingly into an office for all Alliance members that are active in the region. Furthermore, the

Regional offices, the Regional Councils and the

members of the ICCO Alliance and the personnel

discussed in 2011 various scenarios for the future. The result was that the ICCO Alliance will be an ‘entrepreneurial innovator’ in 2020, in which it works in an entrepreneurial way together with

other actors towards creative sustainable solutions. This means that the ICCO Alliance will prepare

itself the coming years for this scenario in various fields, including their own organizational culture and the nature of partnerships. The cooperation

structure changes, so is the idea, in the near future into a cooperative. The owners of the cooperative will not only be Alliance members. The idea

is to expand the cooperative with for example

trade unions, banks, educational and knowledge

institutes. The aim is also to welcome international organizations as a member. The cooperative

brings the central ideas of the transformation

get closer to local knowledge, involve the most

diverse parties – together in a network-like shape cooperation enormously.

Even more than an organizational structure,

It is now important to firmly strengthen the ties again with our social base and work towards a further enhancement of our social legitimacy.

the cooperative is a way to connect civil society organizations, companies and knowledge

institutions worldwide. The cooperation provides a new platform for social involvement and

international cooperation. . This fits the global

civil society that has currently emerged and looks beyond countries and sectors. The international cooperative network offers ideas, innovations, solutions and knowledge from other corners

of the world. Opening up our own society for

international forms of cooperation and ideas will

really put an end to the old thinking in North-South relations.

This method shall strengthen the commitment of

the ICCO Alliance in its own society and vice versa.

The ICCO Alliance thereby confirms that people are closely linked worldwide and that global problems require a global approach that transcends the

partial interests of countries, companies, citizens and civil society organizations. The social capital belongs to us all.

More information: PO Box 8190 3503 RD Utrecht The Netherlands info@icco.nl www.icco-international.com www.icco.nl TWITTER @iccotweet FACEBOOK facebook.com/iccopage LINKEDIN linkedin.com/company/icco

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