1. How does the network benefit your organisation?
APF is a great networking opportunity in the Netherlands with organisations that are all active in support of producer organisations in developing countries. The main benefits of the network are in regards to the policy making domain. Based on the work APF has done in disseminating and discussing the World Bank Development report on Agriculture for Development, Oikocredit is now prioritising agricultural development. More specifically in value chain financing, we are engaged in expanding our financial services for producer organisations in Africa. The focus on Africa is useful as a number of the APF Agri-Hubs (Kenya, Uganda primarily) coincide with countries where Oikocredit is focussing its activities and has a local representative office. Also in other African countries there are opportunities for future cooperation (Mozambique, Rwanda). The participation of Oikocredit staff in the workshops organised by APF in for instance Kenya and Uganda helped to stimulate our thinking about the financing of agricultural value chains.

2. Please give an example of a joint action, in which the APF network played a visible role.
The most tangible result has been a project for financing the development of milk collection and processing at a dairy plant in Andrah Pradesh, India. Joint support by Agriterra, the Rabobank Foundation and Oikocredit led to a positive development of the programme, set up by the Indian partner. Brokerage of APF also led to the identification of an expert in leather tanning for another project partner in India. The different online platforms offer an interesting possibility for staff to access relevant documentation, exchange ideas, and find interesting resource persons and institutes.

3. If you were in charge, what should the APF network look like in 5 years’ time?
A network of stakeholders from both the North and the South that can provide finance, advice and other services at suitable terms to producer organisations in Africa. APF should tap into existing resources already available on the internet and link to other national and international networks and be sensitive to the changing policy environment. The network should support producer organisations to find human and financial resources at national, regional and international level and optimise the limited available resources of member organisations.

4. How will your organisation contribute to the APF network in the next 2 years?
Oikocredit would like to finance loan and investment transactions within the value chain to the benefit of producer organisations and their members. We have loan and investment capital available and also funds for capacity building. It is important for all Oikocredit staff, more than 200 in total, active in over 60 countries worldwide, to realise that Oikocredit is a member of a very interesting network and should capitalise on potential win-wins between our partner organisations and other member organisations in the network.

Contact: Kees van den Burg

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