Heifer Nederland is a specialist in supporting the self-development of agrarian communities in Africa and Eastern Europe. Heifer Nederland expects Agri-ProFocus to facilitate the cooperation between partners, so that support for producer organisations can become less fragmented.

Heifer Nederland is especially involved in the financing and implementation of cattle breeding projects. Community development is supported through the provision of 'living loans': animals are given to needy families as a loan, which is paid back by giving the animal’s first female offspring to another member of the community. Heifer Nederland has gained considerable experience in the provision of this form of food security.

Heifer Nederland is now also focusing on more intensive support, directed toward market-oriented production. The farmers receive basic economic training and support through the provision of micro credit. The next step is to actually set up a business, which requires extra expertise in financing, the creation of business structures and marketing. For this last step, Heifer Nederland is looking for partners within Agri-ProFocus. Heifer’s added value for other partners lies in its expertise with respect to the first phases of organisational development.

Heifer Nederland hopes that Agri-ProFocus will progress beyond the talking stage, that lessons can be learned within Agri-ProFocus on cooperation between partners and that this knowledge will be exchanged. This can only be achieved if the members are sufficiently committed and if they do not stick rigidly to their own strategic planning, priority countries and themes. Flexibility in the country lists and especially the desire to cooperate are, according to Heifer Nederland, the most important prerequisites for success.